| Many young people find it difficult to build credibility in | | | | but separate your personal life from your professional |
| the workplace, in this especially competitive world. | | | | life. If you are going through an especially trying time |
| Although I have only been working on two software | | | | personally, just be a professional and tough it out... don't |
| projects thus far in the corporate world, they have | | | | bring your personal problems to work. It affects the |
| both been under very interesting conditions, and I've | | | | whole organization. |
| seen and observed a lot in a small number of years. I | | | | * CONSISTENCY -- It is better to produce for a |
| believe I can offer some small pearls of wisdom to | | | | focused 50 hours every week than to go on a crazy |
| people less experienced than myself entering the | | | | spurt where you work 90 hours a week for 5 weeks, |
| corporate workforce. | | | | get burned out, and are completely nonfunctional for |
| In my experience, a reputation can be built by taking | | | | the next 2 weeks. Just be consistent, and keep your |
| your job, whatever piece of work/line items you own, | | | | mind on the job, and make sure to take enough breaks |
| very seriously. As a true professional. | | | | and vary your activities. Make small talk with |
| And the key to driving results in your line items, is just a | | | | co-workers. Get to know what their interests are, |
| few basic ideas: | | | | perhaps, if you work closely with them, what their |
| * DISCIPLINE -- doing whatever has to be done, | | | | family situation is. |
| including all the dirty work and "unpleasant" stuff. Think | | | | Also, make sure to maintain good relations with your |
| of it this way... the harder you work, the more of the | | | | co-workers. Try to remain humble and not hold |
| business you see and the more you learn, so its | | | | grudges. Be assertive and direct when necessary, but |
| win-win... you drive results and you learn at the same | | | | not a jerk. Everyone has a different personality and will |
| time. | | | | evolve into their natural workplace persona with time... |
| * FOCUS -- don't think too often about the work you | | | | your time will come as well. But respect your |
| are doing... just produce results, while maintaining | | | | co-workers and don't hold grudges even if you feel |
| reasonably good relations with your co-workers. | | | | you've been thoroughly wronged. You don't want to |
| Career planning is something that should be done like | | | | burn bridges in this world. |
| once every 6 months, not twice a month. Every 6 | | | | Finally, one needs to have interests, hobbies, and a |
| months just reevaluate... how did the last 6 months go, | | | | family/friends outside of work in order to really be |
| what was good, what was bad, and what would you | | | | successful and understand what life really is all about. |
| like to do the next 6 months. And try to stay with the | | | | All that stuff feeds one's creativity so he can be more |
| same group/organization for at least 2 years at a time | | | | productive at work, and the productivity at work feeds |
| even in early career. Oh, and this should be obvious, | | | | his self-image which he brings home. |