I got into my profession at 20 and became a manager at 24.  

Some people were still trying to find themselves or figure things out at that age.  I had  friends who were still going to college or switching jobs at 24, but I had a plan.  In order to accomplish what I felt I needed to accomplish-climbing the ladder was the only path for me.  

I know I am different, but I didn’t realize what others saw till later in life.  About a year ago, I ran into a high school girlfriend.  I had not had a conversation with the girl in more than 15 years and we were discussing this and that, our lives, kids, careers, etc.  She said to me, “lets be honest, not all of us are like you….you had your life mapped out since the 6th grade”.   She’s known me since 6th grade, so she was qualified to make that statement.  

Maybe it’s because I grew up a little different?  My mom and dad were both managers and there were some events in my childhood that might have pushed me to mature, in some ways, a little faster than others.  Maybe it was the money or the need to be in front of the line?  Maybe it’s an insecurity?  Maybe I just wanted fewer people telling me what to do? Maybe it’s just pure selfishness?  Perhaps the drivers in my life were not as pure as i would like them to be and  it was my stubbornness or foolish pride that got me here?  Maybe it’s all those things wrapped into one?  In this aspect in my life, perhaps I am the one still finding himself….

Regardless of how collected I might have been…I was an idiot.  

I remember being a 20 hear old kid, fresh in the business and still in college, going back and forth with my boss about why we don’t do certain things.  This man later became a great friend and mentor.  Yet, at the time, he was the guy that didn’t realize how “brilliant” my ideas were.   He just didn’t understand that, if he listened to me, our business would double!  Sure, he had all the experience, but I was a genius who knew everything and had learned it all in the first 6 month of a job that he had been doing for close to 20 years!  Fools!  Here I was about to lead him into the “promise land” and make him richer than he had ever been and he was blowing me off!?  The answers were coming out of my mouth, someone just grab a pen and paper start writing this brilliant stuff down!  Idiots!!!!

As you know, I was the idiot.  

When you become a manager, just know that everyone will do your job better than you.  No matter their level of experience or maturity, they will be smarter than you.  If you do not write down everything they say, you will be an idiot for not seeing their brilliance.  The day they put the name plate on that door or the stripe on your shoulder, everyone begins to question what you do and imagine themselves to be better at this than you.  Your customers will be smarter than you.  Everyone with an opinion will stand in line just to let you know how much smarter they are than you.  You are an idiot.  

Understand that you were probably one of these people at some point.  You, because its a natural thing to do, questioned authority and disagreed with authority.  You were the 20 year old kid who was giving the boss the cure for cancer and he was just too pigheaded to write the information down.  I still think it’s healthy to be that kid.  You should question everything.  You should give your opinion and share your feelings.  You should challenge ideas and continue to be curious in your pursuit of knowledge.  Always look for ways to influence culture in your life and career.  And know, no matter how high up the ladder you climb, there will always be an idiot in your life.  

Just know that you’re an idiot too.  

#idiots #management #yousuck