The best advice no one ever gave you

 

Remember Daniel Pink's book The Whole New Mind? It was something of a treatise on the power of right-brained thinking in our changing economy. Serious stuff.

Enter his newest book: The Adventures of Johnny Bunko. A little comic-primer set to do no less than unseat that loopy-doopy The Places You'll Go Suess-ian tome from the top of the go-to grad gift list.

Bunko is a career guide. Featuring a genie. And a cube dweller. And the super sage piece of advice above.

Here's my spin:

The #1 mistake I see advertising newbies make at work is falling into the Supportive Parents Trap.

They grew up with moms who applauded their every successfully in-toilet poo. Dad's who only put down their video cameras long enough to lead a standing ovation at their school plays. Grandmas and grandpas who bragged their poems and art projects and sundry creativity.

You know, a good family.

One that sought out the good things their kids did. And, happily rewarded them for the effort.

Those well-adjusted newbies land at work full of big ideas and sharp skills. Full of that fabulous fodder: potential.

But, when the boss doesn't notice. Doesn't seek them out. Promote them. Reward them.

Well, what then?

The complaining begins. The gripey circles of discontent form. The dissatisfaction blooms. They feel worse and are more siloed and unnoticed than ever.

And why?

Because we were expecting to be discovered. Our whole lives people have recognized us for the gems we are. Why not here?

The inevitable answer is that work - ESPECIALLY agency work - just isn't built that way.

It rewards initiative over talent. Persistence over patience. Relevance over potential.

You get noticed by channeling that ambition into action. By coming to the table with ideas and inspiration. By pitching your boss on new directions. By volunteering for the tireless work of new business. By becoming an indispensable subject matter expert. By building an incredible relationship with a client. By coming to your boss as a peer and not just a squeaky wheel.

The best piece of advice no one ever gave you is no one ever got anywhere by waiting for someone to notice them. The plucky newbie gets the raise.

Buy the book for you or your favorite kid with huge potential and a chip on their shoulder. (It's even on sale!)

Comments

[Holly Hoffman]

People really still think this dribble? You must be hiring the wrong kids, because I haven't seen those types around my workplace. I hear all the Gen Xers and Boomers doing the complaining... about Gen Y. Irony...

I myself was raised fairly poor and put myself through college, and landed my first job without the intervention of any video-toting, applauding parents. (Though it might have been nice to have that advantage in life. Mine were working.)

Besides, we didn't invent the reward system. Gen Y wasn't out there demanding the trophies for just showing up... who was it that was doing that? Oh, yeah. The Boomer & Gen X parents.

At any rate, you might want to check out some articles on Gen Y myths & misconceptions (just Google "Gen Y Myths"). I don't think you'll see a generation more committed to proving their worth through hard work, dedication, persistance, and innovation.

[Alan Wolk]

Excellent observation Leigh.

School also rewards the "Supportive Parents Trap" kids. More than even their parents. Teachers have generally fawned over these kids, held their papers and tests up as shining examples of right thinking from kindergarten through grad school.

But advertising, as you note, is oftentimes not the sort of profession that rewards this sort of thing. It's a profession that tends to reward those who can take a hit and keep coming back for more. Something SPT kids have never had to do.