Be the Top in Your Field

Often when someone starts to stagnant in a particular field or business, he starts to consider moving to another field.  Harvard Business Review recently had an article discussing this misperception.

In the article entitled "The Grass Isn't Greener", Evan Hirsh and Kastui Rangan state:

Your chance of getting superior returns is far better if you stay in your own industry and improve your performance than if you move into a new one.  It's a bit like having faith, when darkness falls, that the sun will return tomorrow.  You can pretty much count on it.

There are numerous situations where the initial tendency is to look externally, when the best approach is to look internally.  Focus within your organization and make improvements.  Focus within yourself and make improvements. 

Article:  Evan Hirsh and Kasturi Rangan, "The Grass Isn't Green," Harvard Business Review , volume 91, issue 1/2 (January-February 2013), pp 21-24. 

Leadership: George on Mindfulness--Harvard Business

Recently Bill George had an article at the Harvard Business Review (hbr.org) entitled "Mindfulness Helps You Become a Better Leader".  He talks about some of the work they are doing at Harvard Business School as well his courses in Authentic Leadership.

"We are challenging students to think hard about their definition of success and what's important in their lives. Instead of viewing success as reaching a certain position or achieving a certain net worth, we encourage these future leaders to see success as making a positive difference in the lives of their colleagues, their organizations, their families, and society as a whole"

George emphasizes that leaders should routinely clarify their values and priorities.  Important to this process is a daily practice such as meditation, journaling, prayer, or reflecting while walking, hiking or jogging.  This connects to Stephen Covey's concept of "Sharpening the Saw."

There are many small things that you can do every day to help put your values in practice and impact colleagues, family members, and friends.  Go out of your way to say a sincere "thank you" or "good job".  Spend a little extra time with someone close to you.  Ask one more open-ended question and then just listen. 


URL for article:  http://blogs.hbr.org/hbsfaculty/2012/10/mindfulness-helps-you-become-a.html

Multi-Faceted Careers

Most of use realize that the economy and the career world has changed.  One no longer gets a college degree in Field X, the gets a job in Field X, and then works for 40 years in that job until retirement.

Adam Richardson had a good post today on Harvard Business Review (HBR.com), entitled "Lessons from a Career, Interrupted."  He explains his own career path mixing design work and research.  His challenge was some companies could not see the role for a "hybrid" employee.  Richardson points out that such multi-faceted hybrid professional are often the one able to approach and solve unique problems.

There are two aspects of my own career that I would recommend to others who are interested in a multi-faceted career and are in the early preparation stage or in a later transitional stage.

Experimental Science Research:  Often, experimental research involves hands-on equipment work beyond the scientific problem being explored.  Many researchers become experts in machining, electronics, and programming just to study a different field.  Learning these specialties gives someone the appreciation of the low-level details.  Plus, they have the basic knowledge and common language to communicate with experts they need.  Many careers today involve learning new skills to adjust to changes.

Small Business Operations:  I have started up businesses as well as had core roles within independent departments.  One quickly learns about accounting, human resources, payroll, marketing, vendor relations, IT, and facilities.  Being involved in all aspects can be overwhelming, but the global view allows you to see synergies and advantages that may be misses.