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BY Brock Dudley
One Year in Business: What I Learned
Hello, everyone! Excited to be back. As this post goes live, I’ve now been at Cameron-Brooks for exactly a year. A lot has changed in my life in the last 365 days. I’ve been reflecting on a lot lately. I was able to have coffee with my pastor this past week and he basically told me, “Brock, you need to slow down.” We laughed. I agree.
So, this post comes with great timing. I wanted to take this opportunity to write about some of the things I’ve learned, observed, felt, seen, and been reflecting on as it pertains to the last year.
Before we do that, I do have two book recommendations that I believe would be of value to those making the transition, or who are in the early stages of their new careers. Of course, this applies to the transitioning JMO, but it’s also applicable to those going up for promotions or about to take a promotion.
“The First 90 days” by Michael D. Watkins
The First 90 Days is a guide for leaders transitioning into new roles, providing strategies for success during the critical first three months. The book outlines how to effectively make an impact and set a foundation for long-term success in leadership positions. A summary of some of the key concepts are below:
1) Prepare yourself. Transitioning into a new role requires mental preparation, understanding the organization, and identifying early challenges.
2) Be prepared to accelerate your learning. From a business standpoint, you must quickly understand the organization’s culture, processes, people, and challenges. Try to learn about the history of the company, operations, and current strategy.
3) Ask yourself if you are entering: A Start-up? A Turnaround? A realignment? Or Sustaining success?
4) Look for small wins. Try to achieve small but significant victories early on. These will help build momentum, credibility, and trust.
5) Establish a clear understanding with your boss about expectations, priorities, and trust. Try to establish regular communications to align on goals and ensure you share a vision for success.
6) Keep your balance. It’s important to manage the stress of a new role to have the opportunity for long-term success. Take care of yourself mentally and physically.
Watkins talks about much more, but I appreciate the framework he provides for leaders transitioning into new roles.
“The Dip” by Seth Godin
The Dip is a short, insightful book about knowing when to quit and when to persevere. Godin’s central idea is that every venture, project, or career path will encounter a “Dip” – a period of difficulty and struggle that separates successful people from those who give up. The book offers guidance on how to recognize when you’re in a temporary setback that’s worth pushing through or if you’re in a cul-de-sac (dead end).
The Dip is the tough period between starting something and achieving success. It’s the point where things get harder, less rewarding, and more challenging. Yes, when the honeymoon wears off. When the initial excitement fades but before significant progress is made. The Dip is where people start questioning: “Did I make the right choice?”. The Dip is where most people quit. On the flip side, being able to recognize if you’re in a dip, how to embrace it, how to push through it to stand out, endure, and be rewarded is important. These can be Short-term sacrifices in terms of time, effort and sometimes even failure, but can lead to long-term success.
And I want to make something clear: I’m not talking about working 90-hour weeks, every week! I am talking about sticking things out when doubt creeps in, or when things are tough, when the economy is tough, when the organization is having a down year, when wanting things too quickly, when you are wondering if you did the right thing.
So, with those two book recommendations, here we go.
Disclaimer: These are lessons that I’ve learned in year 1, written to myself. These are pulled directly from my Journal. I could write blogs on every single one of these topics (and maybe I will), so I’ve done my best to keep them short and sweet. Here goes…one year in business.
Year 1: Lessons learned (written to me)
1. The transition was hard. Harder than you thought it would be, but so rewarding. You did it. You laid the foundation of your career brick by brick, with the help of so many others.
2. Mentors can make the difference. You have that all around you, organic and inorganic to the organization. Joel Junker, and Pete Van Epps: Thank you.
3. You will feel an itch. You will feel The Dip. In fact, you already have. The honeymoon wore off quickly. Work is work, so remember why you joined this organization.
4. It takes time. Don’t expect to be an expert right away. You will learn more in your first year, and in the first 5 years of your career, if you let it.
5. Embrace the Growth Mindset. Pound a stake in the ground right now. Commit to the mindset that you will never arrive. There’s so much you don’t know.
6. Add value where you can. Little things add up to the big things!
7. The sharpest, brightest, most intellectual, wise, and humble leaders you’ve met, listened to, and spoken to, have at least one thing (if not many) in common: They are READERS!
8. Be intellectually curious. LEARN!
9. “Big Ears, Big Eyes, Itty Bitty Mouth”.
10. You are standing on the shoulders of giants. Your individual success is built upon the knowledge, achievements, and innovations of those who have gone before you. Those ahead of you have already done more for you than you realize.
11. Remember, working is important. Work can be – AND IS – a vehicle for things more important.
BONUS: 3 ways to accelerate your career in the first year (E205).
Want to chat about some of these? Give me call or send me a message. I’d be happy to chat. Hope you enjoy!
Brock Dudley || (210) 874-1495 || bdudley@cameron-brooks.com
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