I taught my first course in basic Principles of Management in 1995, the same semester I started my doctoral education. I had a master’s degree and 17 years of experience working and managing (never an executive). I was told what book to use but that was it, the rest was up to me.
That first semester teaching, I created an overhead transparency (pre-PowerPoint!) that I showed on the very last day of class. I titled it something like “Advice: My Two Cent’s Worth” and meant it to be my final word to my management students. I don’t remember everything I wrote on that transparency, but I do remember these two bullets:
- Mediocrity sucks
- Go to hell money
“Mediocrity sucks” is pretty self-explanatory.
“Go to hell money” meant don’t ever, for anyone or for any reason, surrender your voice, your dignity, and your personal responsibility to reject mediocrity, strive for excellence, and help others do the same. I told my students to do the best they could to save money so they could survive a few months of unemployment if they ever had to leave a crappy job or a crappy boss.
I still tell students I hope they get a chance to leave a bad job for the right reasons early in their career so they will know that they can not only survive but be better off because of it. They need to learn this before they get a mortgage, car payments, kids in school, and a job title they love because after that they will be increasingly seduced to believe that things are different.
As I share my perspective and opinion in my blog articles, I sometimes worry that what I espouse is overly academic and unrealistic. But as I look in my rear view mirror, I increasingly realize that I have used academics to buttress things I believed and tried to practice long before I ever stumbled upon the ivory towers. And I am keenly aware that everything I believe and try to practice is not unique to me – I learned it from others.
Just because a course of action is not popular does not meant it is impractical or unworthy. Many times the road most traveled leads straight to mediocrity, if not hell.
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Bret,
Your post reeks of courage to me! I rather suspect that you have quite a bit of that yourself. I love your mix of academics and self-learning.
When I left the corporate world over six years ago, I realized that someone (God? The Universe?) had sent me a gift. I had tried to quell my unhappiness I had in the corporate work for several years – in favor of the excellent pay and benefits I received (and two kids in college).
Although I felt a great responsibility to provide for my family, in many ways, I had sold my soul.
The gift I received when I left was a wonderful re-learning of “its not about the money”. I have been able to do what is in my heart and soul since, and make a living as a consequence. This is the exact order of priority that things should be in.
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
September 10th, 2009 at 8:22 am
Mary Jo, I appreciate this very personal comment! We are all on different paths, so we don’t all get to this point of realization the same way. I love that I am doing now, but I also miss the direct experience of leading and following. Most folks will not be as blessed as we are in getting paid to do work we love. It’s their experience I want to understand even more. Thanks!! Bret
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I have walked away from situations that were seductive—money & title—because they were not where my heart ultimately was. That’s what life is all about. Thanks for another great post, Bret!
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
September 10th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
I’m sure it was tough at the time, but I know you would say you are better off for doing it. Thanks for sharing, Alain! Bret
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Bret,
You gave one presentation on as part of the LeaderQuest program when you were at NDSU.
I have the presentation, but from the top of my head there is one thing that I retained that day and that was your idea of “go to hell $”. I remember thinking “you can do that?” That concept helped me through that program and I value that idea very much. I don’t know much about the content in Mgmt courses, but I feel like you always gave it to me straight and I never got that feeling that you were idealistic. I think if I went back to get an MBA, the lessons from a realist like yourself would be 100 times more valuable than the idealistic BS that the “ivory towers” are known for.
Thanks for all the great tidbits. I subscribe to your blog so I can pick up the rest of them along the way. Keep them coming.
Take care,
Alex
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
September 11th, 2009 at 6:13 am
Alex, wow, I *really* appreciate you taking the time to share this. I hope you are doing well out there and I’m sure you are having a positive influence on the leaders you work with. Thanks!! Bret
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Bret,
Catching up again after some travel. I must say I liked this post a lot. I went through a tough experience recently relevant to this and I still think sticking to priorities and doing the right thing was definitely appropriate and pays off over the long term. Thank you for the great advice/reminder. Keep up the good work.
Jay
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
concur 100%, Jay. Thanks for the comment! Bret
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