How to double that pitiful starting salary in 18 months.
1. Be humble.
2. Listen.
3. Go overboard. Make somebody say “you didn’t need to do that much.”
4. Don’t listen to them. They’re jealous of your work ethic.
5. Go out for beers when anybody offers.
6. Don’t get sloppy and puke on your bosses shoes. The smell will follow you for years.
7. Take notes. Copious notes.
8. Look up copious if you need. And any other words that stump you. We’re in the business of words.
9. Buy bagels once in a while. And none of that flavored cream cheese.
10. Refuse to let your boss buy lunch.
11. But not all the time. That’s butt-kissing.
12. Ask if anybody needs help before you leave.
13. Do anonymous acts of kindness.
14. Thank people.
15. Have a good attitude.
16. Which means taking criticism with an open mind.
17. Don’t blame it on the client (immature and naïve).
18. Don’t blame it on the AE (immature and naïve).
19. Smile.
20. Pick up some lazy ass’s crap left behind in the conference room.
21. Ask a million questions.
22. Be yourself.
23. Tell your boss when you don’t have enough to do.
24. Bring 4 ideas to the table instead of 3.
25. Show personal interest in those below you (if there is anyone down there).
26. Never attempt to make the boss look bad. It’s never worked in the history of the world. If you’ve got a problem, talk it out in private. You’ll be respected.
27. Ask if it’s OK to take a vacation.
28. As opposed to telling someone you’re going to take a vacation.
- Ernie Perich www.perich.com
7 Comments
thanks for the wisdom… and the humor. I’ve been passing this around.
I would add at the beginning…”Show Up” and by that I mean more than just physically, I mean really be there, and keep reminding yourself “be HERE now, be somewhere else later.”
Priceless.
Done all that and more, and making less than half of what I did when I started. Got any more ideas?
Brilliant - thanks for this kick in the seat, and for making it a funny kick.
Don’t get too many of those.
Spectacular advice. Worth its weight in popcorn. Please share one more pearl. Regarding #27, what if the person you ask doesn’t answer?
I’ve been in advertising 18 months (actually 20, at this point). my salary has increased by 3%, which is something like $30 a paycheck. I guess I didn’t go out for beers enough.
i used to tell my boss when i didn’t have enough to do, which resulted in getting more stupid crap that doesn’t go anywhere. now i use that time to work on my book.