Music is the best career coach
I tend to borrow a lot of wisdom from 70s and 80s rock. “That’s just downright ridiculous,” I hear you say. Well, in the words of two of the greatest philosophers the world has ever seen — Jagger and Richards — “It’s only rock ‘n roll; but I like it.”
So here is what I have coined the ‘4 Bs of Career Wisdom’ (trademark pending), inspired by my love of music…
- Bob Dylan
- Bruce Springsteen
- Bon Jovi
- Billy Joel
This isn’t click bait; let me elaborate — and throw down some righteous rhymes in the meantime…
Bob Dylan, ‘The times they are a changin’ ’
“Come gather ‘round people wherever you roam. And admit that the waters around you have grown. And accept it that soon you’ll be drenched to the bone. If your time to you is worth savin’. Then you better start swimmin’ or you’ll sink like a stone. For the times they are a-changin’”
LESSON #1: Stay current and keep learning
If you want to progress in your career, it’s not a ‘set and forget’ situation. You might have a shiny diploma, degree or certificate, but that will only get you so far. On the job learning, development and training is integral to taking your career to the next level. Tap into your employer’s learning and development budget, seek out a professional mentor, join a networking group, take night classes. Whatever it is, make a commitment to continued learning. Because the only real constant in life is change, and if you don’t change with it, you’ll ‘sink like a stone’.
Bruce Springsteen, ‘Badlands’
“Workin’ in the fields ’til you get your back burned. Workin’ ‘neath the wheels ’til you get your facts learned… Poor man wanna be rich, rich man wanna be king. And a king ain’t satisfied, ’til he rules everything.”
LESSON #2: Don’t expect too much too soon
You can’t be The Boss overnight. (See what I did there?) Most leaders respect nothing more than good old fashioned hard work. Roll up your sleeves, help out your colleagues, inspire and role model team work, and don’t be too proud to learn a lesson or two along the way.
Bon Jovi, ‘It’s my life’
“This is for the ones who stood their ground. For Tommy and Gina who never backed down. Tomorrow’s getting harder make no mistake. Luck ain’t even lucky, got to make your own breaks.”
LESSON #3: Make your own luck (and a blow wave can be a great confidence boost)
Luck is the most dangerous four letter word getting around (and yes, I’ve heard — and possibly uttered — the others…) ‘I’m waiting for my lucky break’; ‘She got lucky with that promotion’; ‘that sales lead was a massive stroke of luck’. No, no and no. Take control of what you want — break your goals into chunks and chase them down like a one legged man in an arse-kicking competition.
Billy Joel, ‘Piano Man’
“Now John at the bar is a friend of mine, he gets me my drinks for free. And he’s quick with a joke or to light up your smoke, but there’s someplace that he’d rather be. He says, ‘Bill, I believe this is killing me,’ as the smile ran away from his face. ‘Well I’m sure that I could be a movie star, if I could get out of this place.’”
LESSON #4: If you’re not happy, move on!
Nothing will suck the life out of you more than being miserable at work. Whether it’s the company, the people, the day-to-day grind that’s getting you down — if you’re not happy and the work isn’t contributing positively to you as a person, move on! We spend so much of our lives at work, so make it meaningful for you. Find your passion and follow it however you see fit.
So there you have it, some wisdom from the airwaves. Are there any songs or lyrics that resonate with your professionally? They don’t even have to start with ‘B’…
