Brother -
This note is about reflection, and let me start with a quote:
"You don't learn from experience. You learn from reflecting on it".
-John Dewey
As you've started your post-university career, you'll notice time flies. Years get shorter, and within a blink a decade can pass by. We wake up, go to work, hit our KPIs, come home, and do it over and over again.
Reflection is a tool to help us slow down and 'hit pause' in this chaotic yet repetitive world. It will help you look back and connect the dots on your journey. To interpret them, create meaning, and most importantly - to learn.
I've reflected a lot this past week, thinking about some defining moments and their stories.
Let me share the story about the quote I reference above. I first heard it over four years ago by an individual who has now become my professional coach (Hey Joe). My career was going well. I was building up experiences and putting some wins on the board - but I started to hit a wall. My challenge was I couldn't delegate. I had difficulty trusting others, and I was unable to scale myself.
I had recently moved to Russia, and I was working myself to the bone. Literally I would get sick due to unsustainable hours and a constant stress that hung over me. A colleague of mine tried to help by asking, "What was my toughest business challenge I was facing?" and "whom on my team did I think had the potential to step up and lead this challenge?"
She forced me to think it through and didn't let me fall back to saying, "only I could do it." Ultimately my choice became clear. I delegated an important pricing initiative to a passionate data-driven analyst on my team. He did a great job. Likely better than I would have done it myself.
I made time to reflect on this situation, and even shared it with my coach. What did I learn? That I could trust others with difficult initiatives. More importantly, that I should look first to empower others. Give them the stretch opportunities - and position myself as a coach to them instead.
This learning critalized for me due to reflection, and I changed how I operated as a manager. I started to get a reputation as someone who empowers his team… sometimes even too much! This has been a key ingredient to some of my recent career growth, and I now manage a team 100x the size of my one in Russia.
In terms of the employee that did the pricing initiative. Well, we ended up building a close connection. He later decided to follow me to Amsterdam and join my new team. He continues to be one of my favorite "go-to" people today on my toughest business challenges.
The point is, Brother - you will have many experiences - but you need to reflect on them to learn and adapt. Make sure you make time early and often for you to go deep enough to connect the dots.
Let me leave with a quote and a question.
"Knowledge is information. Wisdom is application"
James Clear
When was a time you grew personally or professionally? What was the situation, your actions, and the result? How have you changed going forward?
Enjoy the dance,
Nate