Early in my career, I had the privilege of joining a regional engineering support hub as an inspection equipment specialist. This role allowed me to collaborate with leading organizations across multiple countries, involving a lot of travel. I was living my dream as a young graduate and making a significant impact, quickly catching the attention of the organization's leadership. One day, I had a chance encounter with our plant manager in the corridor. During our conversation, he said, "Young man, I like the enthusiasm with which you go about your job. Keep it up! But what do you want to achieve in the long term here?" I replied, "I want to be in an executive position." He responded, "That's great, but let me share some advice: in this business, technical specialists rarely reach executive positions. If you're serious about your goal, you need to join the mainstream engineering team, get hands-on experience, and develop your people, team, and leadership skills." Mainstream engineering didn't come with the same prestige. I spent most of my time on the shop floor, working closely with technicians to keep production running. While it wasn’t as glamorous as my previous role, it taught me invaluable people skills and resilience. Eventually, I decided to pivot to the demand function, as I had no aspiration for a role within the supply hierarchy. Looking back, that conversation with the plant manager was some of the best career advice I ever received. Sometimes we become attached to the perks of a specific job, which may not align with our long-term goals. Moving in the right direction can be challenging but ultimately rewarding. There are many things we can excel at, but not all will bring us fulfillment. To everyone reading this, I encourage you to ensure your career ladder is leaning against the right wall—not just the most impressive one. It’s never too late to pursue true fulfillment. You only live once, so invest in the career path that truly satisfies your soul. Have a fruitful week! #rolandoforispeaks #corporatenosyguy #whygoforcrumbs
Your journey and story inspire us endlessly. Keep shining brightly; we're your biggest fans, cheering you on every step of the way. Dive into your short story adventure on our platform @hbsblog: www.hbsblog.ca 🙏🏿 and on LinkedIn. Your narrative matters!
Head Of Strategy, Ghana
2moInsightful Roland Ofori , thanks for sharing