Get shit done and be nice, or notes on success
One of the most common questions I receive (especially from young women) is around my career outside of this blog: how did I get my job? How do I balance work with my blog? How do I travel so much while holding down a full-time job? And what advice do I have for young women starting in their career?
I’ve got to admit, I hardly feel like I have the success that I’m striving for BUT I do think that I’ve done a good job of working for cool companies, thriving in my role and negotiating my desired salary and life-work balance. I still have a lot more I want to achieve, but wanted to share my overarching principle when it comes to my career, as well as a few of my favorite inspirational-yet-practical work books. Basically: get shit done and be nice.
On the getting shit done part: I considered toning it down for the purpose of this blog, something along the lines of “work hard” but honestly: you can work as hard as you want to, but if you don’t produce results, no one is going to care. If you can be trusted to do what you were asked to do (without being asked twice), if you sometimes go above and beyond, if you make your ideas heard and you follow through on them: you get shit done. And I’ve found that goes farther than being tied to a desk through lunch and past the close of business. Be efficient, be productive, get it done.
I’ve been able to travel regularly while holding down a full-time job because my bosses trust that I’ll get my work done, even if I’m not physically in the office. I work even harder to make sure that they never have a reason to doubt that. I’m pretty fluid about my work hours because of this: there are times when I get in early and times when I answer work emails at night on the couch, because I never want anyone to think that I’m not working hard just because I left a little early to go to a Pilates class.
The reality of life in 2016 (almost 2017!) is that you’re going to be expected to be available 24/7. You have to know that and on. you have to own it. I turn my phone on airplane mode about 30 minutes before going to bed and don’t take it off until I’m on my way out the door in the morning. If I don’t do this, I’ll get sucked into Instagram, work emails, etc. early and would never a) meditate and b) get out the door on time. I answer work emails at night so that I can answer personal emails in the afternoon. I’ll work remotely instead of taking a true vacation so that I can travel more.
And on the being nice part: there’s a lot said about how women have to be “likeable” in addition to being capable, and how that is somehow a complete affront to feminist notions. Look: I don’t like working with jerks, whether it’s a man or a woman. I hardly think that being likeable is something that hinders only woman, but I do think that it can be harder to break into any club (let alone an old boys’ one) if you’re a bitch.
I like working with people who are smart and reasonable and in generally in good spirits. And so, I try to be the sort of person whom I’d like working with: I’m on time to meetings, I stay enthusiastic about the task at hand, I’m genuinely interested in the lives of coworkers and clients.
And there’s a perk to being nice that goes beyond just the everyday work grind: every job I’ve gotten has been because I know someone. Friends, former coworkers and industry acquaintances have been the ones who have made introductions or put in a good word—and if they didn’t like me or like working with me, that never would have happened.
Here are a few of my favorite career books that I strongly recommend, whether you’re just starting out or need some extra inspiration:
- How to Win Friends and Influence People
- Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead
- The Confidence Code: the Science and Art of Self-Assurance
Also, here’s a podcast where I talk about the power of routines and why company culture matters.
What’s your work mantra? What career advice would you give to a younger you?
