Good Associate

I was a good junior associate.

I did what was expected of me.

I got promoted to mid-level associate.

I stayed in line.

I always said, “Yes.”

And then I started to question.

Was this the work I wanted to do?

Was the system working for me?

The answer was, “No.”

And then things got hard.

I wish I had said, “No,” sooner (saying, “No,” is still hard for me).

The time between realizing I wanted to and actually saying it was lost time (with lots of anxiety and doubt).

I wish I had believed the people who told me that I could say, “No.”

But, I was scared.

Scared to lose work.

Scared to disappoint people.

Scared to fall out of line.

Being a "good" associate will help you survive.

Staying in line will move you ahead.

Doing what you’re told or what you think is expected of you, will help you get by, for a while.

It will feel safe.

But, it won't create a sustainable career for YOU.

Finding and sticking to YOUR “why” will help YOU forge YOUR path, even in a traditional role or profession.

Bringing YOU to the table will help YOU get through the lows and enjoy the highs.

As a young professional, your job is to learn, to grow, and (a lot of the time) to serve those above and ahead of you.

To be clear: you must spend time building your credit with those around you.

But while you do that: There is a space for YOU.

Cling to YOUR identity during that time.

Try not to get caught up in what OTHERS (may or may not actually) think of or want from YOU.

This, of course, is easier said than done.

Yet, your profession needs YOU and what YOU uniquely bring to it.

I hope you believe this sooner than I did.

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