Tag: Career Progression

A Prisoner’s Dilemma in Disguise

The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence; it is to act with yesterday’s logic.

Peter Drucker

The prisoner’s dilemma, a cornerstone of game theory, has been captivating minds and sparking debates for decades. This thought experiment, in its elegant simplicity, reveals profound insights into human behavior, cooperation, and the complex dynamics of trust in our interactions.

Imagine two suspects, held in separate cells, faced with a choice: betray their partner in crime and go free, or remain silent and risk a longer sentence. The catch? If both betray, they both serve a moderate sentence. If both remain silent, they face a lesser charge. The temptation to betray is strong, but the reward for mutual cooperation is enticing

Now image your career as a high-stakes game of chess. Each move you make, each decision you face, is like a prisoner’s dilemma in disguise. Do you prioritize your own success, or do you work together with your colleagues for the greater good of the company? The corporate climb is a delicate balancing act between self-interest and collaboration.

The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.

Theodore Roosevelt
A Prisoner’s Dilemma

Meet Sarah, a bright-eyed young professional starting her journey up the corporate ladder. She quickly realizes that the path to success is not a solo climb, but a team expedition. Like a climber navigating a treacherous mountain, Sarah must rely on her colleagues, building trust and cooperation to reach the summit.

The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.

Phil Jackson

Sarah’s first project is like a microcosm of the prisoner’s dilemma. She and her colleague, John, are tasked with delivering a crucial presentation. They each have the option to focus on their own contributions or to collaborate and create a cohesive message. If both prioritize their own agendas, the presentation suffers. If both work together, the project thrives. Sarah realizes that the key to success lies in building trust and cooperating with John.

As Sarah progresses in her career, she encounters countless prisoner’s dilemmas in disguise. In a meeting with a difficult client, she and her manager face a choice: prioritize short-term gains or build a long-term relationship. In a cross-departmental project, she and her team can either focus on their own objectives or work together towards a common goal. Each decision is a move on the chessboard, shaping Sarah’s path forward.

“Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.” – Henry Ford

Sarah’s journey takes a turning point when she’s offered a leadership position. Suddenly, the prisoner’s dilemmas she faces have higher stakes and broader implications. As a leader, Sarah must navigate the delicate balance between her team’s success and the company’s overall goals. She realizes that building a culture of trust and cooperation is the key to unlocking her team’s potential.

Like a master chess player, Sarah learns to anticipate the moves of others and make strategic decisions that prioritize long-term success over short-term gains. She builds alliances, fosters collaboration, and creates a shared vision that inspires her team to work together towards a common goal.

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller

As Sarah reaches the upper echelons of the corporate ladder, she realizes that the lessons of the prisoner’s dilemma have been guiding her all along. In a world where self-interest often seems like the path to success, Sarah has learned that true success comes from building trust, fostering collaboration, and working together towards a shared vision.

The corporate climb, like the prisoner’s dilemma, teaches us that we are all interconnected. Our success is not just a measure of our individual achievements, but a reflection of our ability to work together, build trust, and create shared value. By navigating the prisoner’s dilemmas in disguise and prioritizing cooperation over self-interest, we can all reach new heights in our careers and in life.

So, as you navigate your own corporate climb, remember the lessons of the prisoner’s dilemma. Build trust, foster collaboration, and work together towards a shared vision. The path to success is not a solo journey, but a team expedition. With each move on the chessboard, you have the power to shape your own path and the success of those around you.

The 95:5 Rule

The 95:5 rule

Have you heard of the 95:5 Rule? Based on research by Professor John Dawes, this rule states that at any given time, only about 5% of buyers are actively in-market for a particular product category. The remaining 95% represent future buyers who will enter the market when the need arises.

But what does this have to do with your career? Turns out, quite a bit.

Think of your career journey like a long hike. At any given point, you’re actively exploring a small number of opportunities – maybe 5% of what’s out there. These could be new roles within your company, a promotion you’re chasing, or skills you’re actively developing. This is your “in-market” 5%.

However, the vast majority of potential paths are not yet on your immediate radar. They represent the 95% of future possibilities that will become relevant as your circumstances and goals evolve over time. Just like a hiker can’t see the entire trail at once, you can’t pursue every career option simultaneously.

To make the most of the 95:5 Rule in your career:

  1. Actively invest in the 5% – Give your full energy to the opportunities you’re currently pursuing. Whether it’s crushing your current role, learning a new skill, or interviewing for a dream job, be “in-market” with gusto.
  2. Keep an open mind to the 95% – Don’t get tunnel vision. Keep scanning the horizon for new possibilities, even if you’re not ready to pursue them yet. This could mean attending industry events, growing your network, or simply staying curious.
  3. Trust in the journey – Just like a hiker has faith that the trail will open up new vistas, trust that your 95% of future possibilities will become clearer with each career step. Each role, project, and connection is shaping your path.
  4. Regularly reassess – As the “in-market” 5% shifts, periodically reevaluate your career priorities. Are you still energized by your current focus? Is it time to bring some of that 95% forward into active exploration? Pausing for self-reflection keeps you agile.

By embracing the 95:5 Rule in your career, you can balance active pursuit with open-minded exploration. Focus on the most impactful 5% while trusting that the 95% will continue to reveal new opportunities as you grow. Your career hike may be long and winding, but it’s all part of the adventure.

Eulogy Virtues: The Real Social Network

In a world bursting at the seams with 9-to-5 hustlers and LinkedIn gurus, there lived a bunch of virtues, so neglected and so underrated, that they were often forgotten in the dusty corners of the self-improvement library. These were not your typical, grab-the-bull-by-the-horns kind of virtues, nope! These were what the wise old owl, David Brooks, called ‘Eulogy Virtues.‘

Photo by Vladimir Konoplev on Pexels.com

Why Eulogy Virtues Don’t Wear Capes

We live in a world that’s like a colossal, never-ending career fair. Resume virtues – the skills that earn you the corner office with the city view – they get all the limelight. But the underdogs, the eulogy virtues, these are the guys that stand by you, like loyal friends, even when the coffee machine breaks down on a Monday morning.

In the workplace, we could do with a sprinkle of eulogy virtues. Let’s say you’re Jack. You can crunch numbers faster than a high-end calculator, but can you lend an ear to a colleague who’s having a hard day? Can you create a workspace where ideas pop like corn in a hot pan? That’s where honesty, empathy, and integrity put on their superhero capes and come to your rescue. No cape for the coffee machine, though, unfortunately.

Virtues at Home: No WiFi Needed

Moving to the personal realm, we often forget that virtues like kindness and patience don’t require a WiFi connection or a subscription. They are like the free apps that make your life better without you even noticing.

They’re the subtle nudge that tells you to call your mother, the voice that encourages you to help your neighbor with his groceries, or the chuckle you suppress when your significant other sings off-key in the shower. These virtues enrich our lives, nurturing our relationships like a well-timed cat video nurtures our love for the Internet.

Eulogy Virtues: The Real Social Network

When it comes to social interactions, eulogy virtues are like the secret ingredients in your grandma’s famous apple pie. They don’t make the pie look good, but boy do they make it taste heavenly.

In a world where our thumbs are constantly in a state of scroll-induced hypnosis, virtues like empathy, respect, and understanding play a pivotal role. They are the reminders that even though you can order a pizza with an emoji, you still can’t replace the warmth of a genuine human connection.

The Virtue Bootcamp

So, how do you start flexing these virtue muscles, you ask? It’s simple.

  • Start by taking a break from your quest for world domination and indulge in some good ol’ introspection. Some call it mindful reflection, but we like to call it getting to know your own superhero identity.
  • Next, swap your x-ray vision for a pair of empathy glasses. It won’t let you see through walls, but it will let you see through the walls that people build around themselves.
  • Lastly, unleash your kindness quotient. Hold a door, make a cup of tea, or simply lend a smile – no act of kindness is ever too small to count.

Embarking on this journey is like learning to ride a bicycle – you’ll wobble, you’ll fall, and you might even bruise your ego, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be off, cruising down the path to a life that’s fulfilling and worth remembering.

In the end, it’s not about becoming the LinkedIn Influencer of the Year or the Master of Resume Virtues. It’s about being remembered as Jack, the calculator wizard who always had an open ear, a kind word, and a coffee machine repair kit. It’s about being the star of your own eulogy, with virtues that don’t wear capes, but inspire stories worth telling.