Lessons Learned

 

There are a few lessons that I learned during my 45-year career, I would like to pass along, but I wonder if it will make any difference to the reader...  I wonder this because my father tried to pass along his lessons learned and I paid no attention to him, saying I want to learn on my own.

Learning on my own was brutal because I was terminated (not fired) ten times.  Ten times during a 45-year career is once every 4.5 years which sounds horrible.  But the essence of my terminations revolved around me not wanting to kiss anyone's ass.

My father worked for 40 years at the Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC.  We lived in Alexandria, VA, four miles south next to the Potomac River.

Think about that a minute...

He worked for one company for 40 years and every 4 or 8 years, there was a new administration, either Democrat or Republican.

The only way that one can keep one's job for that long in a high-risk environment is to KISS ASS or keep a file of dirt on all high-ranking people.

So,

even if I had listened to my father, it would have made no difference because I had a difference personality.

My Lessons:

1. Arrive early - leave late
2. Learn as much as you can as quick as you can
3. Be careful what you volunteer for
4. Make sure you can outwork everyone around you
5. Put your family second if you need to
6. Change jobs every 3-5 years for more money
7. Change states for even more money
8. Eliminate all debt quickly
9. Have backup plans
10. Fake your loyalty
11. Constantly look for a better opportunity
12. Save what you can all the time
13. Have a career plan that is fluid
14. Have a retirement plan that is fluid
15. NEVER LOOK BACK