The DiLauro Dossiers

Here it is then. Here’s an outline of that half-day discussion I’ll be having with Halifax business owners, managers—working folk. Remember? I mentioned it before that I was invited there, and I also mentioned that I’d appreciate reading any comments you’d be kind enough to provide.

And so, with no further preamble, no unnecessary illumination, here are 5 Career Facts You Gotta Know:

1. It’s what you think, not what you do, that’s important
2. You can do it
3. You want fans
4. It’s not about money
5. Retirement is a myth

Rather than explaining all 5 items in one post, I thought I’d briefly elaborate on one per day. Given that I also discuss these 5 facts elsewhere on this blog, I’m also providing a link to those previous posts. Does that sound OK to you? Alrighty then. Let’s get going. Here’s Item 1:

Fact No 1: It’s what you think, not what you do, that’s important

The myth goes… If you always do the right things, you will always get positive, successful results.

The fact is, there’s more to it than that. Have you ever heard the expression, going through the motions? Seems to me that whoever coined that phrase was onto something. Whoever coined that phrase was suggesting it takes more than mere doing.

It takes belief and commitment.  It takes conviction, passion and the feeling that you’re doing the right thing. If you don’t have any of that, then you’re just going through the motions. Whether you’re running a business, leading a department or just getting started in your career, remember that success takes more than Following 12 Proven, Effective Management Steps, it takes more than Assuming 10 Tried-and-True Habits. It takes the right mindset, positive thinking, and an unflagging, deeply-ingrained belief in what it is you’re going to accomplish.

Case study: I love the guitar. I love playing guitar, and I look forward to my Monday evening classical guitar lessons. Over the years, I’d often play a piece for my teacher—my timing dead on, my notes precise. After I’d finish, my teacher would shake his head, and say, “No, you’re not quite there yet.”

What? Why? The notes were right, the beat was right.

The issue, though, was that I was going trough the motions. Yes, I was playing it correctly, but I wasn’t revealing, whatsoever, the passion, the phrasing, or the emotion of that piece.

“Play it again,” My teacher would often say, “And this time, make me cry.”

More on this: This post also discusses the topic.

Tomorrow: You can do it

Ideas, suggestions, questions? Please leave a comment.

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  • Tags [Does money make you happy, Retirement]
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