‘Being Useful’ Was My Mantra When I Started Work. Today, It Turns You into a Trash Bin.

Honesty Spoiler: I’m 40.

Aldric Chen

4 min read

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1 hour ago

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I remember what it was like when I first started work.

It was scary. Everyone was in their zone. Handshakes were cold. Introductions were cursory. The chill ran down my spine.

Then, my mentor said this to me.

“Let them be. This is the reality of life. No one panders to a fresh graduate analyst. Embrace positive thinking. You will be kissing a lot of arsehole frogs who might influence your career. This is my advice if you want to be a Top Dog. Start by being useful.”

The last 2 words became my mantra during my analyst years.

It carried me through late nights and assignments I did not appreciate. It turned me from an analyst to a consultant, and then a consultant to a manager.

That was… 15 years ago.

When well-intended advice expires

This is my beef with evergreen advice.

They aren’t what they claim to be.

My youngest team member taught me this lesson. Isabelle, age 27, rejected my line of thinking. And mind you, it was not directed advice. It was a casual mention.