Be The One Who Stands Out

Good Evening, Everyone!

I hope this evening is serving you well. Many of you starting out in industry may have seen your company's CEO and wondered:

"I want to be them."

You need to think like this. All the time. No matter what. 

Imagine you landed the job of your dreams. It is your first day and you dress to impress. You have your degree at your disposal, unshakeable courage, and you are ready to apply all the knowledge you learned in your studies to meet the evolving demands of the work force. 

You feel ten feet tall. And you should. Having confidence in yourself is the key to success.

Have you ever thought why employees revere their CEOs? It's because CEOs stand out brilliantly. They're not like the rest. Leaders are strong, quirky, and eccentric. Out of the box. But they need to be daring, fearless, and incredibly confident in their intelligence, capabilities, and interpersonal skills. This is because people look up to them for security and comfort. The CEO drives the success of the company, and makes executive decisions that influence every employee’s job fate.

Now, think back to your first day at your dream job. You're on the elevator up to floor seventeen and you bump into an individual who seems animated, dynamic, and brilliant. You look to your left and notice they are taking another important business call discussing risk analytics for a new product launch. You feel intimidated but empowered. You want to be your CEO.

It is not easy. CEOs are revered because they carry the company. They have the product knowledge, experience, and clear judgment to make large-scale financial decisions. How do you think they got there? It is because sometime during their careers, they stood out. 

Sorely.

You need to stand out. Do not be another corporate sell-out. Do you really want to spend another thirty years working for somebody, when you can make a direct impact even on your first day that will set your trajectory for excellence? CEOs are where they are because they contributed something magical to the company. They provide a skillset that no other individual can, and they know it, too. 

So, how do you stand out?

You talk. You navigate. You say "hello" and smile to anyone and everyone in the company, regardless of position, rank, etc. We are all human and we deserve equal kindness and respect. CEOs aren't just brainiacs, they are people persons, too! My favorite CEO is Richard Branson whom is loved universally by his employees because he is confident, kind, respectful, and genuinely values what his employees have to say. You stand out by coming in before everyone else and leaving before everyone else.

Every little bit of effort goes noticed. Trust me on this.

Even though you think that you are putting in a prodigious amount of work just to get by with the demands of your position, leaders are actually noticing you in your company.

Smart work always pays off. Offer business input even if it is unwarranted. Chances are you have a fresh perspective to offer and managers, supervisors, etc. want to hear it. Do not look at yourself as the bottom of the food chain. Look at yourself as a craftsman with very few tools in their toolbox. The more input you offer, the more Excel spreadsheets you create, the more scripts/codes you write, and the more people you professionally converse with, the higher your chances to stand out and the better your chances of climbing the corporate ladder. 

Never settle for mediocrity. You were not placed on Earth for that. Strive for greatness because it's the only option. 

As always, please leave a comment below with your experience. I would love to hear your thoughts and wish you all the best on your professional development!

Until next time, 

Christine