Whenever there's anything that your colleagues are talking about, being technology, networking, latest events, that you don't understand, look it up. Knowledge is everything to gaining a reputation, and knowledge is not something that's acquired, it's something that is constantly sought after.
Anything that you can't confidently define, look it up. Go online and search on it and find out the littlest details about it. Even the simplest things that you don't understand, don't be afraid to go and dig it up.
Looking things up will help give you a broader understanding of your problems at work, of the types of problems your coworkers go through, and makes you more knowledgable and ready to help others and help yourself.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Execution is Everything
A good strategy is a necessity in being successful. However, a good strategy that isn't followed is a failure. With that in mind, this is what I mean by 'execution is everything'. A good strategy must be properly executed.
How do you properly execute a strategy?
Don't beat around the bush. Once the plan is laid out, act on it immediately. Don't make excuses to procrastinate. Don't think about what you have to do next, or what's going to happen later. Get the stuff done quick, and get it done well.
Also, strategies are never perfect. There's always obstacles that you didn't foresee. Thus, it's important to quickly go through with your plan so you can expose these unforeseen circumstances. You can always expect to be revising your plan and rewriting your stuff, so you don't need to perfect it.
Wipe everything else off your mind. Once you get into your list, turn on your sniper vision, and zero in on the task you have to do. Don't veer away from that task, and just keep at it. Hack at it in little pieces at a time, breaking the problem down, smaller and smaller, until the little pieces are done well.
Overall, it's extremely important to execute well, and to execute quick. In life, everybody has strategies and dreams. Everybody has plans. What differentiates winners from the losers are that the winners know that their strategy won't be perfect and execute well.
Execution, is everything.
How do you properly execute a strategy?
Don't beat around the bush. Once the plan is laid out, act on it immediately. Don't make excuses to procrastinate. Don't think about what you have to do next, or what's going to happen later. Get the stuff done quick, and get it done well.
Also, strategies are never perfect. There's always obstacles that you didn't foresee. Thus, it's important to quickly go through with your plan so you can expose these unforeseen circumstances. You can always expect to be revising your plan and rewriting your stuff, so you don't need to perfect it.
Wipe everything else off your mind. Once you get into your list, turn on your sniper vision, and zero in on the task you have to do. Don't veer away from that task, and just keep at it. Hack at it in little pieces at a time, breaking the problem down, smaller and smaller, until the little pieces are done well.
Overall, it's extremely important to execute well, and to execute quick. In life, everybody has strategies and dreams. Everybody has plans. What differentiates winners from the losers are that the winners know that their strategy won't be perfect and execute well.
Execution, is everything.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
NEVER Say "I Don't Know"
As important as it is to admit when there are things you don't know, it also doesn't look good when you tell your boss "I don't know." or "I've got no idea."
Actually, it looks bad and takes away from your reputation when you give such an answer. The answer gives off the impression that you haven't done your research, or that you aren't a very bright person, even if you maybe did do your research.
Better alternatives include, "I'll find out." If there's someone else in the room who may know better than you, turn to him and say "Joe, I'm looking to you for that one." Never finish your sentence with, "I have no clue". It's important to be able to shamelessly admit that you don't know your stuff, but at the same time, explain that you are going to find out. It shows high initiative.
And on a side note, never pretend to know something you don't. That's the worst that you can do for a company, because you not only slow down your own knowledge, but you're slowing down everyone else in the company. The company is only as strong as its weakest limb, and if people don't admit that they don't know, they cannot grow and strengthen.
Actually, it looks bad and takes away from your reputation when you give such an answer. The answer gives off the impression that you haven't done your research, or that you aren't a very bright person, even if you maybe did do your research.
Better alternatives include, "I'll find out." If there's someone else in the room who may know better than you, turn to him and say "Joe, I'm looking to you for that one." Never finish your sentence with, "I have no clue". It's important to be able to shamelessly admit that you don't know your stuff, but at the same time, explain that you are going to find out. It shows high initiative.
And on a side note, never pretend to know something you don't. That's the worst that you can do for a company, because you not only slow down your own knowledge, but you're slowing down everyone else in the company. The company is only as strong as its weakest limb, and if people don't admit that they don't know, they cannot grow and strengthen.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
It's Like Being an Entrepreneur
Being a PM is a lot like being an Entrepreneur. You're given the responsibility of owning a certain 'feature' of the product, and your job is to innovate and come up with the best solution to your feature.
For example, a possible PM job could be to own the Spell Check feature of Microsoft Word (I know, not the coolest example, but bear with me). Your job is to innovate the most user-friendly, technologically advanced, and coolest spell checker there is possible. And your ass is on the line for it.
You have to decide on the inputs and the outputs; how many features to put into it; what the customers want in a spell checker; decide on the shortcuts; decide on the entries; how someone will access it; how to automate it, etc.
It's a lot like running your own business. My mentor has compared it to being a restaurant owner. Your job is to run the business, decide on the menus, the food, the decorations, the open/close times, and make it all run smoothly.
At the same time, you have to bend to the head chefs, who are egotistical and won't take crap from you. You have to treat your waiters and waitresses well, or they'll quit. You have to listen to your customers, or they won't return.
You own everything, and you own nothing. Being a PM is exactly like being an entrepreneur.
For example, a possible PM job could be to own the Spell Check feature of Microsoft Word (I know, not the coolest example, but bear with me). Your job is to innovate the most user-friendly, technologically advanced, and coolest spell checker there is possible. And your ass is on the line for it.
You have to decide on the inputs and the outputs; how many features to put into it; what the customers want in a spell checker; decide on the shortcuts; decide on the entries; how someone will access it; how to automate it, etc.
It's a lot like running your own business. My mentor has compared it to being a restaurant owner. Your job is to run the business, decide on the menus, the food, the decorations, the open/close times, and make it all run smoothly.
At the same time, you have to bend to the head chefs, who are egotistical and won't take crap from you. You have to treat your waiters and waitresses well, or they'll quit. You have to listen to your customers, or they won't return.
You own everything, and you own nothing. Being a PM is exactly like being an entrepreneur.
Rephrase Things People Tell You
It's always important that you are listening to someone talk and that you understand someone. A well-oiled machine is one where communication is flawless and its workers are all in sync.
To be in sync, we must all understand what we're asking of each other and talking about. So when someone says something to you, you always want to make sure that you're understanding the point of what they're saying.
Therefore, rephrase things that people tell you.
By rephrasing what someone just told you, you get a confirmation from that person whether what you think they mean is really what they mean. This is really important to do especially after asking a question, or looking for advice. You want to make sure that you understand what they told you so you don't need to go back and ask again.
People grow respect for you when you ask a question once, they answer you, and you always remember that answer forever.
To be in sync, we must all understand what we're asking of each other and talking about. So when someone says something to you, you always want to make sure that you're understanding the point of what they're saying.
Therefore, rephrase things that people tell you.
By rephrasing what someone just told you, you get a confirmation from that person whether what you think they mean is really what they mean. This is really important to do especially after asking a question, or looking for advice. You want to make sure that you understand what they told you so you don't need to go back and ask again.
People grow respect for you when you ask a question once, they answer you, and you always remember that answer forever.
Always Have Something Ready To Show
If you want to look competent and seem on the ball with your stuff, it's important to always have something ready to show. Most people focus too hard on finding the 'perfect' solution and answer before they start writing or coding.
It's important to get something, anything, down on paper so that if anyone comes by and asks what you've done, you'll have a lot to show. Not only does this show your brainstorming thought process so that your boss knows how you're doing, but this also helps you organize your thoughts and visualize your information better.
Always write things down as they come, and not only after the 'perfect' solution has been solved.
It's important to get something, anything, down on paper so that if anyone comes by and asks what you've done, you'll have a lot to show. Not only does this show your brainstorming thought process so that your boss knows how you're doing, but this also helps you organize your thoughts and visualize your information better.
Always write things down as they come, and not only after the 'perfect' solution has been solved.
Offer People Value
One thing I notice that my mentor is always doing is that when he's walking around the office, he pops his head into random people's offices occasionally to give them a quick hello. After the hello, he also somehow knows what they're working on, and asks them for a quick update for how they're doing.
These people are completely random and not working on the same thing as him. Once they tell him their problem, he'll always try to think of some solution to help him. I've seen him direct a person stuck on a test case to a lead program manager in another division, or offer a solution that he's seen work from the past.
He builds relationships by offering people valuable information. By doing this, he is not only helping improve the efficiency of the team and helping other people get tasks done, but he's gaining respect from other people so that when he needs help, he'll willingly find it anywhere in the office. The doors will always be open for him because he works for the team, and not himself.
Lesson is, whenever you're talking to any of your colleagues, try hard to listen to their problems and offer solutions. Check up on them once in a while and see where you can help because you can almost always help.
These people are completely random and not working on the same thing as him. Once they tell him their problem, he'll always try to think of some solution to help him. I've seen him direct a person stuck on a test case to a lead program manager in another division, or offer a solution that he's seen work from the past.
He builds relationships by offering people valuable information. By doing this, he is not only helping improve the efficiency of the team and helping other people get tasks done, but he's gaining respect from other people so that when he needs help, he'll willingly find it anywhere in the office. The doors will always be open for him because he works for the team, and not himself.
Lesson is, whenever you're talking to any of your colleagues, try hard to listen to their problems and offer solutions. Check up on them once in a while and see where you can help because you can almost always help.
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