A personal note...

Ten years in media. Radio, Print, Magazines, Online, and Performance Media. Then ten months in the steel business. Then for the last two weeks back into Programmatic & RTB space. That's my work experience summed up, with an interesting detour - and while I wouldn't have it any other way, media & advertising, it's good to be back.

Clarity

Having a eureka moment (love that word). Just read this article on HBR blogs and I feel like someone just turned the light on...

"avoid working for or with people who don't respect your priorities. It may sound simplistic, but this is a truly liberating rule! There are people who share your values and as a result make it natural to live your priorities. It may take a while to find an employment situation like this, but you can set your course to that destination immediately."

More here:
If You Don't Prioritize Your Life, Someone Else Will - Greg McKeown - Harvard Business Review


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Effective Team Work & Collaboration

Fab little video that looks at the mechanics of collaboration, potential pitfalls and how to achieve desired outcome.

Effective Team Work & Collaboration - YouTube

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Merit

There was this person at a company I worked with in the past, who managed to climb the corporate ladder faster than light, getting from a mere professional to MD within a couple of years. It came to an end recently. I spotted a brief mention on a trade news website that this person is off to greener pastures - due to restructuring (aka. redundancy).

Two thoughts occurred to me:

1. Yet another example that in business we are not irreplaceable (at home, among family - absolutely, in the corporate environment - unlikely)
2. I saw people rise to the top faster due to alliance rather than merit - it won't last. All you need is a change in the reporting lines and unless you are there because you deserve it, you'll be replaced sooner than you think.

Don't aspire to climb, aspire to grow. You'll get further, achieve more and will be happier.

Seth explains trust

Seth's Blog: Where does trust come from?:

He is life changing…

If there is anything better than his blog, than it’s Nicholas Bate himself, in person.

I spent one hour on his refresher course yesterday and now I’m ready to change the world. Well, at least mine. Starting today.

Read it. Daily. Here.

Quote of the day

‘what you have at work is a whole range of people coming together who didn’t choose to work together. Of course there will be differences. Now, I hope I am the type of boss who appreciates differences, but not everyone has the same attitude.’
‘Isn’t that a pessimistic view of work?
’Not at all. Just realistic. And if it’s realistic, you just need ways to cope with different situations.’

(The Boss by Andrew O’Keeffe, 2006, p.55)

Execupundit.com: Knowing What is Not Known

Read this. Then read it again.
Execupundit.com: Knowing What is Not Known

The benefit of hindsight

with Michael Wade here.

Why we have too few women leaders

You cannot please everyone

by Jessica Hagy at indexed.com.

14 Ways To Be More Successful - Nicholas Bate

The master list here: 14 Ways To Be More Successful

What a lesson…

We can all learn from Gerald, the cabbie. Check out the story at CulturalOffering.com.

Flattery perfected

Thanks to CulturalOffering.com for posting this on The art of brown-nosing.
Sheer genius. I have doubts in being able to use it, but at least now I can see who does!!

How eating a cookie can harm your career…

‘The Australian-born Dr Stephen Duckett, who has been dubbed the "Cookie Monster", left a meeting with health care leaders in Edmonton eating a cookie and refused to talk to waiting media about the health crisis in the Canadian province of Alberta’
(read more here).

Execupundit.com: Each Action

Think before you do. Why?
Here is why: Execupundit.com: Each Action

The 5 level hierarchy of leadership

‘What catapults a company from merely good to truly great? A five-year research project searched for the answer to that question, and its discoveries ought to change the way we think about leadership.’

The 5 levels of leadership by Jim Collins (author of ‘Good to Great: Why some companies make the leap… and others don’t’)

Are you a risk taker?

Or are you not? You could be on the right track to become a successful entrepreneur!

Execupundit.com: Discussing the Rules of Workplace Etiquette

Yes, agree! Thank you Michael Wade.

‘Too often, the violation is pinpointed after the fact. "They" won't tell you what to do but they'll tell you if you did it wrong.’

Execupundit.com: Discussing the Rules of Workplace Etiquette

Great advice…

…not just for the navy, but for any other workplace: read it here by Michael Wade of Execupundit.com.