By Ryan McGrath
It’s no secret that with age, comes wisdom (generally speaking). Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about who I am, what I value and what “success” really means. As I reflect on my career, here are five things I wish someone had told me when I was starting out. By adopting these action-oriented strategies, you can create true, long-term success for your career.Prioritize Skill Development Over Compensation
Early in my career, I failed at this. I pursued an investment banking job at a big firm because I knew it would pay handsomely—not because I necessarily saw myself growing as a leader at the bank. Don’t make this mistake. The individuals who prioritize compensation over skill-set development will ultimately end up working for the people who prioritized skill-set development early on in their careers. It wasn’t until I made the switch to Asset Living, the company I currently lead, that I genuinely began harnessing my professional toolkit. I was able to refine my skills across finance, sales, operations and, ultimately, senior leadership. Put simply, invest in yourself rather than your bank account; the compensation and extrinsic rewards will follow.Nobody Knows It All
As an intern or associate, you may feel pressured to constantly have the right answer. It’s understandable to want to make a positive first impression, but that doesn’t mean you need to be omniscient. In fact, I can confidently admit that I still don’t know it all—nobody does. Show up early, do your research and showcase your creativity and problem-solving skills. Regardless of your field, the first few years of your career will likely be full of learning curves.The knowledge you learn in school is definitely useful, but it doesn’t always prepare you for the obstacles you’ll encounter while on the job. No amount of education is a substitute for work experience. Soak up as much knowledge and experience as possible. Schedule one-on-ones with your managers and peers, embrace informal communication channels and always ask questions. If you approach a job with the notion that you already know everything, you likely won’t succeed.
