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For the past 20 plus years I have been selling shampoo for a living. It has been a great career. So when I sold my business, I got involved in several other businesses in several different industries.
My general business knowledge has helped me with these businesses.
But I will NEVER be an expert in any other business, unless I commit to spending the next 5 years full time involved in that industry. I believe what Malcolm Gladwell said in Outliers that it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert at something.
Over the years, I have met so many people that change careers. I can understand the desire to explore something you have not tried before. I can understand trying to get OUT of an industry that has poor growth opportunities. I can even understand people getting out of an industry because they don't enjoy it.
Too often people don't stay in an industry long enough to become an expert. So they float for 2-3 years at this company, then change careers and onto the next industry for 2-3 years. They basically start over each time.
PLEASE, be patient. Let yourself get to 5 years at least. When you do this you will become valuable. You will know more people. You will become a veteran. And you will become an expert.
If you are an expert...AND are hard working, dedicated, committed to continuous learning; you will get paid accordingly!
More importantly, if you stay you will become more successful. And that is more fun!
Read industry trade publications. Interact with people are different companies to learn even more about the industry from another perspective. Go to industry trade shows. Read blogs from people within your industry.
My general business knowledge has helped me with these businesses.
But I will NEVER be an expert in any other business, unless I commit to spending the next 5 years full time involved in that industry. I believe what Malcolm Gladwell said in Outliers that it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert at something.
Over the years, I have met so many people that change careers. I can understand the desire to explore something you have not tried before. I can understand trying to get OUT of an industry that has poor growth opportunities. I can even understand people getting out of an industry because they don't enjoy it.
Too often people don't stay in an industry long enough to become an expert. So they float for 2-3 years at this company, then change careers and onto the next industry for 2-3 years. They basically start over each time.
PLEASE, be patient. Let yourself get to 5 years at least. When you do this you will become valuable. You will know more people. You will become a veteran. And you will become an expert.
If you are an expert...AND are hard working, dedicated, committed to continuous learning; you will get paid accordingly!
More importantly, if you stay you will become more successful. And that is more fun!
Read industry trade publications. Interact with people are different companies to learn even more about the industry from another perspective. Go to industry trade shows. Read blogs from people within your industry.
I feel like this article was written for me - I have 10 years experience in the Beauty Industry. I feel like I have built credibility with my company, our clients and our manufacturers. It took me about 6-7 years to feel this way but now, I feel like I have a lot of friends and contacts out there including Account Managers from other companies. It does make work much more fun when you feel like you go every day an run into friends!
ReplyDeleteI must get calls each and every day from co-workers needing advice and it feels great to share my experience and help them grow too. Thank you again Mr. Maly for sharing your words of wisdom.
Outliers is a great book - and I agree, 10,000 hours to become an expert! It's literally practicing, soaking up the industry or sport - and being born in Jan doesn't hurt either if you are a hockey player.
ReplyDelete