7 Life Lessons Learnt in 7 Years of Corporate Career
A candid account
As soon as I became a qualified Chartered Accountant, the first thing I did was find myself a job.
I had two goals only – to learn and to earn!
And the only way the young me knew of going about this was getting a job. Little did I know then that this decision would teach me so much about life.
I won’t lie; Finding a job was not even a part of the struggle for me; it was sticking in one.
“There are certain life lessons that you can only learn in the struggle.” ~ Idowu Koyenikan
While I have consciously hit the brakes on my corporate journey, it’s taught me a great deal about life.
This is the kind of stuff that you’d want to carry with you wherever you go.
#1 You have to be your own teacher and your own student
The minute I stepped in, I was handed a bunch of papers that felt like two months’ worth of reading material on International tax.
Here’s what I learned: People rarely have the time to teach you; they have their jobs and lives to get on to.
Whether you like it or not, that’s how it goes.
You are on your own.
But that doesn’t mean you stop learning.
Dig your head in books, use the internet, call as many people as you want to, ask questions, and make mistakes.
But, always continue learning.
#2 It’s a dog-eat-dog world – but you do you
This is what I learnt about competition in school – keep it healthy, celebrate each other’s wins, and take losses in stride.
I was exposed to a different reality in the corporate world.
Competition is fierce, and people will do anything to get ahead.
This is what competition looks like in the real world; it’s ruthless simply because everybody is competing for the same things.
I know it sucks, but that’s just how it is.
The only way to survive in this dog-eat-dog world is to do the right thing (and by this, I mean do whatever you think is right for you).
You do you - It’s the only way to keep your peace.
#3 You have to put yourself out there
“Try and network more, find out what projects others are working on, and take more knowledge sessions to improve visibility.”
The above are very common things you hear in the corporate world.
These suggestions may make you uncomfortable as you prefer doing your best work just sitting behind the computer, and that’s about it.
But the truth is, you’ll never know what lies on the other side unless you push yourself out of your comfort zone.
Putting yourself out there is opening yourself up to all the experiences and opportunities that life has to offer.
Whether you are trying to climb the corporate ladder, build a business, make a friend, or ask out the love of your life, you must work on being comfortable putting yourself out there (to an extent, at least).
#4 “You get in life what you have the courage to ask for.” ~ Oprah Winfrey
You should always ask for what you want.
For the longest time, I believed that my work should speak for itself.
But that’s not true – If you think you deserve that promotion, you must ask for it; if you think that salary hike is due, you must let your supervisor know.
Don’t assume that people will read your mind if you don't ask.
It has happened to me, and it can also happen to you.
Communication is the golden word here.
There will be instances where you may not receive precisely what you asked for, but you’ll land up with something better than what you would have had had you not asked.
#5 Know your worth
You must know what you bring to the table.
If you don’t know your value, how on earth would you know what you truly deserve?
Don’t wait for your boss to tell you what you are good at.
Remember, we discussed above the importance of asking what you want. You can do so only when you know what you’re worth.
You’ll be able to call out unacceptable behaviour, know when that promotion is yours or when you deserve that salary hike, and most importantly, know when to walk out.
Take time to self-assess your achievements and abilities to ascertain your value.
Remember, your job doesn’t define you or determine your value - It’s the other way around.
#6 Balanced life = Good life
Honestly, it took me a while to get this one right, and I am still a work in progress.
But I cannot emphasise how important it is to draw a line. Doing so will help you balance your personal and professional life.
Being ambitious is an excellent trait but should never come at the cost of missing out on life.
You will eventually burn out if you don’t learn to balance it out.
I remember being so overworked once that I didn’t even realise the coffee was spilling on the floor instead of going into my mouth.
Learn to create boundaries, prioritise your time and switch off when needed.
#7 Find a coach/ mentor
If you find someone exactly where you aspire to be, ask them to be your coach or mentor.
This could be anyone within your company or even someone you just found online.
I’m not saying that you won’t achieve success without a coach or mentor.
But I’ve realised that having that one objective person in your corner can change the game for you.
Doing so can save you months or even years of struggle simply because they’ve been there and done that.
Such a person also plays the role of your accountability partner, ensuring you never lose sight of your goals.
Imagine always having someone by your side telling you, “You can do this”.
But remember, this is an organic process.
Don’t make this a chase; instead, focus on being the person you want to be, and eventually, you’ll attract someone you truly believe in and with whom your values align.
Summary
It’s been a long, bumpy, yet fruitful journey. So here’s me summarising what helped me survive and thrive:
1. The learning shouldn’t stop - be your own teacher and student
2. It’s a dog-eat-dog world – but you do you
3. Get comfortable with putting yourself out there
4. Always ask what you want
5. Know what you’re worth
6. Learn to draw a line to live a balanced life
7. Find a coach/ mentor
I hope the above helps you accelerate your career growth and live a better life.
