Five Things I Wish I Had Known When I Started Working

It’s amazing how much you can learn in just two years. A few weeks ago I graduated from a two-year rotational program, and let me tell you, time has flown. Reflecting on my two years in the “real world,” there are a lot of ways in which my perspective has changed and a lot of things that I wish I had known when I started working.

These are the top five:

1. Time is precious. Working 40-60 hours a week quickly demonstrates that you only have a finite amount of time every week. All of us have things that we need to take care of outside the office. Whether it is the necessary: grocery shopping, hitting the gym, studying for GMATs or getting enough sleep; or the more fun things: pouring over that new novel, catching up with friends, going out for a drink with your new crush or whatever you need to do to recharge your batteries. In order to get everything done, you need to be efficient in how you are spending your time. Personally, I am a big fan of lists and keeping a calendar. At work I am most productive when I am vigilant with my to-do lists. That way, I don’t miss something and I know everything I need to get done (and tasks doesn’t sneak up on me at the end of the day!). I  have a lot of things that I like to do after work and on the weekends, and a calendar is a great place to keep track of everything – from fitness classes to happy hour. The biggest thing that I have learned – relating to time management – is that you need to take care of yourself first. There is always going to be something going on, but with only 168 hours in a week, you need to choose to spend your time in the way that is best for you.

2. It’s really easy to be lazy. I’ve noticed that the two biggest oppositions to complacency are setting up routines and operating on the edge of your comfort zone. Setting up a routine may sound silly, but it clears your mind to think about other things. Every day, I pack my gym clothes with me so I can go straight to the gym after work. I know that if I stop at home, I will get distracted, and it will take me an extra 20 minutes to get there (by the time I am done checking emails or putzing around my house). One thing I’ve noticed is how easy it is to get stuck in a rut if you do not actively push yourself to become better. Time and time again, I have been advised by experienced professionals to push myself outside of my comfort zone to continue improving. While this can be a scary place to be – I know we can all relate to a tight deadline while we are figuring out a process – at the end of this type of situation, you learned something new.

3. The company you keep makes a big difference. Like it or not, people will associate you with the company that you keep. People also often acquire characteristics of those they are with most. Entrepreneur and motivational speaker Jim Rohn explains, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Think about it: if in the office you are surrounded by people who move like molasses and do the bare minimum to get by, instead of people who are proactive, you can pretty easily begin to slide into the first camp. Do yourself a favor and spend time with people whose work style and attitude you admire. Ask them for coffee or chat with them after meetings – before you know it, you will be getting the right influences without even realizing it!

4. It’s all about the attitude. Unfortunately for many of us, work is not amazing and rewarding every second of every day (if it is, more power to you!). But you can reframe what may seem like a mundane task or boring project with your attitude. You can look at the less exciting stuff as an opportunity to learn or to meet interesting people. My personal approach: I have to do this anyway, so I might as well be enthused and energized about it. You can choose to look on the positive side of things. People want energized people around them! When is the last time that you thought to yourself, “I am really looking forward to that meeting with that miserable, complaining colleague of mine”? I’m willing to bet that thought has never crossed your mind – or anyone else’s. When you feel yourself getting overwhelmed or down in the dumps, take a five-minute break to walk around, chat with a coworker or to browse the internet. These little things will help you keep your mind clear and your spirits calm.

5. People are more willing to help than you think. When I first started working, I was nervous about asking questions. I didn’t want to bother anyone and more importantly, I didn’t want my boss to think that she had made a poor decision by hiring me. But after working for a while, I came to realize: everybody needs help sometimes, especially when they first start out. Yes, you will learn by experience and figuring it out yourself. But if it is going to take you a week, and someone can answer your question in 20 minutes, then you should ask that question. Remember: everyone fakes it ’til they make it. Asking questions is a good thing; tt shows curiosity and a desire to know how things work.

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