That was a question asked by the late Jimi Hendrix back in 1967.
Well, are you? Before you answer, of course Jimi and I are asking within
different contexts. But the answers should be considered in a similar
way. As he clarifies in the album's title track, his definition is "not
necessarily stoned, but beautiful." He's asking if you are going beyond
just living a life, but are you truly experiencing the world? And I'm
asking you if you're going beyond just working a job, but are you truly
experiencing your profession? This isn't intended to be philosophical,
but are you searching for deeper meaning in your career?
So I will pose the question again, are you experienced?
If you're thinking the answer is yes because you've been at a particular job for a particular period of time, then you're missing the point. Nodding agreeably to get through meetings doesn't help you find your deeper meaning. Punching a time clock doesn't mean you're seizing those moments. Doing enough to not get fired doesn't make your ambition burn like a Hendrix guitar in Monterey.
Being a tenured employee is generally a good thing. But that alone doesn't make you experienced. An experienced employee is one who is constantly setting goals, hitting goals, and then revising and/or creating new goals. An experienced employee is trying to learn something new on a daily basis. An experienced employee doesn't just complete mundane tasks like a drone but seeks out additional responsibilities. An experienced employee doesn't complain about the promotion they want or think they deserve; they hold themselves accountable for their position and implement strategies to drive themselves to the next level.
Keep these things in mind when considering whether or not you are experienced:
1. Have you decided what you want to do?: Set high level goals, such as "what do you ultimately want to accomplish in your professional career?" Seems obvious but you'd be surprised how many people can't answer this question. If you're still undecided, then that's OK, just project your goals the furthest into the future that you have established.
2. What is your plan to get there?: Employers often ask for a daily, weekly, monthly, and/or annual plan. But beyond that consider your plan to reach your high level goals. What can you specifically do to put yourself in the best position to reach these goals? Follow your plan.
3. Do you hold yourself accountable?: Successful people have no use for excuses. You can't control what your management, colleagues, and clientele do, but you can greatly influence it. Don't be afraid of being a guiding example. As long as you conduct yourself with integrity, the ones that ultimately matter will respect you.
4. Do you ever take on additional responsibilities?: This doesn't mean you should clean the coffee machine (unless of course, you were hired to clean the coffee machine). This means when you're in a meeting and your manager is discussing a new company initiative, volunteer to work on it. Research needs to be done? Ask if you can do it. Make yourself valuable, not in an attempt to pander to the bosses, but because your value is what's being assessed in the professional world. Management, colleagues, and clientele all assign value to you based on what they see you do. It's this value that maximizes your opportunities and/or creates new ones.
5. Do you take advantage of your resources?: Every industry has a bounty of books, blogs, white papers, webinars, podcasts, in-person presentations, and conferences. Find experts you can relate to, learn from, or enjoy and seek their materials. You may even have experts in your organization or professional network, many of which would be glad to share their experiences with you. During your commute, before bed, during a workout, during lunch... find the time to read, view, and/or listen to these resources.
If you're doing these things but feel like your company is either not recognizing them or not in a position to give you the necessary experience, then you need to reevaluate why you're there. Can you be influential enough to change that within the organization? If not, you may need to consider other options. But don't waste your time going through the motions anymore. Stop settling for showing up for a paycheck. Challenge yourself to improve daily.
Just going to work every day doesn't make you experienced any more than staring at a guitar every day makes you Jimi Hendrix.
So I will pose the question again, are you experienced?
If you're thinking the answer is yes because you've been at a particular job for a particular period of time, then you're missing the point. Nodding agreeably to get through meetings doesn't help you find your deeper meaning. Punching a time clock doesn't mean you're seizing those moments. Doing enough to not get fired doesn't make your ambition burn like a Hendrix guitar in Monterey.
Being a tenured employee is generally a good thing. But that alone doesn't make you experienced. An experienced employee is one who is constantly setting goals, hitting goals, and then revising and/or creating new goals. An experienced employee is trying to learn something new on a daily basis. An experienced employee doesn't just complete mundane tasks like a drone but seeks out additional responsibilities. An experienced employee doesn't complain about the promotion they want or think they deserve; they hold themselves accountable for their position and implement strategies to drive themselves to the next level.
Keep these things in mind when considering whether or not you are experienced:
1. Have you decided what you want to do?: Set high level goals, such as "what do you ultimately want to accomplish in your professional career?" Seems obvious but you'd be surprised how many people can't answer this question. If you're still undecided, then that's OK, just project your goals the furthest into the future that you have established.
2. What is your plan to get there?: Employers often ask for a daily, weekly, monthly, and/or annual plan. But beyond that consider your plan to reach your high level goals. What can you specifically do to put yourself in the best position to reach these goals? Follow your plan.
3. Do you hold yourself accountable?: Successful people have no use for excuses. You can't control what your management, colleagues, and clientele do, but you can greatly influence it. Don't be afraid of being a guiding example. As long as you conduct yourself with integrity, the ones that ultimately matter will respect you.
4. Do you ever take on additional responsibilities?: This doesn't mean you should clean the coffee machine (unless of course, you were hired to clean the coffee machine). This means when you're in a meeting and your manager is discussing a new company initiative, volunteer to work on it. Research needs to be done? Ask if you can do it. Make yourself valuable, not in an attempt to pander to the bosses, but because your value is what's being assessed in the professional world. Management, colleagues, and clientele all assign value to you based on what they see you do. It's this value that maximizes your opportunities and/or creates new ones.
5. Do you take advantage of your resources?: Every industry has a bounty of books, blogs, white papers, webinars, podcasts, in-person presentations, and conferences. Find experts you can relate to, learn from, or enjoy and seek their materials. You may even have experts in your organization or professional network, many of which would be glad to share their experiences with you. During your commute, before bed, during a workout, during lunch... find the time to read, view, and/or listen to these resources.
If you're doing these things but feel like your company is either not recognizing them or not in a position to give you the necessary experience, then you need to reevaluate why you're there. Can you be influential enough to change that within the organization? If not, you may need to consider other options. But don't waste your time going through the motions anymore. Stop settling for showing up for a paycheck. Challenge yourself to improve daily.
Just going to work every day doesn't make you experienced any more than staring at a guitar every day makes you Jimi Hendrix.
Author Information: Joshua Weber is a leading eDiscovery
Consultant with significant experience assisting AM Law 100 firms,
smaller law firms, general counsels, and corporations in achieving their
eDiscovery goals. As an Eagle Scout with a B.A. in Communications
Studies and a decade of sales and customer service experience, Mr. Weber
offers his own unique perspective on the eDiscovery world. The
information and views expressed are Mr. Weber's and do not reflect the
position(s) of any other party or organization.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joshua_Weber
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