Colonel Candid

Despite what Joan Jett says, you should give a damned about your bad reputation. What people associate when your name is said is important. One of my first mentors, who really left an impression on me, told me your reputation matter above all else. As I work to mentor you, this is one of the first topics I need to share and emphasize its truth. Harken back to the old spaghetti westerns, I feel like I should paint a picture of an old grizzled, pencil thin cowboy saying, “your name is the most important thing you’ve got partner.” Seeing how I’m from the homestead of John Wayne, it’s fitting. But really, why does this matter? It matters because as you grow from an intern, to new recruit, to employee, to supervisor, what you’ve demonstrated before will boost you up or weigh you down. How you establish this reputation is demonstrated by your deeds and not your words. Think about people you hold in high regard, what have they done to earn this? Their actions spoke louder than their wo...

Another piece of advice saved, just for you, from a lifetime of lessons learned…your actions speak louder than your words. For over a decade, I’ve had the opportunity to mother two amazing children. During those years, I’ve noticed two sets of eyes watching everything I do. Talk about pressure folks…they keep you accountable and help you prioritize quickly to what’s most important for you. This is coming from someone completely dedicated to both my family and my work. In order to ensure my own sanity was maintained during several high stress jobs I had to set boundaries. Because, as I already know that you’re being the best person you can be, it’s hard to say no to anyone or any opportunity. Your children will want you to play, the spouse or significant other will want your full attention, and that email in-box just won’t stop filling up. Then there are all the extras you’re asked to do, like attend work related after hour functions, donate time with the children’s school and the...

Colonel Candid here to help with mentorship advice after you’ve landed that first gig. Let’s take a second to assess your environment. You’ve passed through the gates and made it to the position you’ve wanted. Just like qualifying for the big race, you’re in the starting blocks and now it’s time to run. You’ve got this but it’s going to take some determination. Let’s start by looking around. What is your environment like? Each day when you walk in, who is there? What is your environment like? If you’re in a large city and people had to drive or metro in, they’re probably on edge. If you’re in a rural environment and that weather was rough during the drive, they could be in a tough spot too. So, take some time to assess the mental temperature of the room. When it’s the right time begin digging in. Start by asking questions to people who are busiest. Most of the time, the person with the least amount of time has the hardest job and will go the furthest (although this isn’t always ...