Susie WEE's Top 10 Career Tips

WEE Lunch Meeting - April 14th 2005

(Note: Start now with little acts, even during grad school.)
(Disclaimer: Learning is personal. Some aspects might mean something to you now, others might kick in later.)
(Credits: This list was improved with more than a little help from my friends.)
(Disclaimer: This list is still under construction.)

1.  Get really good at something useful. Become synonymous with it.
   • Useful innovations are all that matter. Being synonymous with something useless will lead to bitterness, obscurity, and frustration.
2. Produce sustainable artifacts at work.
   • Be able to communicate what you did and how you did it.
   • Blaze a trail. Leave a trail behind you.
3. Grow your portfolio. Define your career.
   • Each project you do grows your portfolio. Your portfolio defines who you are.
   • Stay outwardly employable, even if you stay in the same place.
   • Focus on what you can control, not what you can't.
   • There are no rules. You define your career.
4. Be strategic. Be opportunistic.
   • May seem like a paradox, but you need both.
   • TV commercial, industry collaborations
   • Ability to multitask is a skill. Keep your focus and balance.
5. Be prepared for unsolicited competition. Compete only with yourself.
   • High school math tests.
   • Rumors on my weekly meetings with Carly.
6. Don't worry about people who don't like you.
   • Don't create enemies, but sometimes this is beyond your immediate control.
   • Be aware of them and find opportunities to improve it.
   • If you have true intentions, they will discover that later on.
   • It's great to be respected and liked, but if you can only have one, strive to be respected.
7. Learn to understand yourself. Learn to understand others. Improve yourself and your interpersonal skills.
   • Leadership is a journey into self-discovery.
   • Take the attitude that you're always under construction.
   • Learn your strengths and weaknesses and those of your co-workers.
   • Help others by complementing their weaknesses with your strengths.
   • Learn interpersonal skills & communication skills. Reflect on every interaction you have with other people.
   • Secret: All the big guys learn & talk about this stuff.
8. Play a team sport. Make your career a team sport.
   • Play on a team where you're the best/worst/average. Make a contribution to all of them.
   • Teamwork is key to having greater impact.
   • My hiring manager liked that I was a team captain.
   • Sharing knowledge is better than hoarding knowledge.
   • The more you share, the more you get.
   • Build your team throughout your career. Start now!
9. Be yourself. Define who you are. Use your personality at work.
   • You don't have to look/act like everyone else. Add your own flavor.
   • When it's appropriate, make a small personal connection.
   • Start/join projects you enjoy with people you like.
   • Share your passions.
10. Align your work with your passions and strengths. Define your career accordingly.
    • "Why is my weekend me different from my work week me?" Discover your "weekend strengths" by talking to your friends.
    • What do you do on your weekends? What do you like about it? Chances are it uses your natural talents.
    • Make your passions and natural talents part of your job.
    • Going from good to great is 1000 times faster when you're aligned.
11. (Bonus!) Get in shape, eat right, sleep, and exercise.