Part II “What’s the worst that can happen?

“Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference – Robert Frost”

Dear Shawn –

By now you’ve settled nicely into your working world; schedules are clear, routines are comforting, and you’ve spent valuable time learning about the people and the company you work for and are finally starting to feel comfortable.

This morning your manager asked you take on a new assignment and your not sure what to do? Let me help you think through this one. But first, some inspiration from those that came before us…

• Richard Feynman said, “If you’re the smartest person in the room, then you’re in the wrong room”
• Socrates said, “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.”
• Lao Tzu said, “Life is series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward, in whatever way they like.”
• Heraclitus said, “The only constant in life is change.”

Don’t roll your eyes at me! I get it, change comes with risk and why take the risk of change when you are unconsciously competent in what you are doing every day. Ill cut to the point….because life is short, your career is 1/3 of it and you only get one turn around the merry go round!

Now, let me preface my next piece of advice with two caveats –

1. If it seems too good to be true, it always is, no exceptions.
2. The person you will be working for is the single most important criteria in evaluating a role. The opportunity to learn and be mentored by one of the best cannot be replicated by any fame of success. Your direct manager is more important than compensation and more important than technology or even brand. Qualify the opportunity and your opportunity to learn from your new boss.

Once you’ve qualified the opportunity the only question you need to ask yourself is in the realm of this opportunity “What is the worst thing that could happen?”.

If the answer is simply that you would learn new skills, meet new people, and ultimately decide that it is not the right long-term position for you, great, that’s called learning and growing. Remember, the skills you have built and the relationships you have built are your foundation, they will be there when you need them but if you want to keep growing you got to keep challenging yourself and yes, that means leaning on others to acquire new skills and evolve.

Lastly, remember that when we you were growing up Dad always told you that “Opportunity was a bald man with a long beard and that when he knocked at the door you should grab him by the beard because once he turns around he is gone forever”.

Opportunities are a gift, look them in the face, grab the beard and never look back!

**Special credit to one of my cherished leaders Dave S. who helped me see the power and opportunity of change and how important it was for true growth**