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That entire comment read like an internal monologue that I frequently have with myself. :-(. I couldn't have worded it any better or differently. And, no I don'

by Surio 14y ago

That entire comment read like an internal monologue that I frequently have with myself. :-(. I couldn't have worded it any better or differently. And, no I don't think you sidestepped anything or claimed that A is inferior to B or some such thing either. But in the real world, for promotions and favors and work autonomy and VC funding, pass rates are << 50% and if you don't have it in you to negotiate for a better outcome, you're screwed. I already had a bad day and shouldn't have read that line in the end. I am going to go and crawl into a foetal position until daybreak! :-(

michaelochurch 14y ago
I already had a bad day and shouldn't have read that line in the end. I am going to go and crawl into a foetal position until daybreak! Don't be depressed about it. Three words: parallel vs. serial. Build redundancy in your system. That's what "networking" is really about. Redundancy and parallel support. In a typical corporation, unless you're savvy enough to devote serious effort toward internal networking, you have serial dependency: you need to get along with your boss, who needs to get along with his, and so on... up to the company itself performing well in the market. It's a chain of dependencies up to the top. If one link breaks, it disrupts your career. Parallelism is what you need to aim for. If you have 20 1-in-5 chances, then your odds are overwhelmingly good of getting at least one hit: 98.9%. What you have to do is string together a set of these low-probability, high-impact opportunities... and be resilient against the inevitable rejections. As much as I loathe the "Game" worldview, don't get "one-itis".
- Surio 14y ago
  Hi Michael, Thanks for reaching out. I know I shouldn't be depressed but it is extremely frustrating thinking about the situation, but not being able to do anything about it -- something like being able to hum Mozart or Beethoven or Wagner in your mouth clearly enough but totally sucking at it while playing it on an instrument! I think I got what you are pointing out, but then again, maybe I didn't. Firstly, the serial dependency bit clicked instantly (Well, it's easy because you can see that's all you've been doing all along!). But the parallelism bit flew past my head. Are you recommending that : 1. be savvy enough to devote serious effort toward internal networking? 2. Try to work on multiple teams/areas/domains? 3. Keep your contacts in outside organisations well primed and ready to help? Or was it something more obvious that ended up getting missed? Some more details would be helpful. Thank you.
  - michaelochurch 14y ago
    I'm recommending all three. In most companies, your boss and possibly your team will pressure you to devote 100% of your available energy to the project that you've been assigned to, and let all of your long-term or external interests slide "for now". Don't. It's a classic newbie mistake. You need to figure out what efforts are actually important and will keep you in good standing, but also sneak away time for your own career goals. This will (a) ensure progress that's independent of local political winds and (b) give you a head start if things go to hell (which they can easily do, because even if you have a good boss, there might be a problem with his boss-- or boss^2, or boss^3) and you end up looking for another job.
    - Surio 14y ago
      Time Zone latencies. I hope you are continuing to read the thread. :-] >> Don't. It's a classic newbie mistake. Not helping my cause here, but I am a 10+ year industry "veteran" with those problems :O But sometimes it is easier said than done -- at least that's how things seem to load on my plate. Do you remember the old chestnut on rocks, stones, pebbles and sand [Well, here it is: http://justinlim.wordpress.com/2006/11/28/of-rocks-pebbles-and-sand-who-are-the-rocks-in-your-life/ http://justinlim.wordpress.com/2006/11/28/of-rocks-pebbles-a...]. Somehow it seems like I am always given sand, filled to the brim in my bottle, right from the start! :-/ P.S: there's also a "beer" joke version of it that is probably more popular: http://www.avolites.org.uk/jokes/rock.htm http://www.avolites.org.uk/jokes/rock.htm Anyway, I thought I grasped it correctly, and you have confirmed it. >> there might be a problem with his boss-- or boss^2, or boss^3) and you end up looking for another job and you end up looking for another job. And that's how the credits seem to roll as well :-[

by Surio 14y ago

michaelochurch 14y ago

I already had a bad day and shouldn't have read that line in the end. I am going to go and crawl into a foetal position until daybreak! Don't be depressed about it. Three words: parallel vs. serial. Build redundancy in your system. That's what "networking" is really about. Redundancy and parallel support. In a typical corporation, unless you're savvy enough to devote serious effort toward internal networking, you have serial dependency: you need to get along with your boss, who needs to get along with his, and so on... up to the company itself performing well in the market. It's a chain of dependencies up to the top. If one link breaks, it disrupts your career. Parallelism is what you need to aim for. If you have 20 1-in-5 chances, then your odds are overwhelmingly good of getting at least one hit: 98.9%. What you have to do is string together a set of these low-probability, high-impact opportunities... and be resilient against the inevitable rejections. As much as I loathe the "Game" worldview, don't get "one-itis".

Surio 14y ago
Hi Michael, Thanks for reaching out. I know I shouldn't be depressed but it is extremely frustrating thinking about the situation, but not being able to do anything about it -- something like being able to hum Mozart or Beethoven or Wagner in your mouth clearly enough but totally sucking at it while playing it on an instrument! I think I got what you are pointing out, but then again, maybe I didn't. Firstly, the serial dependency bit clicked instantly (Well, it's easy because you can see that's all you've been doing all along!). But the parallelism bit flew past my head. Are you recommending that : 1. be savvy enough to devote serious effort toward internal networking? 2. Try to work on multiple teams/areas/domains? 3. Keep your contacts in outside organisations well primed and ready to help? Or was it something more obvious that ended up getting missed? Some more details would be helpful. Thank you.
- michaelochurch 14y ago
  I'm recommending all three. In most companies, your boss and possibly your team will pressure you to devote 100% of your available energy to the project that you've been assigned to, and let all of your long-term or external interests slide "for now". Don't. It's a classic newbie mistake. You need to figure out what efforts are actually important and will keep you in good standing, but also sneak away time for your own career goals. This will (a) ensure progress that's independent of local political winds and (b) give you a head start if things go to hell (which they can easily do, because even if you have a good boss, there might be a problem with his boss-- or boss^2, or boss^3) and you end up looking for another job.
  - Surio 14y ago
    Time Zone latencies. I hope you are continuing to read the thread. :-] >> Don't. It's a classic newbie mistake. Not helping my cause here, but I am a 10+ year industry "veteran" with those problems :O But sometimes it is easier said than done -- at least that's how things seem to load on my plate. Do you remember the old chestnut on rocks, stones, pebbles and sand [Well, here it is: http://justinlim.wordpress.com/2006/11/28/of-rocks-pebbles-and-sand-who-are-the-rocks-in-your-life/ http://justinlim.wordpress.com/2006/11/28/of-rocks-pebbles-a...]. Somehow it seems like I am always given sand, filled to the brim in my bottle, right from the start! :-/ P.S: there's also a "beer" joke version of it that is probably more popular: http://www.avolites.org.uk/jokes/rock.htm http://www.avolites.org.uk/jokes/rock.htm Anyway, I thought I grasped it correctly, and you have confirmed it. >> there might be a problem with his boss-- or boss^2, or boss^3) and you end up looking for another job and you end up looking for another job. And that's how the credits seem to roll as well :-[