-Kate

Wow, thanks for that revealing peek into your past. I applaud your ability to rise above the situation – you really did make it work for you!

Great lessons here. Thanks for sharing.

Your last paragraph reminded me of my first real job. I started as at the Chicago Board Options Exchange “back in the day” when the options and futures markets were in their infancy. I was just kid out of college and was attracted to the zoo-like atmosphere and pure capitalism I witnessed there.

Anyway, I jumped at the first job offer I received – that of being a runner for a member firm for a whopping $9,000 per year (no, that wasn’t even a respectable amount of money in 1982), but I saw it as an opportunity become exposed to bigger and better things.

What I was exposed to were two bosses who were into money, power, prestige, and doing as little work as possible. They’d show up every morning hung over and screaming at everyone, work for an hour or so, then head across the street to the local bar for most of the day, only showing up to create more chaos around them.

I became one of their go-to-guys – someone they could rely on to get their work done. Before long, however, they wanted to include me in their “good-old-boys” club, I guess as a way of somehow rewarding me.

I wanted nothing to do with this. I knew that my present and future would be limited by my association with them (if it wasn’t already).

My mission then became keeping my head down, doing my job to the best of my ability, and supporting the people around me. It was a simple matter of working and functioning in that environment without becoming a product of it.

Great topic! I remember the corporate lumps and bumps rather well. For the most part, we had good people with good intentions. But, just like a family who gets “in each others’ business” from time to time, there were more than a few gnarls that had to be worked out.

My natural reaction, in those situations, is to take a more proactive stance and open the lines of communication. I know it sounds cliche, but everyone has their certain “thing” that they do, and I believe mine is bringing people together and offering encouragement, fostering cooperation.

Specifically, I can recall a time in my working life when one of our staff copywriters was having some trouble getting up to speed. In an attempt to help this person along but not make him/her feel singled out, I developed a “headline-writing tutorial.” Everyone in our group was invited to participate in this growth/creativity exercise. The manager approved the lessons I drew up, and everyone there got a much-needed refresher course, including me.

Thinking back, that individual might have been in the wrong profession, and that’s certainly not uncommon. I guess one way to find out for certain is with a bit of exploration, such as in the exercise I described above.

As I mentioned, communication and involvement is a strong point for me. I know that I can’t always move the mountains like I want to, but at least I know that I tried.

Of course, communication may not be for everyone. I think that if you put forth your best effort in whatever area you shine, you really can’t help but to improve the situation. And if it doesn’t work out, at least you know you did your best and learned something from the experience.

Thanks for opening up this dialogue!

Dina

Thank you for your comments.

You’re absolutely right. That has been my experience as well.

I was speaking with my personal coach yesterday (Yes, I too have a coach! Many people are surprised by this, but shouldn’t be. I grow through that relationship just like anyone else can if they make the commitment), and I shared with her how I had been doing a great deal of reading lately.

I had gone through a period where I became so busy that I was feeling a bit overwhelmed. Once I made some time for myself and plunged into a few books that had been sitting next to my desk gathering dust, I felt rejuvenated – my energy and creativity seemed to come back in droves.

I’ve come to call it “dipping back into the well” because it’s a place I can go for my refreshment.

David

Quiet time alone is necessary to be creative. When I am over-scheduled I stop getting fresh new ideas. You need time to think — brain time.

If, like me, you happen to be an introvert on the Myers Briggs personality scale, you will have an extra strong need for quiet time. Being around people too much will sap your energy if you are an introvert, and the only way to generate more energy is to think and reflect.

Best,
Anita