I get job hopping; I’ve done it a few times myself. One particular career move mine into a very niche, scientific industry proved disastrous. I was at my job for 5 months and fled back to my old position (I was lucky they welcomed me back!) Another place I worked for ran out of money, time, and patience, and the start-up effectively closed much more quickly than I expected.

Job-hopping seems to be the new norm, especially in our current economic climate: businesses shut down or are acquired, jobs are consolidated and lost, and new opportunities arise daily. Brazen Careerist, makes a good point when they challenge us to rethink our definition of job hopping:

[Job hopping] ends up being the best way to propel…careers forward. [Hoppers] switch frequently because it’s fairly easy to move around when you’re young, and they want to make sure they’re in a job that challenges them and rewards their talents. To achieve that, you have to try things out and learn about yourself and different work environments.

These people who’ve had four different jobs over six years — or whatever the case may be — aren’t carelessly “job hopping,” they’ve elected to undergo a “professional pivot.” So we should call it that.

There are certainly a variety of reasons to look for a new job, many of which are completely justified.  As much as I agree with the above statement, I’d like to make a case for longevity, which I define as 3-5 years with a company. Longevity allows for many things to happen including deeper growth and development that doesn’t always happen in the first two years at  role. As we rise through our careers, our responsibilities oftentimes become more complicated, and it can take some time to grasp politics, personalities, expectations, and industry standards that aren’t always immediately evident after the initial 1-2 years at a company.

Longevity at a job can also feel like it’s based on generational demographics.  Our parents were fiercely loyal to their companies, and with good reason. They were provided significant incentives and pensions for sticking with a job for a long period of time. Today, the average worker stays in a job 4.6 years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which still feels like quite awhile to those of us who are regularly seeking something new.

In reflecting on your job, consider your learning curve and how long it took you to actually learn your role and get comfortable with your position. Now consider if you still have room to continue that learning, and get even better at your job. Chances are, after 1-2 years, there is still room for growth and improvement.  During this time, we develop in our maturity, grow our network and bumble through ever crucial trials, mistakes, obstacles. Leaving a company before we’ve had time to confront these and many other issues may sometimes mean cutting short our full experience.

I took a type test this past weekend that classified me as an INFJ (Introvert, Intuitive, Feeler, Judger) and had me shouting, ‘yes!’ from my living room; I felt so understood. Those that know me in a professional setting often remark their surprise when I tell them I’m an introvert. I’ve learned to work with it, and at times against it – pushing myself to network and regularly connect with others.

Some of the other classifications that came along with the typecasting, like ‘intuitive’ are harder for me to incorporate into my job.  At times, I don’t have answers for why decisions will work. I just KNOW the direction I want to proceed in, and that logic is hard to translate in the office. When you are in a role that focuses on relationship management, or human dynamics, choices aren’t always cut and dry.  Some days, you feel like a certain path should be taken, you proceed in kind, and it all comes together beautifully.

The other day, I was thinking of three separate colleagues whom I needed to touch base with.  I wanted to continue conversations with them about various topics, and instead of procrastinating on my outreach, I acted upon it almost as soon as I thought of them. All three of them sent back the same message, “Melanie, I was JUST thinking of you.”

Our minds are phenomenal instruments, and we have yet to grasp the full capability of what they can do. Through instinct can come critically important decisions affecting business. The balance of connecting with other people cannot always be navigated through various strategies or tied to metrics. What adds to this challenge is that there is very little recognition given for this skill in the corporate arena, and communicating to your colleagues about your intuition can be daunting and sometimes poorly received.

Recent studies suggest that our intuition or gut instinct is driven by a subconscious knowing or recognizing of information. Meaning, somewhere deep down, we recognize the information we are processing, we have been faced with a similar situation and we understand the best route to proceed.

The next time you have an instinct for an innovative idea or concept, for improving something things at work, or for reaching out to others, pursue it. Innovation and creative thought cannot be measured in metrics. However, utilizing both as a resource can help us achieve our goals much more quickly. Inspiration is a gift, and as we continue to explore it, neglecting to act on it can be detrimental to our growth, and the growth of a business.

Dear Readers,

I have some exciting news to share! My site will be going through a re-branding (getting a face lift, if you will.) My friend, Melissa Anzman at Loosen Your White Collar is a whiz at work like this, and because of her generosity, my blog will get a new home and a new style. Hooray!

Stay tuned for more of the posts you are used to, and a complete new look.

In the meantime, thanks for your continued support and readership,

Melanie

Generosity of spirit is something rare, precious and incredibly valuable, especially in the workplace. With limited time, a multitude of distractions and competing priorities all demanding attention, slowing down to acknowledge the needs of our colleagues can be a challenge. Being more “connected” than ever only adds to our separation from our peers. We are constantly checking our smart phones, rather than engaging in conversation or making eye contact. In this digital age, it’s crucial for us to maintain a spirit of kindness, and compassion for our fellow workers, in order for us to evolve professionally, and personally.

What is generosity of spirit? It’s being aware of the needs of others, despite your own pressing needs and demands. According to Bruna Martinuzzi, “Most people want to find meaning in their jobs – they want to feel that they are a part of something bigger and something better. They want to know that what they do matters.” Finding that meaning can come from being generous with others, especially customers, clients, and co-workers and this generosity can take many forms, including:

• Returning an email, even though it may be a hassle

• Looking the other way when a co-worker makes a mistake, instead of focusing on their error

• Sharing the spotlight, or allowing it to shine on others

• Communicating our challenges, so others feel safe enough to share their own

• Helping colleagues when you don’t have time, or don’t receive credit for it

Conversely, we sometimes need people to be a little bit generous with us as well. Whether we are struggling through a difficult time in our lives, or simply having a bad day, a few extra words or deeds of kindness can make all the difference. When you are on the giving end of this generosity, the best part is that little-to-no effort is truly needed to make a significant impact on someone else. If a co-worker backs my ideas, strives to understand my point of view, or even offers a compliment about an idea I’ve come up with, it can have the power to change my day.

When I first began writing, I rewrote and edited resumes for free. I loved seeing people take a fresh look at their work, and gauge their accomplishments through new eyes. I wasn’t experienced enough to charge, and my clients (read: friends) weren’t established enough to pay for a resume revision. So, I helped them with their resumes, and they helped and supported me in a myriad of ways, as friends often do.

Karma came back around for me, when I recently connected with a peer who offered to help me, with no strings attached and at no charge.  She is the epitome of a generous spirit and has no qualms about helping a friend out with what would typically cost me hundreds of dollars to do myself. She holds the knowledge I need (and is so incredibly generous) that she is willing to bend over backwards, use her limited free time and guide me through a major project.  I’m eternally grateful, and will never stop trying to find ways to help her.

This is what we are here for – to lend a hand to each other on our respective journeys.  This supportive nurturing is so desperately needed in the office (rather than a fostered sense of competition and the cutthroat tactics that can prevail in many a workplace.) Let’s change things up, and strive towards a culture that is supportive and kind. No two paths are the same, and in order for us to amble along somewhat gracefully, we all need a little help along the way.

 “Wake me up when September ends.”

-  Green Day

As you’ve probably noticed, I took a break from writing this month. A little rest and reprieve from my morning ritual has given me time to consider the direction I’m heading in with my craft, and ponder my next steps.

I tend to do this at least once a year: to step away and assess the horizon, making sure that I haven’t strayed from the path I’m intending to follow.

I look forward to jumping back into my writing in October, and connecting again with all of you again.

Small victories are the less touted wins and achievements that are crucial to our overarching accomplishments. Often unheralded building blocks to our success, small victories are easily forgotten and rarely acknowledged, but incredibly important to celebrate. Sometimes we are so focused on the big picture or the feats of other people, we forget to notice these daily battles against obstacles that may seem inconsequential.

Understanding and celebrating minor wins is an important part of our career growth and development. These humble breakthroughs are the foundations to major victories, allowing us to continuously build upwards to reach our larger goals. Here are 2 things to remember about small victories:

They motivate: It’s easy to rejoice the pay raises, promotions and deals closing.  However, crucial components of each of these are the more humble snippets of excellence that built our confidence for bigger challenges. These less-glamorous milestones kept pushing us forward through the grunt work, the mundane, and the long, cold days of frustration, failure and career defeat.

When we recognize our small victories, we are choosing to focus on the immediate path ahead and celebrate every step forward, instead of glancing at the horizon and fretting at the distance we have yet to cover. The mini-challenges we tackle and win, improve us by minuscule, but crucially important degrees. It’s the smaller victories: great conversations, happy customers, and successful connections with colleagues that slowly get us to these larger goals.

They reflect your unique journey: Our small victories are threatened by comparisons: to the success, wealth and achievements of others. We can’t compare the middle of our journey to someone else’s end. When we see the accomplishments of new Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer, or Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, it can be easy to become discouraged or scoff at our less-than-sensational triumphs.

The definition of ‘success’ in the eyes of our society also seems to lessen the sweetness of our small victories, as what was previously considered phenomenal, has now become routine. Average citizens are pushing their bodies to the extreme regularly, the Internet is churning out younger millionaires at an astounding rate, and the bar of greatness is being raised regularly.

When we look at the success of others, we imagine geniuses with an easy journey straight to the top. What we have to remember is that each of these incredible success stories are filled with defeats, failure, and small, but critical victories. Despite the fact that nothing we produce is fully original, our journeys and perspectives certainly are. We have our own rewards to reap, and our distinctive successes (no how small) deserve our recognition as well.

For me to focus on my own small victories, I have to concentrate on the present, rather than the future. My small victories come in a variety of packages: perhaps it’s a few more people visiting my blog, or a celebrity quietly buying one of my husband’s stands.

For you, maybe your mini-victory comes in the form of finally updating your resume, or filing that pile of papers on your desk. Perhaps you cleaned out your inbox, or took the stairs instead of the escalator. A small victory could even mean choosing self-preservation, taking things a little slower, or being a bit nicer to yourself. Whatever your small victory, acknowledge and celebrate that you have accomplished it.  Doing so, ensures you are already successful.

I was visiting my sister the other day, when I heard a booming baritone voice come out of my 10-year-old nephew, “Hiii Aunty MEL!” he intoned. Whoa. I looked at my at my sister, questioning, and received a look that said “Don’t say anything, he’s exploring something new.” Most of us learn very young to start trying on other characteristics and personalities.  I remember myself at that age: playing with makeup, experimenting with accents (usually British and Southern) and desperately interested in anything that wasn’t me.

We can carry these tendencies with us to the workplace, using our ‘cool voice’ to connect with others, assuming it’s what they want from us. In fact, what the world and the workplace needs is authenticity; there are more than enough people already trying to be somebody else. In being ourselves, we contribute our own distinctive thoughts and perspectives to the collective conversation.

It can be difficult to maintain our integrity and separateness in a society that is eager to have us conform. Oftentimes the freedom to be yourself, depends greatly on the culture of your workplace.  There is a rather standard uniform and language in corporate America, which is supported by media images, and cultural pressure of who we should be. Identifying and holding tightly to our authenticity throughout the traditional noise can be confusing. According to Seth Godin, progressive organizations give us the freedom to be ourselves, and recognize how valuable we are when we come to the table as simply us: ”The purpose of the modern organization is to make it easy and natural and expected for people to take risks. To lean out of the boat. To be human. Alas, most organizations do the opposite.”

Underneath our ‘cool voice’ and conformity are our natural talents, capabilities, and the insights we were gifted with.  Some of us have spent years repressing or ignoring these (*raises hand guiltily), and some of us are too busy listening to what everyone else thinks we should be doing.  It’s the weird ones, the true ones, the outliers, and the brave ones that push our society forward. People who are bold enough to take a different path, wave their freak flag and allow us all to imagine a different road for ourselves. Were it not for their courageous venturing into the territory of authenticity, perhaps we wouldn’t have the freedom to follow suit.

“Ring the bells that still can ring. Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack, a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.”

–Leonard Cohen

There is so much unheralded beauty found in imperfection, especially in our work. The best ideas, innovations and breakthroughs are often clouded in chaos, character flaws, and murky personnel issues.  When we are imperfect, creativity can take root, unbounded by the strict lines and limitations that often surround us. Working alongside our deficiencies, we are vulnerable, humble, and open to learning.

Part of not being a slave to perfectionism includes recognizing the culture of your workplace, and the expectations that abound. Perhaps your office has high standards of perfection, and little tolerance for risk or failure. In those types of situations, it’s hard to make a case for instinct, creative thought and innovation, which can be key resources in any job. Or maybe you are encouraged to try new things, but in trying, to fail quickly so you can move on to a new attempt at success.

While there may not be glamour in the quirkiness of others, in mistakes, and in taking risks that fail, there is so much opportunity that arises.  The irony is that we often try to shed our mistakes like bad habits, before examining how they can be a gift to us. By overtly trying to control these parts of our self, we repress our humanity, and also stifle our ability to connect with our co-workers who oftentimes are also trying to navigate their way along a similar path.

A few months ago, I attended a networking breakfast. Many attendees were new mothers, lamenting their lack of sleep and resulting lack of clear-mindedness. They were bleary-eyed, forgetful and completely honest about their challenges. The dialogue was so refreshing, and their candor gave the rest of us the chance to share how tired, stressed and strained we were. After having a soft place to land, and supportive colleagues who were brave enough to share their own difficulties, we were able to level the playing field and focus on supporting and helping each other.  It was one of the best working breakfasts I’ve had.

This is a lesson I’m continuing to learn: perfect isn’t always better. As I reflect on my work and my career growth, I’m surprised by the lack of transparency I provide regarding my own pitfalls and mistakes. Rather than reaching out for help or guidance, I tend to plow through work, and sometimes stumble along the way, frustrated by my own shortcomings.  Attempting perfectionism is a hindrance to my own personal development, but also to those around me who may be struggling with similar challenges. Instead of just focusing on perfecting our work, I think perfecting our humanity, and authenticity would bring us much further in our efforts for success.

Authenticity breeds success, and we are most successful when we are our best selves.  Reflecting on the biggest accomplishments in my career is typically coupled with acknowledging the difficulties that surrounded those wins. What made these accomplishments so significant were the obstacles and the limitations I was presented with – either through my own shortcomings, or through the parameters of the work.   Driving through these issues, while bumping up against red tape, inter-office politics and my own inadequacies, made my success so much sweeter.

Given the strong reactions surrounding Anne-Marie Slaughter’s recent article, I thought I would share a different perspective. Below is a letter to my mother, a woman who worked a full-time job throughout my childhood:

Dear Mom, 

 For those times when you couldn’t make my games, plays or have cookies waiting for me after school. For the times I cried because it was dark, and I thought you forgot about me at daycare when really, the early winter nights were creeping in. For when I only had snippets of your time and attention, while you cooked dinner, tended to the needs of my dad and sister, sometimes while getting your own homework done for your master’s degree, thank you.   

Thank you for showing me, through your actions, that I can be whomever I choose and that there is space and appreciation waiting for me in the professional world. Through your success, you taught me that my contributions and talents count towards helping businesses grow. You showed me that I can strive to do it all, and through my striving, my sons and daughters will be gifted by my accomplishments in their own way.

Thank you for demonstrating to me that having a career does not mean abandoning my children, but teaching them how to handle professional demands and have a family. That the lack of my physical presence will be replaced by a role modeling of tenacity, perseverance, and a tireless climb through the ranks of the working world, and for reminding me that I can choose to excel and thrive, rather than just exist in a job.

Aside from being a career mother, thank you for making sure that many ingredients for my meals came from the soil in our back yard, rather than from a box. And for telling me that I could not troll the mall with my friends on a Friday night, while I sat sullenly watching TV, burning with the fever of adolescence and impending freedom. Thank you for forcing me to take all those classes I resented, because I came away with so many skills, the most important of which is my ability to interact well with others (when the introverted side of me wants to sit home with my blankie.) 

Thank you for seeking art, beauty and travel in your downtime. For putting on makeup before you left the house, ever glamorous and self-aware.  For a trip to Portugal when I was 8, which gave me one of the best memories I hold close: that field full of yellow flowers. Thank you for forcing me to come home and write about that trip in my school journal until I cried, and cried. Erasing the first draft, and then the second, furious at you and now grateful for teaching me discipline and respect of my craft. Thank you for that trip to Greece when I was 14, and missing my thug boyfriend.  I was among ancient ruins, eating my first Souvlaki, and both were gifts I didn’t deserve, and have never forgotten.

For pushing me, and corralling me, urging and guiding me, all while you navigated your own career development, I am ever grateful. Thank you for teaching me that I didn’t have to be either, or. I could be: artist, pianist, gardener, mother, sister, wife, graduate student, full-time (well-loved) employee, and nurturer. Thank you for being: whistle-blower, sounding board, guide, scribe, audience, cheerleader, and all things mother.    

Love,

Melanie

With the vast amount of tasks we tackle daily, it can be easier to focus on the quantity of the work we produce, instead of the quality. Quantifying our success by the number of emails returned, projects tackled, or financial goals reached can be more manageable than strategically recognizing the value, and caliber of work we bring to a job.

Which is more valuable to a company? On the surface, it may appear to be the worker who hits their predetermined goals. If we dig beneath the surface, we may find that customers are unhappy with service, documents have spelling errors, and value is lacking.  If an employee focuses on the quality of their work as a priority, and then the speed and efficiency in which they get it done, everyone benefits.

Following are the 4 ways in which we can keep focused on the quality of our work:

Manners count: Return a phone call or an email. Someday you may be on the other end of the ask.

I’m guilty of occasionally missing an email, or imagining myself replying to something, and then not actually doing it. With the intensity of messaging bombarding us during the workweek via emails, calls, personnel conversations, social media, and many other snippets of communication, it’s challenging to remember who said what to whom and when.

We may struggle to stay organized amidst the chaotic conversations surrounding us, but there is a difference between simply missing an email, and purposely ignoring it. No one enjoys having tough conversations, receiving a sales pitch they have no interest in, or say ‘no’ to requests.  However, imagine being that sales person making the call, and just waiting for someone to call you back.  Almost everyone would much rather receive a ‘no’ than no response at all.

Remember, karma is legit.  Circumstances may lead us to the same situation, where one day, we are the ones making calls that we dread, and hoping that someone, anyone, is willing to connect.

Don’t rush

Sometimes a little reflection time is needed. When faced with a challenge at work, take a breather. Reflect on similar situations you’ve faced. Strategize. Receive feedback. Then, decide how to proceed.

Technology creates an expectation for rapid-fire responses, and allows for the assumption that we are readily available to think, work, and act quickly. A slow response time is rarely validated or rewarded. No one says, “Thank you for taking time to mull over this issue in a deliberate, and careful way.” Nonetheless, some of my most creative problem solving has come from a thoughtful, and slow-paced brainstorm. Separation and time away from the issue has also allowed me clarity on a challenge I’m trying to work through.

Taking time means also stepping away from work to fuel those things that drive your creativity: walk, paint, read, groom your dog, listen to music. Disconnect, and then revisit your work.

There are plenty of studies and progressive companies that believe that relaxation and outside hobbies are key to employee innovation and productivity. I wholeheartedly agree.  Sometimes our most unique and creative solutions come from the most unsuspecting places.

Focus on ease.

Success and growth through ease is a confusing phenomenon in a culture that is focused on ‘no pain, no gain’ approach.  We have come to expect discomfort and sacrifice on the road to career success (long hours, time away from our families and passions, and the trading of our authentic selves, for a corporate identity.)

Despite that mentality, certain talents and skills come easily to us, and only a small amount of tweaking, and practice is necessary to make them quality.

Danielle Laporte calls this, the Myth of Endurance and writes:

“Quality easy has a sense of fluidity to it. There’s a gravitational pull forward. Quality easy has fewer things on the to-do list and is a brilliant delegator. Quality easy trusts the timing of things.”

Keep your eyes on the task, not on the prize

“Success has a simple formula: do your best, and people may like it.”

- Sam Ewing

Our society tends to be obsessed with career growth and development.  As workers, a regular high-level view of our work can cause us to miss the details, or focus too much on the future, rather than on the task at hand.

Sometimes, it’s just about showing up and getting it done. No 5-year plan, no idea of where it’s all going to lead, and no clear-cut direction to drive your career. Just showing up and working your hardest, and then sitting back and waiting for the path to unfold itself.  Most of my best career moves have been a complete surprise. I’ve leapt into roles, which were a stretch or a perfect fit for me, and learned immensely in all of them, with no plan to guide me. We can’t always plan for these opportunities, until we are knee-deep in the trenches, hammering out tasks and responsibilities. We look up for a breather, and new avenues lay before us, ready to be taken advantage of.  How lucky we are to be able to grasp them.