Things I Wish I Knew
A new, monthly content series on lessons learned
Hello Everyone -
I imagine you were expecting a podcast episode but I decided to throw a curveball: a blog post. My birthday came and went and I thought it’d be a good opportunity to reflect on the year ahead by looking back at what I’ve learned & observed over the years. Perhaps you’ll agree, push back, or would like to add to them.
Without further adieu:
A bad boss is as invaluable as a great boss: It’s an inverse benefit. A great boss, like a great sports coach, will push you to believe that you can exceed what’s possible. A bad boss will invariably point out the toxic behaviors you should avoid in order to push through.
Personal Accountability: the person who looks back at us each time we look in the mirror is our protagonist or antagonist. Choose wisely.
Feedback is a gift: Constructive, clear feedback is a gift that shouldn’t go to waste. If there’s mutual trust between you and the feedback giver and the feedback is welcomed and reciprocated, magic. Again, don’t waste it.
Fear of Not Trying (FONT): We all have anxiety when we embark on something that is new and the outcome is uncertain. I believe FONT (thanks, Craig) is a more compelling feeling than regret. What’s the worst that can happen?
People leave bosses, not jobs: Similar to my first ‘lesson,’ a great boss can make a job that’s unexciting fulfilling, and challenging. The opposite is true of a bad or toxic boss. On the face of it, a sexy or exciting job opportunity can easily be torpedoed by who’s at the helm.
Relationships are muscle tissue: Networking, to some, is a greasy word. Relationship building is an underrated skill that shouldn’t be reserved for job hunting. Like a challenging boss, having folks in your network who push you and provide direction on ‘where the puck is going’ is a major growth unlock.
From David Berkowitz, SVP Corporate Marketing & Communications, Mediaocean + Founder, Serial Marketers.
Know when to sell vs. tell: 'Everyone's in sales. The "ABC" of Glengarry Glen Ross ("always be closing") maybe too cutthroat, but whether we like it or not, you're going to need to know how to sell if you're going to get what you want. That means knowing what to ask for, how to negotiate, how to get people to pay attention, and how to target the right message to the right audience. As I got further in my career, I spent more time working with sales leads and learned a ton from the best ones, and I wish I did that way sooner. Whether or not you work in sales, you'll do well to find a trusted sales exec as a mentor.’
Click here to subscribe to David’s weekly Serial Marketer newsletter where he dispenses commentary, job postings and event listings in addition to his leading of a 3,000+ marketer community on Slack.
New podcast episodes are dropping soon — Aria Finger and Jeff Ragovin will be coming on the show over the next week — I can’t wait to share those conversations with you.