The 90/10 Rule
This week was my first full week back home and unemployed. I was commiserating with a friend of mine who was also let go, and we realized we had been hearing the same message from our friends and family: enjoy it. It's a hard thing to hear in this situation, to be told to try and enjoy a place when you feel like you don't belong there; to enjoy a state of being when you know you're capable of more. But at the same time, it's also just good advice for everyone no matter where you are.
It made me think about a book I had read a few months ago, Leading from the Middle by Scott Mauz. It is all about the plight of the middle manager, the struggle of being expected to lead a team and invest in the people reporting to you, when no one is investing or helping you. It can be a very frustrating experience which is why I often found myself wanting to get to the next level faster. The higher you get in an organization, I thought, the more impact you have for positive change. While my intentions were good, this desire to move on to what was next often left me in a position of missing out on growth and opportunity right where I was.
Every role you have in an organization is unique. It has unique challenges and unique opportunities to contribute to the mission. Something that is difficult for aspiring leaders, is to recognize those unique opportunities. Today, maybe you are an intern or in an entry-level position, even though you hope to one day make it to the c-suite. You have skills that are worthy of the executive office, but it’s not where you currently are. The best thing you can do for your growth in your career is to not let the hope of tomorrow keep you from optimizing today. I call it the 90/10 Rule: give 10% of your energy preparing for the future, while keeping 90% focused on the present. This allows you to be ready for what's next without letting it take over. I find trail running to be the best analogy for understanding.
When you are trail running, you need to keep an eye on what's in front of you. You need to be glancing up so you can see the trees and stay on the trail, but the main focus should be right down at your feet. It's hard to get used to if you typically run on flat roads where you can just look ahead and around you without fear of falling. Trails (or New Jersey sidewalks) are very different. You are looking straight down at your feet almost the whole time. The dreamer in me wants to look up and look ahead and see where I'm going but I have to fight that instinct because if I take my eyes off my feet for too long I will go flying. And if you've never fallen when running before, trust me, it is painful.
The same pains can come in life if we spend too much of our time looking ahead. We see the next turn coming and we can't wait to get around the corner to see what's next. It's a good thing, but if we don't find balance we'll end up missing out on what's right in front of us. If you’re not a manager yet, but want to be one, read a management book now. That's your 10%. Let the rest of you focus on your current situation. Don't wish to be somewhere else where things are different, do what you can to make the most of where you are today. There are lessons to be learned, growth to be had, and experience to enjoy. So try to enjoy it.
