Know Thyself

2020 has been a learning year. And not the easy book learning kind. Learning what's important and how fast things that you take for granted can be shaken up in a snow globe only to settle a year later. For the context of this, I won't go into learning that a 15 pound dog doesn't have space for 16 ounces of cookies and stick to what I learned about finding and re-finding your footing in a supply chain career.

#1 - Know Thyself

The most critical aspect of finding your way through a career in supply chain is knowing what you want. Not what you're expected to want. What do you enjoy? What challenges you? What triggers you?

As I was looking, there were really two kinds of jobs: established positions in well-defined organizations and new positions with relatively undefined roles beyond a job description. All I wanted to do was the latter. At this point in my career, I want to build and shape and take on something that could be a giant success or a beautiful failure. Either way, do it on my own terms.

For some people, that isn't the path. If you are just starting out or crave structure, a more mature organization may be right for you. There are days that I would love to have everyone understand why I am there and not have to explain myself, but I'd get bored. But that's just me.

#2 - Know the Environment

A biggie in the interview process is understanding what you're in for when you accept. Two things I look for are:

• Organization - Who is running the department and what are their goals. Too many times, I've been in supply chain organizations where the people running the show don't get supply chain. I've worked for accountants, tax experts, sales execs, etc. and inevitably they don't get it. They either fail to understand the challenges of working in a service organization or think the job is easier than it is. Ask questions in interviews and if you all you get is the job description and not a feel for the real challenges - run!!!! Too good to be true.
• Stakeholders  Do what you can to meet the people you'll be working with. Not your teammates. You'll sit next to them and interact, but the people you will live and die with are your stakeholders. Do they understand what the job is? Do they know what they want from you? If not, there could be an uphill battle that you don't want to face. 

#3 - Know What You Don't Know

Learning a new industry or job is hard. You'll ask stupid questions. You'll do stuff wrong the first time. Everyone expects that. Just admit it, learn from the mistakes and move on. Especially in service roles, your stakeholders are going to know far more than you. Be clear on your role and then learn everything you can from them. 

As time goes on, you'll have absorbed far more than you know and no one will remember a dumb question from 2020 when we were all wearing collared shirts, joggers, and Birkenstocks in executive meetings. Don't lie. You know you were doing it too. And if you weren't, I definitely don't want to work with you.