… take it anyway.
I recently ran into a successful executive on the Amtrak train back to NYC. He’s the chairman of the Board of Trustees for a prestigious university and has been both successful in the public and private sector.
When asked about the main drivers for his success, he mentioned that he would typically volunteer for jobs and assignments that he wasn’t “qualified” for, but when given the opportunity he would work extremely hard to prepare and make it happen. In addition to the importance of being resourceful, this senior executive recognized that strong preparation will typically set you apart from most of the people in the room.
For those of you still debating whether you should take on the next big job, switch career paths to follow your passion or step onto a larger stage, just say yes and then do what it takes to figure out how to succeed.
An excellent model for preparation comes from a story in Jim Collin’s book, Great by Choice. He contrasts the way two explorers, Roald Amundsen and Robert Falcon Scott, prepared in their race to be the first person to reach the South Pole.
Amundsen prepared by running experiments and learning from practical experiences. He apprenticed with the Eskimos, ate dolphin meat and set contingencies for worst-case scenarios. Scott, in contrast, relied on what he thought to be good but untested ideas – use of dogs, ponies and motor sleds and relying on fewer depots.
The results: Amundsen made it to the South Pole 34 days before Scott. Amundsen and his team also returned to base camp with no casualties while Scott’s entire team perished on the return journey.
Another lesson to keep in mind is when you’re doing something you’ve never done before, don’t spend too much time analyzing and thinking through the situation. Find ways to test out your theories in the real world and collect empirical evidence. Engage mentors, who have been there before, to guide you.
What opportunity will you raise your hand for?
Photo by US Department of Agriculture
