The Why Behind The Sky

Let’s take a moment to stroll down memory lane. Let’s go back to your very first day at your current or most recent job. Do you remember that day? I sure remember mine! In my current role, it was October 28^th, 2022, and I was so excited! I was also a little terrified. I joined a whole new industry with a little prior experience and with no idea what exactly I was getting myself into. That didn’t stop me from pursuing something new though.

Coming from the automotive business and wanting a fresh change of scenery, I was eager to learn new things and do something truly meaningful. On my first day I was experiencing an array of different emotions and thoughts such as “Will I be good at this?”, “Have I finally found my true calling?”, and “The guy next to me really smells like cheese!” Thoughts that might be similar to what others have on their first day (Except for the cheese part… maybe). 

Ok, ok, you are probably wondering, Nick, what on earth am I getting at here? Well, we are about to get to that! Please fasten your seatbelts and join me in the next paragraph below:

The Deceptive Perspective

“Always do what you are afraid to do.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson  

From a physiological perspective, the first day of work for many individuals creates a myriad of emotions and stressors that can cause anxiety and even a slight lack of confidence, but on the flip side, the first day usually promotes and stimulates advanced learning and growth. 

The key that truly determines our success is in how we respond to these emotions and stressors.

For example, I remember when I was a teenager and I landed my first job (ever) working for a Civil Engineer assisting him with various construction tasks around the office and home. My very first task on my very first day was to install a toilet paper dispenser (I know, totally tubular… literally). I had never done that before, and he gave no instruction. I went into that bathroom and tackled the item with unmerited skill… it was at a 20 degree angle when I was finished, and it looked appalling.

Not an ideal outcome, but what did I learn from it? I learned how to do the job, and how to correct the error. And after that, I got to install more. What I learned is more important than what I initially did.

Let me restate that: What you learn is more important what you do. 

This doesn’t mean that what is done isn’t important. Not at all! It simply means that the knowledge, skills, and perspective gained from learning has farther reaching consequences than the task done at hand. With this in mind, the first day, and days thereafter, provide some of the most rewarding opportunities to rapidly develop. That is, if you change the perspective from “Will I be good at this?” to “How will I grow from this?”

The Boat in The Moat Was Hit by a Goat!

Let’s talk about what this means for your journey 

Ok, most of you reading this are well past your first day, so how does what I discussed above apply in an ongoing career? 

It all as to do with the daily perspective you have. 

After a few weeks in the role, the emotions of the first day will have well dissipated, but the opportunity to rapidly learn has not. By simply looking at each day ahead as a first day in which to learn new things, tackle new challenges, and push through obstacles, your development will have no limit. 

However, if complacency sets in, the momentum gained in development will be lost. Just think of a boat in a moat, there’s not much movement unless something happens to it (see, I was able to tie in the silly heading… kind of).

My challenge to you

Set each day with meaningful intention to seek solutions outside the lines of your (artificial) parameters, to learn something new (and apply it), and to do something new (or different) for the benefit of someone else.

In this crazy start to the 2020s, this “challenge” really isn’t a challenge because we have had an incredible opportunity in what would seem an inopportuneness time to do some amazing things and display some serious GRIT (the goat has hit the boat!). These difficult days have really made some of us shine.

The question now is how do we maintain the momentum? And how does your current expectations differ from the expectations of your first day?