This Eye-Opener Helped Me Quit - Randy Kessler

This Eye-Opener Helped Me Quit - Randy Kessler

   April 22, 2014       Unknown

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Who knows how we ultimately arrive at our current career path? Of course we can plan, hope and wish, but there are always unknown factors. I heard this morning on the radio about a teacher who makes his high school seniors write a letter to themselves, to be opened ten years in the future. 

The discussion was basically how goals and plans change based on circumstance, and no one really ends up on the exact career path they choose. My path and the change that put me there (on the path to building a law firm) was not as dramatic as many I have heard in my 26 years of practice as a divorce lawyer, where yes, I think I have almost heard it all. What drove me ultimately to start my own law firm at age 29 was a simple, but frustrating, difference of opinion.

My opinion was that I contributed to the team, and the team (my employer) would reciprocate. Well, did it happen? As kids say these days (and what Tonto said often), “not so much”. The situation: I had generated a case that provided good revenue for the firm. But when a court reporter bill went unpaid (after the client had paid the firm thousands), part of the court reporter’s bill was deducted from my salary by my employer (only a few hundred dollars, but it was over 10% of my paycheck at the time). That was the eye-opener for me.

For others it is more drastic—and it may be better, for instance, to lose a job and be forced to start over on a better, more productive path. Once that proverbial “last straw” was dished out, it set me on a new course. I then met with anyone I could who would give me advice about opening and operating a law firm. It was such a change in my life. I was looking forward; scared, but looking forward. 

I would be dependent on me. And I slowly gained confidence. But, as an insecure young lawyer (another fact that probably shaped my career path), I needed to discuss my work, my cases, my clients and their problems with others. This made me almost immediately begin hiring staff. 

A paralegal and an associate were my first hires, and from then on, I realized that adding good people, smart people, to a team was invaluable. And hopefully, and most importantly, I hope and believe that I do “give back” to those that give to the team. I also try to give back by being active in my field and speaking to younger lawyers and on social media, obviously on LinkedIn and elsewhere.

Giving back. It is the only way to work and it is the only way to live.

This post is part of a series in which LinkedIn Influencers share how they turned setbacks into success.

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The Mean Boss that Made Me a Kind One - Naomi Simson

The Mean Boss that Made Me a Kind One - Naomi Simson

   April 22, 2014       Unknown

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The Mean Boss that Made Me a Kind One - Naomi Simson, Career Curveballs

I like to think that I have been in charge of my own life, that I am in the driving seat rather than in the back seat along for a scenic ride – observing but not participating. But I confess that if it were not for other people’s actions, I would not be doing what I’m doing. I wrote about this particular curveball some months ago in "Can You Fire Your Boss?"

A career can be a series of Sliding Door moments: one door closes, another one opens, and often we are not quite sure which door is next. One thing is for sure there have been plenty of curveballs flung at me. I think my workday is going to go in one direction – and then before I know it I am off in another direction. Ultimately these sliding doors did lead to me start my own business.

In the early 1990s I worked in the aviation industry during the deregulation of the industry in Australia. I was proud and excited to get this job for such a prestigious iconic Australian brand, I called all my friends – there was no Facebook in those days – sharing the great news. I was jump-for-joy happy. It took me four hours to work out what to wear for my first day, wanting to make a good impression.

Yet within six months I lied about where I worked, and before the year was out I knew that this was not a long-term career company for me. It was the curveballs that made me realize this.

My role was as marketing manager for the loyalty club program and I was then asked to join the launch team on the first points-based frequency program to ever exist in Australia. It was a big deal back then; we thought it might even make front-page news. I was putting every ounce of effort I had into doing great work, even though I had to do two jobs at the same time. My workload had more than doubled, my salary stayed the same.

Month after month I toiled endless hours to get the program launched. My immediate colleagues saw my contribution. But my superiors had no idea of the work involved in getting the launch right whilst keeping the marketing effort for my original role in full flight.

After many months waiting to be acknowledged and see my salary reviewed, I finally got up the courage to go upstairs to the general manager's office:

“I’m enjoying the work, but my role has doubled. I have now been managing the two roles for more than six months. In what time frame would a salary review be undertaken?” I asked.

“Who do you think you are to come into my office and ask for a pay rise?” he retorted. “How do I know what value you add to this business?”

I left his office trying to hold back the tears, feeling not only diminished, but also angry and hurt. I was indignant – How could he not know my contribution?

Was it management’s job to notice what I did? Was it my peers? Or was it mine to speak up and share what I achieved? In hindsight of course it is a mixture of all these things. One thing I knew is I never would allow this to happen again.

Finally, my direct manager negotiated a salary review of my role. The outcome was a $5 per week pay rise. This was as insulting as the lack of recognition for my work. The general manager received my resignation the next day. Door closed!

Within weeks I joined Apple as a marketing manager. Door opened. And the rest, as they say, is history.

What I do know is this curveball galvanized what I believe about work places:

• I believe that everyone deserves to have a great day at work.
• I believe that if people know what they are there to do, if someone notices and they go home feeling like a winner, then they are likely to play full out.
• I believe that appreciation is the simplest and most effective way of valuing the contribution made by an individual.
• I believe that what gets noticed gets repeated.

And that is why I preach what I practice and work to support other businesses on their 'best employer' journeys. It is all about RED (Recognize Every Day) and without the curveball of having a mean, nasty, small-minded general manager as a boss 25 years ago, perhaps I would not have created such a successful business.

This post is part of a series in which LinkedIn Influencers share how they turned setbacks into success.

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