Thread by @Jarushub

My Top 5 Career Lessons

Started working in June 2008, few weeks after NYSC and have worked in three companies since then. Here are my top 5 career lessons

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1. Visibility is important

No matter how good you are, you need to be visible. Visible people in the workplace tend to rise faster. Sources of visibility include speaking in meetings, volunteering for corporate activities (from year end party committee to technical groups)

Doesn't mean you should turn into eye service merchant, else you create enmity for yourself. Be moderate but be deliberate.

2. Versatility helps

Demonstrate that you can do beyond your work. Position yourself as a fixer. Read well about your industry. Understand your company

3. Good bosses are life savers

I think the best think anyone should wish for is a good boss. This is extremely critical. I'm currently writing my memoir, hoping to launch when I clock 40 next year, and I have a chapter dedicated to my boss. You go extra mile for good bosses

4. It won't be rosy all the time

There are times you hav a good run, there are times you will be frustrated. It's normal. On 2 occasions in my 13 yrs career, I spontaneously contemplated resigning out of frustration. In one, I actually resigned, altho withdrew it after few hrs

5. Liberal work culture gets the best

I started in a Nigerian company but, credit to them, they are a largely liberal company with many friendly people. Moved to foreign at some point. I think McGregor's Y theory of human motivation trumps Theory X. Almost all my career has been

in Y environment - liberal, no micromanaging, full responsibility. I doubt I can fit into a X environment again (especially banks and many Nigerian companies). I'm also liberal in management philosophy - just get the job done - because my career was built in such environment.

I work very long hours, without anyone telling me to, because I know I need to deliver. Full responsibility.

Jarus
2021