GreyMatter

Hind Sight

Thanks to Guy Kawasaki, I chanced upon another gem from OPENForum – an interview with Tina Seelig of Stanford, author of “What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20“.  In that interview, Seelig provides answers to questions that many of us would’ve wished we’d had in our younger days, including:

  • How should a college student decide what to study?
  • What should you look for in your first job?
  • What should you do in your first week on the job?

It’s not all about academics.  Seelig also addresses questions about career building, handling negotiations and about how one can balance work and life!  Here’s just one example…

Question: What’s the best analogy that describes a career?Answer: I like the analogy that Carol Bartz, CEO of Yahoo!, used when she spoke at Stanford a few years ago. She said that you should look at the progress of your career as moving around and up a three dimensional pyramid as opposed to up a two dimensional ladder. Lateral moves along the side of the pyramid allow you to build a base of experience. It may not look as though you are moving up quickly, but you are gaining a foundation of skills, experience, and contacts that will prove extremely valuable later.

The questions are pertinent, and the answers – priceless…  Give it a read.