Why do young adults find it so difficult to accept feedback in a professional setting?

Feedback can be negative or positive.

While positive feedback is welcome in almost any setting, negative feedback can blindside us, and catch us off guard.

A young adult, in a professional setting, might think they are doing all the right things, and behaving in the right way.

They may be thrown for a loop by any negative feedback.

Negative feedback always surprises.

We are told - by a manager, sometimes by an HR person, that we shouldn’t have done this or that, or we dropped the ball, or we are falling short, an included spoken or unspoken “you need to improve, or else” hanging over it all, sometimes.

We may be dumbfounded by what we are told, even if it comes from a single person, speaking to us behind closed doors.

The larger the company, the more likely, they will have a protocol for communicating negative feedback.

Managers go to training for those kinds of things.

In a small business, or single franchise operation, however, there may be no protocol.

Young adults (and sometimes old adults alike) may find themselves on the receiving end of a poorly delivered dressing down.

If other people are present when you receive this poorly delivered dressing down, it is even more upsetting.

If you perceive yourself as working as hard as you can, putting up with a lack of support or clear instruction, and in fact, doing more than some others are, you might find the dressing down completely unfair, and majorly unwarranted.

If it’s a one-off thing - the manager was just in a bad mood - you can decide to disregard it.

You may have no choice, because of your position, relative to theirs.

If, however, in spite of doing your utmost, your efforts are getting no love or appreciation, then perhaps, it may be best to look for another job.

There are two circumstances, in which quitting is a rational choice.

One, if you are a new employee, and you have not been able to fit in, or find yourself constantly criticized for the quality, or quantity, of your work, or continuously blindsided, or sidelined.

Or if you are an old employee, but things have changed on you, and you frankly like the changes as much as you like durian, or stinky tofu.

Minoo Jha

· 2y

What do I do if the culture in my company has changed and suddenly I do not fit in?

You have to decide if it’s a deal breaker, or if it’s not a deal breaker. If being a culture misfit is a deal breaker, you should move on. Here are all the other signs it is time for you to move on… What are the signs that it's time to quit a job? Here are some signs: * When you find yourself getting subversive * When you feel you are not getting anywhere * When you experience repeated mental shutdowns * When you are spending more time arguing or defending yourself than doing your work * When a sense of dread comes over you as you enter the door at work * When you start being sidelined * When your manager changes and it is clear the new manager doesn’t really appreciate you * When your compensation, or the fact you’ve been passed up for opportunities, or a promotion, begins to rankle you * When you are being asked to do things that conflict with your values These are signs its time to say ta ta.

Depending on where you are in your career, what the economy is like, and what opportunities are out there for you, quitting may be easier said than done, though.

If quitting is easier said then done, keep applying for jobs, reminding yourself why it may be worth it to hang in there, and know it’s just a question of time, before you can cut the cord between you, and this energy draining workplace, that you have to drag your feet to everyday.

Find positive ways to remind yourself that the experience you are going through is unusual, and does not reflect how capable you are…

Minoo Jha

· May 30

What is best to practice how to be positive even when people criticize your work?

Hi, You asked, How do you remain positive when someone criticises your work? When someone criticizes my work, I have to remind myself I have an average level of performance that I will return to. This helps me get out of the dejection I feel. This story was the key to learning how not to let crash and burn times keep me down for too long. 2 famous psychologists Amos Tversky and Thomas Gilovich were giving a motivational psychology class to teachers and instructors from various walks of life. The class was about how to inspire better performance from the people they were training and instructing. Tversky and Gilovich asked the class - should they praise someone’s performance to get them to perform better. Or should they criticize someone’s performance to get them to perform better. There were 2 Israeli aviation instructors among the students in the class. They were quick to answer “criticize”. Tversky and Gilovich told them they were wrong. Praise was more effective. The Israeli instructors said, “Sirs, we respectfully disagree. Back at the academy where we teach pilots to fly, we have found criticism to be more effective.” They said, in their experience, whenever a student pilot performed an excellent flight, and they praised the student for their excellent performance after that flight, the student’s performance on the next flight dropped. The praise seemed to cause the student to relax and slack off, rather than to be motivated to do even better. And whenever they criticized a student pilot for a poorly performed flight, the student would almost always perform better on the next flight. What else could this mean, but that the criticized students were stung by the criticism, and immediately improved their performance so they wouldn’t be criticized again? The psychologists told the aviation instructors their facts were right. But their interpretation of those facts was wrong. The psychologists agreed that a student who had performed excellently on a flight was likely to perform less well on the next flight, and the student who had performed poorly on a flight was likely to perform better on the next flight. However, they said the reason for the change in performance had nothing to do with criticism or praise. It was related to statistical regression. The students were just reverting to their natural level of performance. Everyone has a natural level of performance. We may perform above our natural level of performance at times, or below our natural level of performance at times, but we will return to our natural level of performance, which is the norm for us. Thus a drop after an excellent performance, and an improvement after a mediocre one, is to be expected. I find the concept of “a natural level of performance” very reassuring. Because, whatever the current state of affairs - for instance, nothing I do is right, I know I have a natural level of performance I will return to. If my performance is below par for a while, because I am going through a particularly tough time, or I am in the wrong environment, or I am still learning the ropes of a new skill-set, I know it’s just a question of time before my performance will return to my long term norm. Likewise, when I suddenly blow it out of the water, and do exceptionally well, I don’t have to fret about not being able to repeat it, because even if I can’t do that, I can depend on my long term natural level of performance to see me through.

Even in the toughest situation, it’s good to work on your attitude.

Minoo Jha

· 7y

What has attitude to do with success?

Hi, You asked, How much is success tied to attitude? Very important. The future is always a question mark. The end of the world is just a life changing situation change away. Any change in the environment can bring about a change in our fortunes... A new boss A merger A political changing of the guard An economic downturn New technologies which make existing manufacturing, business or service practices redundant Natural calamities War Even when we are successful, fortune can play head games with us. The uncertainty we will be able to hold on to what we have will give us sleepless nights. “Will I always have my job, my house, my car, my savings” - we worry. And yet…..in spite of all the uncertainty in our lives we have to make our way in the world - it is something we should never shirk from doing. And it is important we have the right attitudes in place. Or more importantly, it is important that we do not have the wrong attitudes in place. Let’s explore some of these attitudes. Just because you’ve never done it before, or it is different from what you did before, does not mean you can’t do it, or you won’t be good at it. A mental block may stand between you and an exciting future. Dismantling this mental block - as fast as it is created in your mind - should be your number one priority. When opportunity knocks, we should answer it. That is what my friend Ajay did. Ajay was doing fine in his advertising job - when the opportunity arose for him to become a stock-broker. He could have dismissed it, making any number of excuses. “Nah…..I don’t have the personality for that.” “Why bother with something new?” But he didn’t. He took the plunge. He gave up an advertising job with a steady paycheck - and entered the stock-broking business, even though his income would be entirely commission-based. It paid off. Stock-broking became Ajay's lifetime occupation and he prospered in it. Are you thinking about doing something which is different from what you have done before? Don't let excuses hold you back. Just because you’ve never done it before, or it is different from what you did before, does not mean you can’t do it, or you won’t be good at it. Just because it’s tough and terrifying in the beginning, doesn’t mean it won’t get easier as time passes. When you are starting out, whatever the job or venture, there will be a learning curve. Until you are past this learning curve, your workday will be challenging, maybe even extremely challenging, and the rewards will be slim. After you have learned the ropes, it will get easier and more profitable. Ask me. When I started doing Commissions Administration, it was tough and terrifying in the beginning - because I entered the field cold. By cold, I mean sub zero minus 61.6 degrees Oymyakon, Siberia cold. I did not have a background in finance or accounting. Crazier still, I did not know what the job of a Commissions Analyst involved (which, in hindsight was just as well, perhaps). Even crazier, I did not know Excel – a fact which, I am sure, would be stunning to every Commissions Analyst. But guess what – I put one foot in front of the other and, as tough and terrifying as it was in the beginning, Commissions Administration got easier as time went by. Taking up my first Commissions Analyst job was one of 3 brave career decisions I made. The first brave career decision was quitting my full time pay-check based advertising copy job to start my advertising creative shop Purple Patch. The second brave decision was entering the Commissions Administration field, though I did not have the background, skills or experience for it. The third brave decision was becoming a Commissions Consultant in 2010 - giving up a full-time Commissions Analyst job to help companies with their commission accounting needs on a temporary basis. In each of these gigs, it was tough in the beginning, but got easier and more paying as time passed. Are you thinking about doing something which is different from what you have done before? Are you afraid that it’s going to be tough and terrifying in the beginning? Even if it's going to be, you shouldn't let that stop you. As you gain experience and confidence, it will get easier, and you will never look back. Just because you are going up against highly experienced people - or people with a head start over you - doesn’t mean you don’t have a chance. Have you noticed how new social media companies keep popping up? First there was My Space. Then there was Facebook. Then there was You Tube. Then there was LinkedIn. Then there was Instagram. Then there was Blogger. Then there was Twitter. Then there was Pinterest. Then there was What’s App (forgive me if I am getting the chronology wrong, I am just trying to make a point about how social media has proliferated). If you have a great idea or valuable skills to offer, you shouldn’t let anything stop you. Not even, the fact, you are going up against people (or companies) with a head start over you. Never let ‘the Goliath factor’ make you shrink from your destiny. The world moves because young, nimble minds are willing to take on established giants - through the application of new energy and new ideas. I feel trepidation with every new assignment. I think - what if this company has more experienced and skilled Commissions Analysts than me - and my skills and experience don’t hold up against theirs? But I go ahead anyway - hoping to bring something to the table. Indeed, every company I have worked for, has needed a shoulder to the wheel. I immediately put my shoulder to the wheel as best I can - and where I see the need is greatest. I bring a service attitude and heart – and this serves me well. Do you have a great idea, or a passion to do something? Don’t be afraid to go up against more highly experienced people, or people who have a head start over you. Remember - the world moves - because young, nimble minds like yours are willing to take on the status quo. Speaking of status quo… Just because there’s a status quo, doesn’t mean you can’t find your own cadence. You don’t have to buy into existing ideas of what work means, or how one should work. You don’t have to get sucked into what everyone else thinks. You can design your own job and your own workday. If you are willing, like me, to live simply, you can do temporary gigs (mine is in Commission Consulting) and take breaks in between. You can have a baby and run a little business on the side. You can, like Louis Auchincloss, or Louis Begley, have a thriving law career - and write novels in your spare time. You can, like Tim Ferris, design a four hour work week. The simpler you are in your wants and needs, the more flexible your work week can be - and the more activities you will be able to accommodate. It will be easier to accommodate your exercise regimen, your hobbies, your volunteer work, or a pet-project. I have designed my schedule to accommodate my blog-writing. Are you yearning to establish your own work cadence? If you need inspiration, here’s an inspiring example - My friend Ajay has written - and now published a 300 page novel – Operation Al Nagrib - all while continuing to run his stock-broking business. You can pursue your secret dreams too – just by setting your own work cadence. Just because something has become challenging for you, doesn’t mean you have to give it up. Curve balls are a part of life. They can come at us suddenly – or be there from day one. The bigger the curve ball, the bigger is the temptation to live life in a state of dependent hopelessness, or to throw in the towel. For our own self-esteem and fulfillment, we have to tell ourselves, “I am going to make the best of this. I am not going to go down without a fight.” We have to hang in there and keep going. I am grateful for the role models who provide inspiration in this regard. I dedicate this post to my two brothers-in-law Jim and Arun, and my cousin Vinita, who by the fullness with which they live their lives, have been a continuous source of inspiration to me. I also dedicate this post to all of you who are past, present or future victors over the circumstances in your life. Way to go! Do play my Judge and Jury game if ever you have a low moment. Yes, a challenge may be around the corner for us. But just because something becomes challenging for us, doesn’t mean we have to give it up. I will end with these words - from Gustave Flaubert, the French novelist, and the author of Madame Bovary - which are worth taking a moment to reflect on: “The most glorious moments in your life are not the so-called days of success, but rather those days, when out of dejection and despair, you feel rise in you a challenge to life, and the promise of future accomplishments.”

Because the earlier you learn to deal with negative feedback, and all the other thrills of being a working stiff, the better it will be for your future.

Because, ahem, becoming a more experienced employee, and a not so young adult, doesn’t mean that negative feedback will automatically become a rearview mirror thing.

Mountains can still be made of your boo boos.

Minoo Jha, who has experienced negative feedback on both sides of the hour glass, can testify.

Negative feedback need not necessarily be expressed in words.

When it is expressed in something other than words,  negative feedback can be even more withering, than if it had been expressed in words.

It can be expressed by being marginalized.

By having assignments taken away from you.

Or by having a project you worked real hard on, and are proud of, being benched.

When I was a copywriter, I would sometimes be shaken to find out that a creative assignment had secretly been shifted to another copywriter on the team, because the account management group was unhappy with what I had produced so far.

Other ways are being passed over for a promotion, or not getting the raise you were expecting.

Or seeing someone else get the promotion you thought was coming to you.

Harsh words, though, are what we will remember the most.

Minoo Jha, the seasoned copywriter, still remembers being told by an advertising client, “even my 5 year old child could have written this”.

Minoo Jha, the commissions analyst, still remembers being told by a commissions manager, “you have an odd way of communicating in your emails”.

And Minoo Jha, the commissions analyst, still remembers being told by another commissions manager, “you reply to enquiries from sales reps too hastily”. The feedback was delivered at one of those lovely annual performance reviews, with an additional sting in the tail, that since Minoo Jha fell into the “average performance” category, Minoo Jha was being given an “average performance” raise.

And so on, and so on.

Such heartwarming stuff.

In both my careers, I decided to suck it up, grin and bear it, bow to fate, swallow the pill.

"NOT!" as Borat would say.

The mouse finally roared…

Minoo Jha

· 7y

Did successful entrepreneurs act entrepreneurial as children?

Hi, You asked, Did successful entrepreneurs act entrepreneurial as children? If I had to guess, my answer would be “not necessarily so”. I think the entrepreneurial impetus comes from being in these circumstances: * Getting fed up of traditional employment * Having no access to traditional employment * Wanting to be your own boss * Seeing an opportunity My own entrepreneurial forays - starting my own creative hot shop Purple Patch in my first career, and going freelance in Commissions Administration in my second career, were prompted by a combination of getting fed up with traditional employment, and wanting to be my own boss. As an example of “having no access to traditional employment”, I know of someone who was convicted of embezzlement, and could not get a job after serving her sentence. So she started a mobile dog grooming business. As an example of “seeing an opportunity”, it’s what everyone - from Colonel Sanders - to street vendors - have done - they see an opportunity to sell people something they want and are willing to pay enough of a price for, to make it worthwhile for the seller to invest his time, money, and energy into it. Whatever your way in to entrepreneurship, and however long you stay an entrepreneur, the experience will make you grow at warp speed. I agree with Steve Pavlina on this. It is what makes entrepreneurship so absorbing and obsessive.

This is how Purple Patch, my creative hot shop, was born in my first career in India.

This is how I went from an employed commissions administrator to a freelance “emergency commissions analyst" in my second career in the U.S.

Geographies don’t matter in this regard.

Both in India, and in the US, I found my getaway car from performance reviews and negative feedback in entrepreneurship and freelancing, proving that “getting fed up” is a powerful stimulant for "doing your own thing".

As a creative hot shop owner, and especially, as a freelance commissions analyst, my clients knew I was a fish that had swum into their sphere for a bit to save the day, but would slip out of their hands, sooner or later. 

You get more respect from someone who knows you are just there to save the day, and will slip out of their hands, sooner or later.

So, young adult, hopefully, I have given you some food for thought.

If things are not going swimmingly well in your current job, hang in there, until you find a solution - with an appropriate metaphor (don’t skip the metaphor) that works for you.

And now to borrow a line from HGTV, to end my durian and stinky tofu and fish laced discourse on the topic of negative feedback....

Are you going to suck it up, grin and bear it, bow to fate, swallow the pill., and love it?

Or are you going to find your getaway car, and leave it?

P.S. The leave it option is out of the question, if you are teetering on a financial cliff. If you are teetering on a financial cliff, you need to become more like Kevin Leary or Warren Buffett, before you plan your grand exit from any place of work, no matter how much it stinks.

Will exploring a wide range of career opportunities improve one's odds of success?

In support of a "yes" answer, here are 6 ways in which exploring different career opportunities may pay off:

One, life will be more interesting, if you experiment with different career opportunities.

Two, you will learn new things. No two careers are the same.

Three, with each change in career, you will meet new people, people different from the kinds of people you’ve met before.

Four, when you are new to a career, there will be no room for boredom or complacency.

Five, your second, third, fourth, or nth career, may be the one you are most successful at.

Six, your second, third, fourth, or nth career, may be your most satisfying career. 

Satisfaction is a legitimate form of success.

Ultimately, each of us decides what success means to us. 

Satisfaction may be what success means to you.

In support of a "no" answer, here are 6 ways in which pursuing different career opportunities may not pay off...

One, all the hard work you put into studying something, or learning something, and the experience you gain in one career will be lost, unless you apply what you have learned and experienced in that career, in your next career, or careers.

Two, when you are new to a career, you will have newbie status.  Not only may the money be entry level, but you will go from being an old-timer in your previous career, to being a nobody in your new career, until you are able to prove yourself, and reach established status.

Three, you may lose any benefits that vest, or that you become eligible for, only when you have completed a certain number of years in a job. - benefits such as longer vacations, stock options, sabbaticals, etc.

Four, you may lose the freedom, flexibility, and autonomy, that come with being in one job and career.

Five, if you are in one career, you will in time, become an authority on topics and subjects related to that career, a satisfaction in itself. You will lose this when you change careers.

Six, and this is important to state, perseverance is the key to long-term success in a career. You will lose this key, if you keep changing careers.

Minoo Jha

· Oct 6

What role does perseverance play in achieving long-term success?

Perseverance is a key, perhaps the key to long-term success. Those who persevere will achieve more in any sphere (area) of life, than those who don’t. Firstly, they are keen on using their talents, putting their abilities to work, or pursuing their interests. So they are likely to start using their talents, abilities, and interests, early in life. Initially, it may be in a non-professional, hobby setting. At this stage, they do the activity, for the sheer joy of being able to do it. Creation is involved. And they enjoy seeing the results of their creations, as well as experimenting with new ideas. This is a soft beginning. A little later, their talents and creations will be discovered, or they will themselves spot an opportunity, to pursue their interests further, either through getting a job, or through a business idea. This is when their plans and ideas solidify. At this stage, many people’s ambitions come to rest. But the persevering person never rests. They could be happy with the fact, that they are earning money from something they like to do, and are good at doing, and they are gaining knowledge and experience, while practicing what they are good at. But for the persevering person, that’s not enough. Their goal is to become better at what they do, to create and do more, to establish a name for themselves, to use their talents, abilities, and experience, beyond what is required just to support themselves. They are in it to find out how far they can take their talents and skills. They are in it, not just for the immediate future, but for the future they cannot see. The long haul. Regardless of challenges, rejections, disappointments, slow times, and competitive blows, they plan to keep the momentum going. Not resting in high moments, or grieving in low moments. When thrown to the mat, instead of thinking, “it’s all over for me”, they pick themselves up, and keep going. The persevering person may be a short-run pessimist, but they are always a long-run optimist. They never fail to hope for better times. It helps them persist. It helps them expand the number of things they can do, as well as expand the variety of things, they can do. They are also able to branch out, and extend. While the non-persevering person, jumps from tree to different tree, allowing too little time to achieve significant success in any area, the persevering person hones and refines what they do, smartly extending what they do, when the opportunity arises. They don’t make the deadly mistake of losing focus, losing interest, losing traction in the area they have dedicated their lives to. Over time, this makes the core of their knowledge, skills, and insights, strong. It also makes them agile. Quick thinkers and quick doers. Persevering people are success attractors. Over time, they achieve remarkable success. Looking at their success, the non-persevering person will say, “how lucky they are - they got into the right field, everything clicked for them.” They assume the persevering person’s success was due to advantages, resources, support, and connections, that they were lucky to have. But it’s neither a true assumption, nor a fair assumption. The persevering person’s success may have nothing to do with being handed a golden key at birth, or being lucky with resources, connections, and the support to succeed. Their success may be entirely self-made. In fact, the persevering person’s success is significantly due to their persistence and perseverance. They never gave up. They kept going. They were willing to try, and try again. They stretched themselves to meet new opportunities, not letting complacency make them lose their grip. Long after others stopped, or hopped onto a different tree, the persevering person kept at what they were doing, kept the momentum going. It’s how they got to where they are today. And it describes the long-term success of most of the successful people I know. If you ask any of these successful people the question, “what role does perseverance have to play in the success you’ve achieved, and continue to achieve?”, this is the answer you can expect from them…. “EVERYTHING!”

I have presented 6 ways in which, a  wide range of career opportunities may benefit you, and 6 ways in which they may not.

For most of us, this may be just a point of curiosity, because the default option (maybe, even the best option) is to stick with one career.

If there are circumstances in which, you don't have a choice, but to switch, even though you loved your career, you will see some of the negative aspects I have listed come to play - such as being a nobody, stripped of the respect and authority you previously enjoyed, and for many, far less income too.

Immigrants often don't have a choice, but to switch.

Some are doctors, some are professors, some are just copywriting hacks like myself.

I was forced to make a radical career switch, after I immigrated to America, and was unable to get a copywriting job.

Minoo Jha

· 4y

If you had a chance to do over, which profession would you choose?

Yes, both of them. This piece explains… Quick - What do Ronald Reagan and I have in common? We both have had second careers. Being a Hollywood actor, and serving as president of the United States – those were Ronald Reagan’s 2 careers. Being an advertising copywriter, and then a commissions analyst – these were my 2 careers. I am not sure what inspired Ronald Reagan’s career change. I know what inspired mine. It was moving to America. I moved to America in an existential crisis. There was no planning involved. Further, I came to America with a toddler in tow, and money to last me 3 months. By hook or by crook, I had to find a job before the money ran out. I spotted just one or two openings for copywriting jobs. Copywriting had been my career in India, a career in which I had been successful. So I applied. I got a response to one of my applications. Off to San Francisco, I went for the interview. But I did not get the job. Maybe looking in AdWeek would have been better. But I did not know how to drive. And I had an 11 month old child to contend with. So I decided to bite the bullet and get an Admin Assistant job. First, I went to Goodwill Institute of Career Development. There I learned the rudiments of the Microsoft Office suite of applications – Word, Excel, Access and Powerpoint. Just before my 3 months of money ran out, I got my first admin assistant temp job. Phew! 2 more admin assistant temp jobs followed, before I was to get my first permanent admin assistant job. I became an Admin Assistant to a Sales Manager at Palm Inc, the company that made the Palm Pilot. Palm was where my Commission Analyst career was born. Here's how it happened... After a few months of working at Palm, my boss wondered aloud at one of our one on ones, whether I might be better suited to a more challenging job. I asked him, “Like what?” He said Palm had tons of openings. I should look at them. Maybe there was something that would catch my eye. I asked him, “Can you think of what might be suitable for me?” “Yes,” he said, “Laura, over there is looking for a Commissions Analyst to join her Commission Accounting team. Go talk to her.” Commissions Accounting - what’s that? I wondered. Like in the story of my first career, where my boyfriend knew what copywriters did, but I didn’t, my boss knew what Commission Analysts did, but I didn’t. Anyway, I went to Laura. I didn’t even know if I was saying it right. “I have come to see you about the Commission Analyst job. Andy told me you had an opening,” I said. “What’s your background,” she asked me? “I used to be an Advertising Copywriter in India, and I’ve been working for Andy as his Admin Assistant these past few months.” She was incredulous. “You don’t have the skills,” she said. I was incredulous too, when I found out what the job involved. It was all numbers. I would have to calculate sales commissions, which was a numbers job, the whole day. I had no experience with numbers. I didn’t believe I had a talent for numbers. And to tell you the truth, I wasn’t interested in numbers. How could I, a words person, obsessed, besotted, in love with words, do an “all numbers” job like Commissions Accounting? The suggestion from my boss I go to Laura, appeared kind, but misplaced. But my boss didn’t let go of the idea. I think he was keen to get me off his back. Either that, or possibly, he just wanted me to be fruitfully occupied at work. I had a lot of idle time on my hands, and he could see it was wearying me. “Minoo, go back to Laura. Tell her you have free time. Tell her you will help her out, until she hires someone.” So I went back to Laura. She felt bad to turn me away. After all, what harm was there in letting me help her till she hired somebody? “Ok,” she said, “maybe you can help me with a few things. Let’s get started tomorrow.” And that’s how it began. My foray into Commissions Accounting. Laura started giving me work to do. And teaching me at the same time. The work involved a lot of Excel. Actually, advanced Excel. I only knew the rudiments of Excel. I just followed her instructions. Frankly, I was scared to death. But the fact I was just “helping till she found someone” took the pressure off. I must have done alright. Because after a short while, she said, “Minoo, I need to convert you from Andy’s assistant to a Commissions Analyst under me.” The paperwork was processed. Soon my business card read Minoo Jha, Commissions Analyst, Palm Inc. Laura informed me she would be going out on maternity leave soon after. When I heard her say that, I started panicking. “Laura, how am I going to manage? I don’t understand any of the formulas.” “Laura, if any of the formulas break, I won’t know how to fix them.” “Laura, if a new hire comes on board, what will I do – I don’t know how to set up their statement?” She put all these fears to rest. “Don’t worry, Minoo, trust me you can do this.” “Just copy the formulas from the existing sheets on to new sheets for new hires.” “And if you break a formula, just look at one of the other spreadsheets and copy the formula over from there.” “Trust me - you can do this.” Those were the magic words. Laura went out on maternity leave. I found myself in the position of having to handle the commissions function at Palm entirely on my own. The challenge both terrified and inspired me. I knew the answer was to become really good at Excel. So I did a Google search for ‘best books to learn Excel” and read reviews. I decided there were 5 good books, each of which had different things to offer. I got my boss to let me expense them. The books arrived. Every night after Tanita went to sleep, I would crack them open. Soon, with the help of my 5 books, I mastered Excel. And this once “words only” person stopped being terrified of doing a numbers job. Laura never returned from maternity leave. I handled the commissions function at Palm on my own for the next 5 years. All the way until I moved to greener pastures. I am still doing Commissions Accounting today. Except I now do it as a Freelance Consultant. So now you know the story behind my second career as well. Not as exciting as Ronald Reagan’s second career. But you can see there were many cliff-hanging moments for me, along the way. P.S. Aren’t managers amazing? Laura took me on just because I had fire in my belly. She saw I just needed a little confidence and a little grooming and I would be on my way. She set me up for success. I am so grateful to her till today.

Tears and frustration gave way to cheerful acceptance, and a focus on the positives. 

I wouldn't  have been able to compare myself to President Reagan, if not for that change.

Actually, I got more than one blog post out of the switch.

Careers are a way to find out about ourselves.

While our background, history, personality and talents, may land us the perfect first career, we may find out that we can do things which are completely opposite of that.

Career changes, in that respect, expand our horizons.

Life events will also play a part.

Marriage, having children, a family illness, aging parents, can each, in its time, change what we want from a career.

We can try to ignore those realities, but they will intrude into our thoughts, and demand our attention.

Just as the kind of work that is good for someone else, may not be good for us, what is good for us at one time, may not be ideal for us at another.

My concluding advice therefore, is to make regular evaluations of what you are currently doing.

Does it make sense, based on your background, history, personality, talents, and circumstances?

Make an assessment, and if you think something needs to change, then put on your thinking hat.

What can you do that might work?

It may not be an all or nothing.

Can you tinker with what you are doing currently?

What small or modest adjustment can make a difference?

Hopefully, I have got you thinking, and this is just the impetus you need to make a change.

Minoo Jha

· 5y

If you know several successful people, what is something that they all have in common?

They all understand that success is personal… All of us are unique. One size doesn't fit all. Not only do we have different geographical backgrounds, we come from different families and cultures. Our genetic and environmental make up is different. What each one of us was exposed to as children, was different. We have had different kinds of schooling. We've been raised in different kinds of families and homes. We've been part of different communities and cultures. Because we spent our childhoods doing different things, and facing different circumstances, we grew up learning different lessons. We grew up absorbing different values. Naturally, the options we think we have are different. The things we are willing to do are different. The things we are able to do are different. We have different fears and concerns. We have different interests and drives. We have different goals and priorities. Quite naturally, the challenges we feel we are up to taking on, will also be different. For all these reasons, it's important for each of us to develop a personal definition of success. This definition should be valid for you, and you alone. I had a rough childhood, where I rarely got a good night's sleep, because my dad had a drinking problem and would be up all night creating scenes. So part of my definition of success is a good night's sleep. Your unique background, your unique education, your unique experiences and experiments, your unique circumstances, and of course your unique dreams and talents, should all figure in crafting your definition of success. Is it that you were the only one to blaze a trail in your family? Is it that you got through your teenage and early adult years without messing up your life? Is it that you have been able to go with the flow, and make a living taking on different challenges? Is it that whatever you touch, you have always made your investment of time, money, and energy pay off? Is it that you have been able to achieve some things that are important to you, such as work flexibility, or work-life balance, or good health? Is it that you have been able to live simply? Is it that you have been able to go from strength to strength in your field? Is it that you have never let a disabling illness or condition stop you from doing the things you want to do? Is it that you have reinvented yourself through different jobs? Is it that, no matter the life blows, you have never lost your faith in God or humankind, or yourself? Is it that you have made some tough sacrifices you never thought you would make? It is that you are a good friend, a good parent, a good child, or a good brother or sister? Is it that you have never let failures and setbacks keep you down? Is it that you have been steadily able to command more and more respect as a person? Success to you may be succeeding in a field where you are a minority. Success to you may be knowing you have conquered some fears or weaknesses to become a better, or stronger person. Success to you may be dealing with a tough situation, without going to pieces, or losing your compassion. You don't have to let other people's definitions of success determine your life. You know who you are. You know what you have been able to do. Most important of all, you know what still remains to be done. Here’s someone who has his own unique definition of success: