The Lesson
Yesterday I had an important life lesson in power and work dynamics.
Most people speak about how well they are as leaders, but they forget how vital it is to be a good mentee before being the mentor — especially people who are at the start of their career.
My Realization
I used to be that guy until yesterday. I had almost no experience and was (unconsciously) speaking with the CEO / business owner in a way I wouldn’t like my future employees or mentees to speak to me.
After all, they are the ones paying the bills for the place, the electricity, the employees, the damages, managing other stakeholders and partnerships with other brands… and we’re just scratching the surface.
As a “reward,” they get an employee who might be clumsy, arrogant, or sometimes complaining or raging over the stupidest of things.
I didn’t do it in a rude way, but I didn’t recall that I’m the one needing their job more than they needed me in the place. That power dynamic hit me hard in a moment of realization.
The Trap of “Well-Compensated”
The way I evaluated everything was:
“Don’t do things unless you’re well-compensated for them.”
This principle is true in general, but sometimes this way of thinking can restrain or sabotage someone’s ability to be creative and push their own limits.
Sometimes we overstretch our own expectations when it comes to being well compensated. If you make 10k, why not make 20? 50? or even more?
A person lacking experience or a fresh graduate might skyrocket their own expectations… only to fall on their neck when they hit the real world’s ground.
The Takeaway
So just to recap, the lesson learned here for me was:
Be humble.
You’re working for someone, not with them — because one day, you’ll be expecting that same humility from your own team.