• Everyone is replaceable—don’t oversacrifice or exhaust yourself for any single job.
• Thoroughly document your work.
• If your skillset becomes irreplaceable, you become unpromotable: refer to the previous two reminders. Documenting and working out a cross-train approach (read my post on that here) is key.
• Keep a record of important emails (and interactions, when needed)—proof beats promises & hearsay.
• Free snacks or lunch is not a reward for your hard work. Culture isn’t about snacks, or the chow line: it’s about creating an environment where people feel valued, supported, and empowered to do their best work.
• Minimize "eating in your office" (see previous reminder) and take walks -- this goes the same for when remote-working. It's unavoidable that you need to eat there sometimes, but don't make it every day.
• Even if you're not super social, when on-prem officing use the breakroom at least once a day. It is an ecosystem of human dynamics that must be navigated if you are to work out your company culture. Trust me on this.
• Unashamedly use your PTO days, you’ve earned them.
• Family ultimately outranks any job. Always.
• Never stay at one job longer than 5 years unless the pay increase is substantial. Once you've stayed twice that long, even if the money is great, you trade a significant portion of your value in the job-market for comfort. And that's ok, but just understand that's the bargain -- and continue to develop yourself personally, and your skills professionally.
• Focus on your own development (see previous reminder), not just your job. Personal-development drives professional performance!
• Prioritize self-care, put your needs first.
• Never accept a promotion in name, if it doesn't include a bump in compensation. If they can't afford your value, it's not your job to give them a discount.
• Keep personal details about your life under wraps. Don't overshare (I know, I have a blog -- I'm one to talk 🙃).
• Familiarity breeds contempt: beware coworkers, consultants, or stakeholders who want to know everything about you (see previous reminder). Whether they intend to or not, all humans instinctively judge. Over time, we all surender datapoints. It's just human nature to formulate a view, so don't nurture it! People are inherently good, but work at mastering human dynamics. Life at an office is just like everywhere else (e.g.Congress 😉), so be smart.
• Be kind and don't judge others. Resist the base human instinct I mention above in the previous reminder: everyone you know is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.
• HR is not there to protect you, they are there to protect the company. They're often good people, but HR roles are by-design to serve & protect company interests.
Here's to a great 2025 at the workplace!