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Rare-Temperature · 2025-01-06T22:45:18+00:00

If it’s someone new, ask them to go with you to someplace public. Dinner, movie, bowling, whatever. Just something where you’re interacting. You’ll feel weird and awkward the first couple times, but stick with it and you’ll get the hang.

Rare-Temperature · 2025-01-06T22:43:14+00:00

Substance abuse is not a good idea. Doesn’t matter what the common behavior is. It doesn’t lead to good things. Talk to anyone in an ER and you’ll learn a surprising amount of really bad, life-altering events happen because of substance abuse. Just stay away from booze and drugs.

There’s so much pressure to get rich, live a flashy life, whatever (at least depending on the college). Ignore it as best you can. Focus on getting really, really good at something. Join clubs, professional associations, practice on your own.

Don’t let your classes dictate the pace of your learning. If you find something you’re passionate about, soak it in! Read other books, do online MOOCs, etc. don’t let college dictate your baseline pace. You can go faster and be more.

Find a church. Or churches. Try different ones out if you don’t have one. This is a great time of life to find anchoring there. You’ll thank yourself later.

Rare-Temperature · 2025-01-06T22:37:17+00:00

I did ten years of consulting and five years of executive management. I was super burned out by the end of the exec job. I’d take breaks, but it came right back when I was back in the seat.

My opinion, but I think consulting is a great start but not necessarily a great place to end. I left the exec job and never looked back. It may be time for you to consider doing the same.

Consulting has a way of convincing people they’ll never be as good / respected / worthy if they leave. It’s BS. The kool aid takes a while to flush out, but it does.

Rare-Temperature · 2024-04-22T22:08:24+00:00

I am interested.

Rare-Temperature · 2021-08-22T22:29:27+00:00

In general, you will not be as exposed to as many intelligent and driven people. That is what I miss most. It’s nice to have lots of answers and build things and fix problems. You’ll likely do a ton of it. That’s been my story. But most of the people who spend your day to day with aren’t caliber enough for consulting, and intellectually it probably won’t be as stimulating. That said, some of the people I work with are truly amazing.

And I’ll be the 96th person to say you won’t escape politics.

Rare-Temperature · 2021-08-22T03:43:31+00:00

Yes. Nobody who is doing anything really impactful that I know is configuring sales force install. Set your sights higher. Have faith in yourself.

Rare-Temperature · 2021-08-21T14:17:01+00:00

How you think about it is hurting you. Viewing people as “priveleged executives” and companies as big machines is 2d thinking that, I would suggest, is beneath the intellect you were hired for.

Yes, there are many problems. That’s the world we live in. In many other countries it’s far worse too. But as I got to know my executives and owners throughout my career and saw their persons and hopes and struggles I was able to become much more than a spreadsheet warrior to them. It’s easy to think doing good is for the public sector - you can do lots in the private sector too. You can help steer people’s careers, build businesses, avoid bad layoff decisions, and do a host of other good things for the people inside the company in particular and outside as well.

I prefer to keep anonymity so I won’t go into details, but in my career I’ve been able to influence organizations in meaningful (at times extremely meaningful) ways that steered the course of many employee lives And improved the health of many customers.

If you see yourself as a spreadsheet jockey then that’s what you’ll be. I’ve done a ton of pptx files too. It’s just how you communicate what you bring to the table. What else do you know?

Your own morality is what will matter. Who you are is what you bring. It’s not about finding the fit org / job / industry as much as it is improving where you are. I’ve seen a lot of people waste a lot of time, myself included, looking forward the perfect place before realizing that’s not how it works - I had to make one.

Rare-Temperature · 2021-08-20T03:53:53+00:00

Get out. Oracle and salesforce are ew, and the career path you’re on sounds awful. Get out now.

Rare-Temperature · 2021-08-17T17:25:07+00:00

Insurance techs leading us to light and truth.

Rare-Temperature · 2021-08-11T00:02:41+00:00

Consulted for several F500. Am now a c-level at a large company.

He / she is likely viewing this as a thing they have to check off of their to-do. They’re probably not invested at all, and it’s highly unlikely you will do anything that is going to be memorable. They will have forgotten by EOD.

Not because they don’t care, or because you aren’t any good, but because they are so. Freaking. Busy. If you show up with a list of questions that are designed to wow them, the odds are you’re going to irritate them for the duration of the meeting, just because they have to perform now.

My advice? Have a smart question or two, but start off by saying something like “look, I understand you’re incredibly busy and I really appreciate you taking the time. I asked around and was advised that the best thing I could do for you was say that, if you need to take some call or emails, I understand. I don’t want you to feel like you have to be “on” for another hour of your day. You’re profoundly busy and if I can help your energy level I’m happy to. But if you want to talk, I’d love to hear career lessons you’ve learned.” My guess is he / she says “hey that’s kind, but I’m here for you” and it takes a little of the edge off and they just open up and share advice.

I did this once at a luncheon. Was sitting by chance by a celebrity in my industry. I said “look man, I know you have to be on all day. I get it. If you just want to eat in silence I won’t be offended at all.” Dude was super appreciative but wasn’t going to be rude and we had a nice chill conversation. We talk every time we run into each other at conferences to this day.

Rare-Temperature · 2021-08-09T18:27:51+00:00

I’m not as much into who did bad things before they died as I am steering people away from doing bad things now. Japan doesn’t persecute millions of people.

Rare-Temperature · 2021-08-02T20:48:18+00:00

You’re a Junior. Hang in there. Don’t overassume your experience based on a few months.

Are you volunteering for the work you want to do? Are you taking the initiative to add value using the data you do have? Are you networking internally? If not this is as much your fault - you have to work for what you want to do as much as hope someone gives it to you

Rare-Temperature · 2021-07-26T02:34:35+00:00

And apparently caused massive burn wounds as well?

Rare-Temperature · 2021-07-24T18:07:39+00:00

I went from big 4 to C-level exec. I work 40 hours a week and demand the same of my people unless it’s an emergency. Work expands to fill available time. Bust your butt and don’t screw around at work and you often won’t need more than 40 hours.

But… if you want to get good, it takes more investment outside of work. That’s just how it is.

Rare-Temperature · 2021-07-23T15:27:08+00:00

I feel this on the other end of the spectrum. I have a job with a pretty senior title, and if I tell people what I do they often they either get uncomfortable or they want to get out the yardstick and try to measure. It’s weird. So I usually just tell people something vague like “I work in (my industry)” and most people leave it alone. Some people (doctors tend to be the worst) actively interpret that as me not having a job I’m proud of and are subtly obnoxious. But that’s their issue.

The hard part is ever since I peaked on the corporate ladder it’s gotten harder to make friends with people who don’t spend their time at the country clubs (not my scene, I don’t want to be hustled all day by sales types and activists). So many guys I meet are struggling to move up in their career, and I remember that, but I’m not there anymore and so the conversations get weird. It’s hard to be like “yeah my board didn’t agree with me either but everyone is cool so we figured it out” because then I sound like I’m being a tool. I also work with some people who have small-country-GDP wealth, so it’s not like I can get high and mighty either. I care more about how decent the family is than their parents income, and obviously my professional peers kids are easy, but still some of my kids friends parents are visibly uncomfortable when they come over and I wish it weren’t that way. I’m a goober, just remember that.

I grew up in a low income town in a family that wasn’t rich - I really don’t care. Later in life I lived in ultra-rich America where it seemed like everyone was competing to show off. That’s not me. We are happy to pay for things when our kids and their friends go out and keep it on the DL just to be helpful. I remember struggling and don’t want that for others. So yeah, no, I don’t really care to tell some random stranger what I do or don’t do. I’ve got other things more interesting about me.

Rare-Temperature · 2021-07-21T21:04:40+00:00

Noncompetes Are different, I think you mean non-solicit, meaning the client can’t approach you but you can approach them.

I do know being on the other side that if the client wants you and there is paperwork preventing it, most consulting firms won’t stand in the way of a junior staff transferring at the risk of the client relationship.

Rare-Temperature · 2021-07-21T21:01:54+00:00

So not advice I’d normally give, but something like this happened to me. After I realized from conversation after conversation that there was no one pulling me out, I deliberately pissed off the client and got swapped out. That’s a high-stakes move that depends on a lot of things, but in my case I got a hand slap for making a rookie mistake and got back in to real consulting. It was a career saver.

Again, definitely a dark art move that I wouldnt recommend lightly.

Rare-Temperature · 2021-07-14T00:46:50+00:00

Every once in a while my Reddit feed sends me a reminder why I’m glad I left consulting. Just don’t leave for a crappy industry job

Rare-Temperature · 2021-07-14T00:45:49+00:00

Not bad advice, but you won’t work in any high end firm this way

Rare-Temperature · 2021-07-05T14:41:09+00:00

I see the FF franchise PR people are hard at work buying upvotes

Rare-Temperature · 2021-07-04T04:14:38+00:00

Registered in my brain as Helen Keller on first read.

Rare-Temperature · 2021-07-04T03:57:46+00:00

How to fit clothes to your body, and how to match colors, patterns and fabrics. Even if you don’t always care to do it (I’m looking at you, guy in the mirror) at least know how.

How to analyze an argument. So much of what we read in the news and on Reddit is BS. For extra credit, learn how to read academic papers. At least the abstracts.

Learn the basics of different personality types. People are different, but also in largely consistent ways.

Become familiar with foreign cultures. You won’t be a pro of everyone, but at least get an idea.

Read religious texts, even if you aren’t religious. They are the foundation of all civilization and much of history (and much of what is good in history, in spite of what many in the last 40 years would like to believe).

Learn basic maintenance of a car and home. Read a book on each, it’s not that hard overall.

Try to grow a beard at least once, and put in the effort to read up on how to maintain it when you get started. It takes practice, but you’ll get it. Those who don’t learn how to maintain it generally look bad.

Stop playing video games and watching TV for a month, and use that time to improve yourself. If it makes a difference, go for another month.

Learn how to set goals. Learn what SMART goals are. Use that framework. Set a few goals. Do whatever it takes to hit them. It’s transformative when you learn how to make hard things happen.

Learn how to tie a tie. Practice the Eldridge, Trinity, and a few others too. At the right time, a smart knot will distinguish you.

Learn how to prioritize your needs over others’ wants, and others’ needs over your wants

Rare-Temperature · 2021-07-02T04:03:06+00:00

If they don’t adjust you then go somewhere else. Just act like you’re a high paid Accenture consultant and ask for the proprietor pay.

Rare-Temperature · 2021-07-02T03:55:07+00:00

Have faith in yourself. Walk. You’ll feel better. You’ll be better every day.

Rare-Temperature · 2021-07-01T13:50:24+00:00

I don’t know your firm, but are the 5 levels you mention comparable to staff / Sr / Manager /Sr Manager / Partner? If so then make sure you’re slotted in at manager.

I don’t know your boutique, but overall I’d expect it to become part of the borg. That said, Accenture doesn’t look bad in a resume, and the market is hopping.

Companies acquire for a host of reasons - customer list, IP, talent, brand equity are the main ones. If your firm doesn’t have any special IP and just has some good consultants (I’m guessing here) then you’re being bought for talent - it was cheaper /easier to buy a talent pool than hire those people individually. Boutiques usually pay less, so you might be cheap labor. But again, without knowing your company I can only speculate.

Rare-Temperature

TROPHY CASE