What I wish I knew in the first 10 years of my career
~720 words. 4 min read.
Earlier this year I had a chance to sit on panel of professionals in their mid-career stage. The event was tailored to young professionals and the topic was - you guessed it - ‘What I wish I knew in the first 10 years of my career’. I created this as my cheat sheet:
Disclaimer: This is of course not complete, and only my version.
I am not sure that my career would’ve taken a different path if I had I known all these things, and you could certainly argue that learning these the hard way is a requirement for having a career to be proud of. Still, it’s not only a fun exercise to think about, it can also be helpful in quieting your mind a little, especially when you realize that some of these lessons are still, to this day, sinking in (as my co-workers can doubtlessly attest).
1. "It’s Not What You Know, It’s Who You Know" - Absolutely True!
Never stop growing your network.
No matter how skilled you are, your network often determines the opportunities you can access. Mentors, sponsors, and coaches have been pivotal in my journey, opening doors I didn’t even know existed - in terms of job opportunities, sure, but more importantly in terms of opening the doors in my head that I was unaware of. Networking isn’t just about handshakes and LinkedIn connections—it’s about genuine relationships. Invest time in building and maintaining your network, both internally within your company and externally in your industry.
As Robert Kiyosaki (‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad’) puts it, "The richest people in the world look for and build networks; everyone else looks for work." And I am taking rich to mean this kind of rich.
2. Run Toward the Fire
The most significant growth in my career came when I stepped outside my comfort zone, again and again. Tackling tough challenges, volunteering for stretch assignments, and taking calculated risks taught me lessons no amount of planning could. Growth happens at the edge of your abilities, not in your safety zone. While I often craved to work in a place that had it all ‘figured’ out and got frustrated when working in organizations that lacked mature processes, it was my brother who made it clear to me: “No one is going to pay you what you want to be paid if every problem is already solved. Go to a company where you can fix some stuff, teach them something, create outsized value.” (Needless to say, I hate when he’s right).
Scott Galloway emphasizes, "Serendipity is a function of courage."
3. Misconceptions About Leadership Can Hold You Back
Early in my career, I believed that leaders had all the answers, that leadership equated to authority, and that leaders were born, not trained. While that may be true in some cases and about some traits, in general I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Leadership is a skill you develop through experience, feedback, and continuous learning. It’s about influence, not authority, and fostering an environment where others can succeed. This insight lets you distinguish good leaders from the bad ones, and it allows you hone your own leadership style.
Is your leader actively facilitating your growth? If not, where else can you find that sponsor (see point 1 above)? Which traits from leaders you’ve experienced do you want to adopt in your own leadership practice? Which ones do you want to avoid?
4. Energy Management Is More Important Than Time Management
Energy = Productivity
We all have the same 24 hours in a day, but how you manage your energy determines your productivity. Prioritize activities that recharge you and limit those that drain you. Avoid burnout by knowing when to say ‘no’, including saying it to yourself (an amazing habit to develop!). Understand that not every year in your career has to be an ‘Olympic year.’ Balance ambition with sustainability.
You haven’t been assigned to work on the shiny object this year? Great! Not being under delivery pressures and operating away from the spotlight allows you to aggressively drive your development forward. Take classes, get certified, learn new skills, build new relationships. Once the spotlight finds you, you’ll shine in it using all the things you learned.
Adam Grant warns, "Time confetti is an enemy of both energy and of excellence. If we want to find flow, we need better boundaries."
5. The Importance of Culture and "Being Easy to Work With"
In your 20s and 30s, fitting into company culture is critical. Join employee resource groups, attend events, and meet the people who will champion you. Be in the office. Learn to be someone others enjoy working with—not a pushover, but someone collaborative and dependable.
One of my mentors said to me that the best way to move up is to reach outside your organization and ask other leaders how you can help them. Come performance evaluation season, your boss will have an easier case advocating for your promotion if the others leaders in the calibration meeting not only know you, but can echo your boss’ arguments.
6. Redefining Success
What is success?
In the early years, I equated success with titles and money. Over time, my perspective shifted. Now, I define success as solving meaningful problems, making a measurable difference, and surrounding myself with people who help me grow and whom I can help grow. That is not to say that compensation and attaining broader responsibility is no longer a goal, but it has shifted into the background. It has become an indirect goal, best reached via the size of the impact I make.
As your career progresses, this shift becomes easier and easier. That’s because you find new challenges and tasks you were previously precluded from, like people leadership, allowing you to evolve your professional self. You find fulfillment not just in the achievement of your mission, but in enabling others to achieve theirs.
Adam Grant reflects, "The most meaningful way to succeed is to help others succeed."
7. Always Be Learning
Continuous learning has been my most impactful habit. Whether it’s a new skill, a course, or insights from a mentor, staying curious keeps you relevant and adaptable in a rapidly changing world. Never stop investing in yourself.
David Epstein (“Range”) argues, "In a wicked world, relying upon experience from a single domain is not only limiting, it can be disastrous."
Looking back, my career trajectory was shaped as much by the lessons I learned as by the opportunities I seized. I am sure that everyone’s ‘lessons learned’ reflection looks different, which is why it’s hard to present a list like this to young professionals and say: “Here, now you won’t have to learn these the hard way.” Still, it’s helpful introspection, yielding insights into how far you’ve hopefully come on your journey and how many lessons you’re still working on.
