This Month’s Philosopher: Michael Rovinsky, WG'86
To learn more about Michael, click here.
LIFE LESSONS
If I knew then what I know now, I would have...
paid more attention to red flags when interviewing for jobs. There almost always are at least a few red flags, and we tend to overlook them in our eagerness to get the job. Paying more attention to them doesn’t mean you don’t take the job; but being keenly aware of them allows you to go in with your eyes open. Having said that, some red flags should not be ignored, and you should get up from the interview and run!
If I knew then what I know now, I would NOT have...
tried to “buck” (or fight against) the organizational environment. Culture is the most difficult thing to perceive when interviewing for a new job, but the most important thing to understand, and doing so usually takes at least a few months on the job. Once you have a good feel for the environment/culture, it either fits or it doesn’t. The environment is very unlikely to change, and it will always win. If you realize it is not a good fit, don’t try to change it; it won’t, and don’t try to change who you are to make it a better fit; you will only resent it, and there is only so long you can fake it. Be confident in who you are and your abilities, and look for a better fit somewhere else.
FAVORITE QUOTES
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“Integrity is one of several paths. It distinguishes itself from the others because it is the right path, and the only one on which you will never get lost.” ~ M.H. McKee
Integrity breeds integrity. When you speak and act with integrity, it is apparent to the other person, and it gives them the freedom and permission to do the same. Plus, you never have to remember the story you told or cover up for the behavior.
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“Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.” ~ Voltaire, Confucius, Shakespeare, and Gretchen Rubin
Many of us are successful because we are perfectionists, but it is a blessing and a curse. The quote speaks for itself.
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“Asking makes possible that which wasn’t going to happen anyway.” ~ The Forum
If you don’t ask (for what you want), the answer is no. If you do ask, the answer may still be no, but it may just be yes. This quote can be put into practice for everything from asking for a raise at work to answering the question “Where do you want to go for dinner?” truthfully. In the latter situation, the group may veto your suggestion, but you will have moved the conversation forward; and you just might go to dinner exactly where you want to go.
RECOMMENDED READING
- Million Dollar Consulting by Alan Weiss
- Getting More by Stuart Diamond
- The No Asshole Rule by Robert I. Sutton
- 10% Happier by Dan Harris
Contact Michael at: [email protected]