8/26/2013–It’s much easier to perform with the wind at your back. I’ts also easier to enjoy work when you’re successful. The fact that I am hitting my numbers and still feel as though I’m unfulfilled is further evidence that a new environment could be good for me. I’m finding that one of the most effective things I did early ion as a manager was to ask JD what my priority is. Without this info I would not have so passionately controlled Front of House (FoH) labor. The past two weeks have been win after win while JD says, “you’re winning in everything you’re measured on.” For someone like me, who’s prone to spending too much time on everything, the focused effort has paid off. I would’ve dug into the priorities sooner or later either way but probably after perfecting the side work chart or line up procedure. Those both are less important and still time consuming. It’s better to have an “A” in Math and “C”s in everything else if you’re a mathematician.
Now, as I begin to prepare for a change in four months, hitting my targets is as important as ever for two reasons. First, if I’m to grow at all, or do anything that can enhance my resume in my remaining time, it must be tied to the main priority of my position. This is the “how did you do”? part of my resume. Second, (and just as important to me) is that I want to earn every word of reference that my employer will provide. I won’t check out mentally like some do. I will give them a huge heads up and continue to perform at a high level because that’s the professional thing to do. In addition to continuing to hit my #s, I need to track my accomplishments and keep updating my resume. These will show my next employer my professional maturity in not coasting on my way out.
QOTW: “You’re getting an A or A+ in everything you’re graded on. I’ll ask for a raise for you.” JD
?FNW: Can we be in the top 5 again in forecasting?
10/14/2017 review: a good lesson to learn early in my career. I was performing well, but I wasn’t thriving personally. Meaningful work is what we need to thrive, not simply work. “Meaningful” is subjective; charity work is not necessarily more meaningful to a person than is driving garbage trucks–both serve society and could enable the worker to support a family. Though I was doing well, I did not feel I was doing purposeful work at this time. Conversely if I am under-performing in a role that allows me to do meaningful work, I will sustain and seek to improve rather than change.
I still feel that among the first few conversations with a manager should be clarifying what your priority is in the role.