I have shared this in other places on social media but I figured I might as well state it here as well. I am back in school. In fact my whole house has gone back to school. My wife and I are both persuing different masters degrees while our daughters are still in primary school.
While my wife is going the traditional route and sitting in a classroom I am pursuing an online Masters degree at the University of Maryland University College in Data Analytics.
The first assignment that I have been given is to write a This I Believe essay. It should be focused on my professional career. In my continuing effort to #ShowYourWork I am sharing it here.
This I Believe as a Professional
I was talking with my daughter a few days ago about my new job. She knows how hard I worked to get through the interview process. The thing she could not figure out was why did it matter so much to me. When she asked I responded with a phrase that she has heard for much of her young life. It is a mantra developed many years ago that has informed much of my personal and professional life, "How you do anything is how you do everything.” For me this means that no matter where I find myself or what I may be doing I attack things the same way. The same effort and energy that I put into my play time, I also put into my work. What this looks like in my life can be summed up into three directives: stay curious, be bold, and build a legacy.
Stay Curious
I love learning new things. I am a "tinkerer" who enjoys finding out how things work. Whether it is a piece of technology, a business process or artistic endeavor, my curiosity drives me to keep learning. In my career I have worked in both the public and private sectors. I have experienced life as a VP in a Fortune 50 firm, as well as part of 6 person startup. Each position afforded me the opportunity to solve interesting problems while learning about the nuances of different industries. For me, problem solving often involves looking at issues from a new direction. I enjoy helping organizations break out of their comfortable cycles.
Be Bold
This has often required being bold enough to suggest a new course of action. This is the part of the process that is the most difficult for me. As an introverted person, pushing for change often causes a level of internal and external conflict that often makes me uncomfortable. I have learned that success is typically on the other side of my comfort zone. Pushing aside my own comfort has opened up a lot of doors in my career. I have learned to never be afraid to ask for what I want or to give needed counsel. As a result, I have always left organizations in a better position than when I arrived.
Build a Legacy
One of my mentors told me that it is important to build a legacy no matter the position you are in. Building a legacy means that you are always on the look out for someone to teach, a person who wants to learn what you are doing. In some organizations this is easier than in others. I have enjoyed the relationships that have been built over the years. When we leave this place the only thing that will be left are the people that we have met and the impact we have left on them.
In the end whether I am talking with my daughter or the CEO of my company, I bring the same perspectives to the table. The curiosity to really learn what is needed, the boldness to seek actual change and the desire to create something that lasts beyond myself.