Be loyal to people. People transcend corporations, and people,
unlike corporations, value loyalty. Good leaders know they are only as
good as the team standing behind them—and once they have forged a
bond of trust with someone, will do whatever it takes to keep that
person happy and on their team. If your boss isn’t fighting for you, you
either have a bad boss or you are a bad employee.
Manage Your Career
Take responsibility for your own career, and manage it. People will tell
you to “follow your passion.” This, again, is bullshit. I would like to be
quarterback for the New York Jets. I’m tall, have a good arm, decent
leadership skills, and would enjoy owning car dealerships after my
knees go. However, I have marginal athletic ability—learned this fast
at UCLA. People who tell you to follow your passion are already rich.
Don’t follow your passion, follow your talent. Determine what you
are good at (early), and commit to becoming great at it. You don’t have
to love it, just don’t hate it. If practice takes you from good to great, the
recognition and compensation you will command will make you start
to love it. And, ultimately, you will be able to shape your career and
your specialty to focus on the aspects you enjoy the most. And if not—
make good money and then go follow your passion. No kid dreams of
being a tax accountant. However, the best tax accountants on the
planet fly first class and marry people better looking than themselves—
both things they are likely to be passionate about.
Seeking Justice
If you are seeking justice, you won’t find it in the corporate world. You
will be treated unfairly and will be in unworkable situations that are
not your fault. Expect that a certain amount of failure is out of your
control, and recognize you may need to endure it or move on. If you
leave, keep in mind people remember more about how you leave than
what you did while there. No matter the situation, be gracious.