CONSUME [kuhn-soom]1. to destroy or expend by use; use up
2. to eat or drink up; devour
3. to spend (money, time, etc.) wastefully
4. to absorb; engross
A few years ago (OK, over a decade) I was a 20-something college graduate with a few years of professional experience, some successes, a lot of failures and no lack of drive to get to the top regardless the obstacles; whether they were human beings or inanimate concepts. Unfortunately, I had little idea of how to get there and studying was the last thing on my mind. My definition of consume during those years was all variations of 1, 2 and 3. I consumed well…and often.
What I would tell my 24-year old professional self and what you will hear me coaching my teams to do now is to be consumers of business, industry, development and leadership. “Be a student.” By nature we learn by doing and watching, but limiting ourselves to these avenues will do just that – limit. To be a consumer in this context has nothing to do with your bar tab, a weekend shopping spree or all-you-can eat pizza and it will do more for you than drain your pocketbook or expand your waistline!
If I told you that your next promotion and pay raise were guaranteed if you learned how to start a fire without matches in one week’s time, what would you do?
The point is, the answers to your tests are at your fingertips in a variety of consumable formats; some obvious and some a bit more obscure. The world truly is your classroom and here are a few ideas to get you started:
Dip into the world of tweets, follows, hashtags and mindshare. Follow me @jessiguenther and you will get access to notes and articles that are near and dear to me as a professional (and you’ll learn about my sports team preferences which won’t get you promoted, but will indicate I’ve got good sense). It may take a little getting used to, but the beauty of this site is it allows you to consume meaningful information in a customized way. For general business tips and thought leadership, start following Harvard Business Review, Leaders Beacon and Allegis Group Services. Follow an influential leader in your business or life and check out who and what they’re following as well.
If you travel, there is still a point between zero and 10,000 ft when electronics are prohibited- it’s a great time to do some “old-fashioned” reading. If you want more in your career, you need to know what’s going on around you. For the tech savvy, you can download the Wall Street Journal app to your mobile device.
3. Use Your Morning Commute
Listen to an informative audiobook, tune your XM radio to a favorite news and information channel or build meaningful dialogue with your carpool.
Find content specific to your industry and schedule 15 minutes in your day to read, digest and further research the information that you receive. In the Human Capital space, try Staffing Industry Analysts, Human Capital Institute and the American Staffing Association. Use Delicious or Google Reader to keep track of your resources.
Ask for 3 tips to improve your knowledge in an area that is important to you. Do this every few months and you’ll start to find patterns that are worth pursuing.
A mentor of mine recently told me that his training regimen with new hires includes a mandate that they start their day with the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. If I had worked for him back in 1997 when my career first began, I might have saved my pocketbook and waistline from some unneeded grief. Redefine yourself as a consumer and watch what happens.
Last week, I went to a movie with 2 girlfriends who also happen to be stay at home moms. I watched the trailer for Sarah Jessica Parker’s new movie I Don’t Know How She Does It – the Hollywood version of a working mother who’s trying to juggle kids’ birthday parties and date night with power meetings and email backlog. I sat rapt with attention wishing it was this movie we were seeing rather than Hangover 2.
I’m one of millions of women in the world living this quandary- that of wife, mother and working professional intent on finding a way to “make it work”. For as many working mothers as there are in the world, there is twice the amount of advice on the subject. I purposely avoided the myriad resources so you could get my own take on striving for utopia. We working mothers do not need to be reminded that it takes an army to raise a child or that supportive spouses and bosses are ‘the key’. Quite frankly my balance would be easier if my mother-in-law approved but that’s a blog for another day.
Here, from 36,000ft on what is my 7th international business trip in as many months, is a shortlist of my strategies:
1. Guilt is inevitable. If I’m not feeling guilty for time spent away from my family, I’m feeling guilty for taking time off. The trick is to be present and if the pull of work or home is distracting when tending to the other make a decision about where you need to be at that moment.
2. Talk to your children about what you do, even when they’re young. My oldest son was just past his 3rd birthday when he started to get curious about where I was going and at 4, he asked me what I did “at my office”. He doesn’t get it, but he enjoys the conversation. If you travel, get a globe or a map and show them where you’re going.
3. Take your family to work. For an hour, for lunch, for the day. Let the people you work with meet and interact with the people you love. Warning: your relationships with all parties might improve
4. Just say “No”. Stay in control. There is no business trip, office happy hour or play date for that matter that doesn’t deserve evaluation for its worth toward your goals. Need to connect with your team? Say yes to an after-hours gathering but if it can wait, let it wait. Better yet, pick a family-friendly location and see #3. The girls looking for a play date on your only free weekend? Offer to host the next one so you can pick the date.
5. Get over yourself. Sure, we deserve some credit for all that we do, but I said it earlier- there are millions of us out there. And don’t forget that you can’t do what you do by yourself. Thank your spouse, your significant other, your children, heck, your mother-in-law. Say it, show it, mean it.
Not surprisingly, my stay-at-home mom friends have no interest in seeing SJP’s new flick. Of their own admission, it might be another reminder of what they’re missing.