The Career Manifesto

Many thanks to Hugh MacLeod at gapingvoid.com for publishing my Career Manifesto as part of his manifesto series:

1. Unless you’re working in a coal mine, an emergency ward, or their equivalent, spare us the sad stories about your tough job. The biggest risk most of us face in the course of a day is a paper cut.

2. Yes, your boss is an idiot at times. So what? (Do you think your associates sit around and marvel at your deep thoughts?) If you cannot give your boss basic loyalty, either report the weasel to the proper authorities or be gone.

3. You are paid to take meaningful actions, not superficial ones. Don’t brag about that memo you sent out or how hard you work. Tell us what you achieved.

4. Although your title may be the same, the job that you were hired to do three years ago is probably not the job you have now. When you are just coasting and not thinking several steps ahead of your responsibilities, you are in dinosaur territory and a meteor is coming.

5. If you suspect that you’re working in a madhouse, you probably are. Even sociopaths have jobs. Don’t delude yourself by thinking you’ll change what the organization regards as a “turkey farm.” Flee.

6. Your technical skills may impress the other geeks, but if you can’t get along with your co-workers, you’re a litigation breeder. Don’t be surprised if management regards you as an expensive risk.

7. If you have a problem with co-workers, have the guts to tell them, preferably in words of one syllable.

8. Don’t believe what the organization says it does. Its practices are its real policies. Study what is rewarded and what is punished and you’ll have a better clue as to what’s going on.

9. Don’t expect to be perfect. Focus on doing right instead of being right. It will simplify the world enormously.

10.If you plan on showing them what you’re capable of only after you get promoted, you need to reverse your thinking.

Reprise: The Career Manifesto

I wrote this several years ago and Hugh MacLeod at gapingvoid.com was kind enough to publish it as part of his manifesto series:

1. Unless you’re working in a coal mine, an emergency ward, or their equivalent, spare us the sad stories about your tough job. The biggest risk most of us face in the course of a day is a paper cut.

2. Yes, your boss is an idiot at times. So what? (Do you think your associates sit around and marvel at your deep thoughts?) If you cannot give your boss basic loyalty, either report the weasel to the proper authorities or be gone.

3. You are paid to take meaningful actions, not superficial ones. Don’t brag about that memo you sent out or how hard you work. Tell us what you achieved.

4. Although your title may be the same, the job that you were hired to do three years ago is probably not the job you have now. When you are just coasting and not thinking several steps ahead of your responsibilities, you are in dinosaur territory and a meteor is coming.

5. If you suspect that you’re working in a madhouse, you probably are. Even sociopaths have jobs. Don’t delude yourself by thinking you’ll change what the organization regards as a “turkey farm.” Flee.

6. Your technical skills may impress the other geeks, but if you can’t get along with your co-workers, you’re a litigation breeder. Don’t be surprised if management regards you as an expensive risk.

7. If you have a problem with co-workers, have the guts to tell them, preferably in words of one syllable.

8. Don’t believe what the organization says it does. Its practices are its real policies. Study what is rewarded and what is punished and you’ll have a better clue as to what’s going on.

9. Don’t expect to be perfect. Focus on doing right instead of being right. It will simplify the world enormously.

10.If you plan on showing them what you’re capable of only after you get promoted, you need to reverse your thinking.

Career Manifesto: The Word is Out

Many thanks to Seth Godin for his mention of my Career Manifesto.

That strengthened the wave generated by the posting at Hugh MacLeod's gapingvoid.com and sent a lot of new readers to this blog.

It was a pleasure writing the manifesto and a double-pleasure to see the reaction.

Thanks too to the other bloggers who are helping to get out the word. I'll be listing all of those next week.

The Career Manifesto

Many of you will recall The Career Manifesto that I wrote years ago. 

I've posted it in The Complimentary Tool Box and am glad to say that it is as relevant as ever.

I think I'll nail it to a few doors.

The Career Manifesto

 I wrote this many years ago.  It received a lot of notice when Hugh MacLeod of gapingvoid.com included it with a bunch of manifestos.

1. Unless you’re working in a coal mine, an emergency ward, or their equivalent, spare us the sad stories about your tough job. The biggest risk most of us face in the course of a day is a paper cut.

2. Yes, your boss is an idiot at times. So what? (Do you think your associates sit around and marvel at your deep thoughts?) If you cannot give your boss basic loyalty, either report the weasel to the proper authorities or be gone.

3. You are paid to take meaningful actions, not superficial ones. Don’t brag about that memo you sent out or how hard you work. Tell us what you achieved.

4. Although your title may be the same, the job that you were hired to do three years ago is probably not the job you have now. When you are just coasting and not thinking several steps ahead of your responsibilities, you are in dinosaur territory and a meteor is coming.

5. If you suspect that you’re working in a madhouse, you probably are. Even sociopaths have jobs. Don’t delude yourself by thinking you’ll change what the organization regards as a “turkey farm.” Flee.

6. Your technical skills may impress the other geeks, but if you can’t get along with your co-workers, you’re a litigation breeder. Don’t be surprised if management regards you as an expensive risk.

7. If you have a problem with co-workers, have the guts to tell them, preferably in words of one syllable.

8. Don’t believe what the organization says it does. Its practices are its real policies. Study what is rewarded and what is punished and you’ll have a better clue as to what’s going on.

9. Don’t expect to be perfect. Focus on doing right instead of being right. It will simplify the world enormously.

10.If you plan on showing them what you’re capable of only after you get promoted, you need to reverse your thinking.

Big Thanks

Many thanks to all of the bloggers who've mentioned my Career Manifesto since it was originally posted at Hugh MacLeod's Gapingvoid.com.

I'm especially grateful to Andy Lester who posted it on his blog and notified me of an RSS feed problem. Rowan Manahan of Fortify Your Oasis also had some kind words early on. Others who deserve mention and gratitude are Carolyn Manning of Thoughtsphilosophies, Roger Bauer of SMB Consulting, Mike Svenson of Citizen Brand, Frederick Casagrande of Assuetudes Numeriques (who translated it into French!), 101 East Haynes blog, Eclecticity blog, Seth Godin, Larry Borsato, Hootsbuddy’s Place, Dave Lorenzo of Career Intensity, Pedro’s Spot, Foreword blog, Stewart Schatz, Jeff Ruley, MoneyMoneyMoney, Orblogs, Rock Your Career, Mark Polino at Mpolino.com, Ben Yoskovitz at Instigator Blog, Madalin Matica at Dot Commerce, Nicholas Bate, James P. MacLennan at cazh1 blog, Teri Robnett at Teri’s Brain, Matt Russell at Matt Russell Graphics Blog, and The Career Capitalist blog.

Thanks to one and all. It was a great way to learn about a lot of neat blogs. I plan on visiting and linking to your blogs in the future.

If I've missed any bloggers, please let me know and I'll acknowledge you in a future post.

Best wishes,

Michael

The Career Manifesto is Back!

I've popped it up on Substack.

Read it. Learn it. Live it.

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