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Badia Rebolledo Abud

Let’s start by saying that I have been around the block for a while, 25 years in HR, and in my eyes; I consider myself successful. For my kids, though, I am a boring working mum. A couple of years ago, my kids were talking about what they wanted to study at university, and I just happened to walk in when my son said, "I just don't want to be like mum behind a desk all the time." The audacity! They make it sound like a life sentence. So, I picked up my pride and with an expression of “my heart was not shattered into small pieces and scattered on top of my pulverized pride," I tried to share some “pearls of wisdom” with them as to what I have seen through the years hiring, developing and managing people in organizations, especially with recent graduates. After my very eloquent and well-intentioned speech, I got a "yeah, ok, thanks, mum."

So, I have decided to share with you my pearls of wisdom since I noticed that when the advice comes from someone else but your parents, they are listened to and considered. My advice does not only apply to recent graduates. It applies to anyone at any point in their career. It is no secret formula, and I am sure you all know this, but it looks prettier in a nice and respected magazine. So, buckle up, dear colleagues; here we go:

Wasted Advice #1 - Love what you do and do what you love because then, you will not have to work one day in your life. There is no job that is perfect and enjoyable every day. Just like anything, in every job, there are tasks or activities that you don't like. However, you must look at them like vegetables: You need them to grow. Some days you want to kill someone and hide the body, and some days, you feel in ‘the zone’ and can keep working with no effort till the cows come home. Just make sure that what you are doing is something that each morning you don’t dread to go to.

I have seen people hating every second of their job, and when you ask them why don’t they leave, the answer is, 'It is complicated.' It is not. It is scary, and the uncertainty of the unknown is not cool. I'm not saying to do a Brave Heart scene and leave, but start planning, looking at options. What helped me make that decision in the past was asking myself, 'What would I do if I got fired today?’ It turns out that there are more options than I thought. So don’t wait for that kind of encouraging push; take the step.

"A good company creates a culture that you will think twice about leaving"

Wasted Advice #2 – Don’t be someone else to fit in. The culture of the company has become more and more relevant when hiring people. They want to be in sync with it. Believe in it. This is something that the new generations have very clearly when they are searching for a new job, and I admire them for it. Pretending to like a company just because you get a good paycheck, but their culture does not align with your values is like running two marathons every day with no hydration, but knowing that at the end of the day, you will be given a nice one scope of chocolate ice-cream.

Many companies pay well because they know that what they will ask from you is far and beyond the norm. But, let me tell you that when you work at a place where people share the same values, vision, and massive transformation purpose (MTP), what you are capable of and the results obtained are ‘Moon Shots.’ This is the big secret of many startups: Few people with the same objective, passion, values, and vision. When all these combine, the possibilities are unlimited. I have experienced it myself. When they let you be, they support you, they challenge you, and you thrive like a wild weed.

Wasted Advice #3 – Leave your name on the Hall of Fame. At the end of the day, we all need to pay bills, but being able to leave a legacy, a mark, or an impact on your community or team, has an effect on you that is hard to describe. I suppose this becomes much more evident as you get older and understand how what you do or say may have long-term effects. Still, the new generations are more preoccupied with making sure that whatever they do, is impacting at some level. Again, kudos to them.  

Some companies complain about people who have been short periods of time in different companies. They even have a term for them: ‘hoppers.’ I find these people mesmerizing (with some exceptions). They are quick to adapt, learn, deliver, and move on to the next challenge. This next challenge does not have to be in another company, but it is up to the current company to make it engaging to stay. A good company creates a culture that you will think twice about leaving.  

Many people end up in the wrong career or job. That is not the problem; the problem is not doing anything to change it. I married a dropout that, later in life, found his passion, and seeing him at work, is one of the most inspiring things I have seen. But it took guts to quit, to act, and pursue what made him happy. He has left a legacy and a mark on many; he is himself, and he loves what he does.