Challenging the Status Quo
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Challenging the Status Quo

In this series, professionals reflect on their inevitable career mistakes. Follow the stories here and write your own (please include #BestMistake in your post).

I realise that I always need to take the time to reflect but often really find the time or focus to do it. Formulating this post though enabling a little though into my own career to understand what my #BestMistake was.

It was a strange one to think back for a time when I made my best mistake. But it took the time to understand ups and downs of my career and where the 'mistake' led to something good. It was through a series of what people may define, or what at the time I believed was a mistake that I learned to challenge the status quo.

Approaching graduation, as with any undergrad I embarked on a flurry of job seeking activity (to which point my worst mistake was generalising my approach!). I applied for a variety of companies and interviewed at a number of them. HP was one of them. Interestingly, I actually turned HP down due to locational differences and instead joined the soon to be acquired EDS... maybe this was fate!

Upon joined the graduate programme, I quickly was thrust into an environment I had little familiarity with... technical support. I came to realise that I had begun my career in an area that I firstly had limited knowledge about, but secondly one that over time I would realise that I would have little interest in a continued career within. One could argue that these themselves were big mistakes, and rightfully so, they could be what led in to my #BestMistake.

After a period of time I took it upon myself to seek what other opportunities were available. Many of those around me were on a career path destined to be held with the centre itself. I must stress that the job was great. The banter was brilliant and the experiences and opportunities were vast... it just wasn't for me. I had a feeling I wanted more. 

Best Mistake 1 - Approaching Business Leaders: Many would completely disagree with this and it is purely culture-dependent. I approached one of the organisations very senior business leaders. I asked for thirty-minutes of his time to talk about my career, his career and his recommendations. He agreed and setup a session. Approaching the session I was a nervous wreck. What if he shouted at me for approaching him? What if he didn't like my question? What if he would report the discussion back to my manager? All negative thoughts were running through my mind. The reality was, that conversation helped to shape my ambition. It helped me to realise there were opportunities far outside what I was doing. The guidance I was given opened doors. The business leader emphasised the importance of challenging the status quo.

Lesson: Often what you think is different to what you experience... your mind will replay all scenarios but the reality is, just go with it! You will probably regret it if you don't

Fast-forward a few years and amid outlining of my ambitions to my staff manager, I had interviewed for a number of positions, both internal and external. A couple of offers landed on my lap but one stood out. A role which if executed right would bring a challenge of the norms on a daily basis. This was Consulting

Best Mistake 2 - A Young MBA: A point made from the leader mentioned previously was the huge opportunities he forged out of his MBA. I had investigated further and decided this would be my next big venture. But I was nearly 23! I held a few meetings with Universities but it wasn't financially viable. Upon engagement in my new role, after a year I looked into it again. I was approaching 25 which many deemed still to be too young, particularly for a 'Global' or 'Executive' MBA. Some I spoke to who had been through it all, said I wouldn't get as much out of it due to my relative lack of experience. I challenged this and applied anyway to three Universities, with Manchester Business School being my preference. Six months later I was enrolled. Fast-forward a further three years and I look back as it being arguably the best decision I have ever made

Lesson: Experiences are what you make of them. I agree in that experience is vital to help in applying concepts to practice on an MBA, but the reality is you can build those experiences as you go

Best Mistake 3 - The Thesis: Up until a month ago I had a firm belief that my final project was under significant threat. I previously was setup on an excellent project with some close friends from the MBA only to have to pull out and go solo due to conflicting requirements. The project was interesting, working in a solid team and one of which would be of great benefit to the business it focused upon. In contrast, the solo project focused upon a potentially controversial topic which if executed effectively has potentially huge gains both for the business and professionally for me. If executed incorrectly it was much the opposite! Given the deemed controversies, it was somewhat met with caution with research candidates. Fast-forward a month and it is all look really good. Having adapted the approach, it is now met with intrigued and interest and often my venture is seen as contributing to the greater good

Lesson: You need to work hard for the things that will truly enable you to excell and develop beyond the norms. You need to challenge the status quo in that just because some people think it potentially isn't right, it doesn't actually mean that it is wrong

Summary: Sometimes, its not one mistake that leads to being your '#BestMistake' but many all kicked off by maybe that one defining moment. I recommend others to reflect on this topic as it is truly helpful considering what may, or may not of been

Stephen Baines is a Management Consultant and MBA student currently working for Hewlett-Packard and studying at Manchester Business School. The views within this post are explicitly those of Stephen and have no representation of any organisation Stephen represents. If you wish to contact Stephen, please contact him via LinkedIn or his Twitter handle (@baines1986)

Andy Roy Sian

Senior Manager @ Agrobank | Driving Digital Innovation, Fintech PhD Candidate

8y

I can vouch on the part of approaching business leaders. I did it for the first time a few months after completing my degree and when I was waiting for my interview session. Needless to say, I got the job. We just never know what opportunities come before our very eyes...

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