Your Sorting Hat: On changing your identity, challenge networks and fun days at work
Career Tuesday
Careers, Life and Questions (Dec 21, 2021)
Wish you a Happy Career Tuesday!
3 Career Ideas
I.
"What's your identity? Is it a salesman or learner, CEO or problem solver?
Definitions empower but limit. Choose and live in a new identity to grow faster."
II.
"Know your employer's business. How does the other team contribute?
Your market value skyrockets when you know how things work."
III.
"Execution has value. Ideas are a dime a dozen. What does that mean for you?
Specialise in execution. You can always seek ideas from your team or market."
2 Life Quotes from Books
I.
Adam Grant, professor of ogranisational psychology at Wharton, believes in the benefits of receiving criticism in his book - Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know :
"We learn more from people who challenge our thought process than those who affirm our conclusions. Strong leaders engage their critics and make themselves stronger. Weak leaders silence their critics and make themselves weaker. This reaction isn’t limited to people in power. Although we might be on board with the principle, in practice we often miss out on the value of a challenge network."
Source: Book: Think Again by Adam Grant
II.
Ashlee Vance, business columnist and author, explains Elon Musk's view on the necessity of adversity in life, in Musk's biography - Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future :
"It bothers Musk a bit that his kids won’t suffer like he did. He feels that the suffering helped to make him who he is and gave him extra reserves of strength and will. “They might have a little adversity at school, but these days schools are so protective,” he said. “If you call someone a name, you get sent home. When I was going to school, if they punched you and there was no blood, it was like, ‘Whatever. Shake it off.’ Even if there was a little blood, but not a lot, it was fine."
Source: Book: Elon Musk by Ashlee Vance
1 Question
What part of your work day was fun? What would make your entire day enjoyable?
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Until next week,
Devashish Chakravarty
Author of YourSortingHat
Columnist for Careers at The Economic Times