MHN Executive Council: The Best Advice You’ve Received in Your Career (Part 1)
Our experts share five tips that have made a big difference.
People are quick to share career advice. Whether it’s good advice, well, sometimes that’s up for debate. But when you do hear something useful, it’ll stick with you and influence you for years. Sometimes that advice even comes from people in other industries. The MHN Executive Council shares some of the best career advice they’ve ever received, and how they apply it to their everyday lives.
Grow a Thick Skin
The best advice I ever received was to not take things personally. Property management is full of conflict. If you internalize it, you will burn out quickly. Simply advice that has served me well over the past three decades. —K David Meit, Principal, Oculus Realty
Don’t Wait—Act
By the time most people are still thinking about doing something, those who succeed have already tried it, failed at it, learned from it and moved on. They don’t wait for perfect timing or perfect conditions, they take action. Success doesn’t come from being the smartest person in the room; it comes from being the one willing to fail faster, learn quicker, adapt and keep going when others hesitate. —Jess Carpentier, Regional Marketing Manager, CSM Corp.
React to the Situation
I was a young executive at Target.com years ago and the entire operating system went down. Every employee in the building was stuck. Managers were calling me in a panic. I assessed the situation and ran to my boss’ office so he would not be blindsided. Tripping over my own words, sweating from my run, I blurted the crisis out. My boss was retired Lt. Colonel Geoff Stokes from the Marines. He stared at me with those glaring eyes and said, “Did anyone get shot?” I replied, “No, sir.” “Did anyone get hurt?” I replied, “No, sir.” His next set of words I’ve carried with me ever since. “Then stow the panic, son. If there’s no incoming fire and nobody’s hurt on the floor, we don’t have a ‘crisis’—we have a complication. Take a breath, get your head in the game, and go fix the situation. Dismissed.”
Today I’m managing a turn around with 997 Units that had been neglected for a decade. On a daily basis, I take a breath and get my head in game so I can fix situations. The words of Lt Colonel Geoff Stokes stay with me every time a situation arises. —Nate Armstrong, Co-CEO & Founder, Home Invest
Don’t be afraid to accept no as an answer, but more importantly don’t let it stop you from achieving your goal. Fearing that your idea may get rejected is not a reason not to try. As a former athlete, l learned early on that failure is part of growth and inevitable success. —Bruce Beck, Founder & CEO, DB&R Marketing Communications
Find Joy
After nearly 20 years with the same organization, I had come to the conclusion that I was ready for a new challenge. I wanted to put my mark on something that could truly be “mine.” One of the things that gave me the confidence to make this jump was a piece of advice someone gave me upon my departure: whatever you do, do something that brings you joy. It may sound cliche, but when I was staring down the opportunity to found my own company, I knew it was no longer just about the “work.” It was doing something that fulfilled me on a deeper level.
I founded my PR firm on the premise that strategic communications can drive meaningful business outcomes. The work my team executes day in and day out has a tangible impact on our clients’ bottom lines. With our support, they are exceeding their business objectives, becoming true industry thought leaders through our business development-focused approach to communications. This has brought a sense of mission and purpose to my professional life that I have never before experienced. —Robyn Reiss, Founder & CEO, Reiss Strategies
Interested in joining the MHN Executive Council and sharing your insights? Email Jessica Fiur.
