The CEO of Merlin, a digital music licensing business, has a diverse background including experience as a record executive, fashion blogger, technology lawyer, brand designer, and early member of the Facebook music team. Successful individuals often only see the apex of their career when they look at them, highlighting the importance of work and intentionality in advancing in one’s career.
The author shares their experience of overcoming adversity to achieve a leadership position at Warner Music, despite fearing job loss. The subsequent thirty days at Warner were productive, and they learned that the days of simply “doing your job” were long gone during their rise, highlighting the importance of perseverance and adaptability in one’s career.
The author emphasizes the importance of curiosity as the initial step towards long-term success, using five mental adjustments to spur growth and create new opportunities.
1. Develop your curiosity
Insecurity and lack of a clear career path can be common experiences. To avoid boredom and become trapped, it’s essential to foster curiosity. By incorporating weekly routines and reflecting on your progress, you can advance your career in small but significant steps. Asking yourself what success looks like each week at the start of the following week can help you understand what success looks like. Fostering curiosity will lead to steady growth and success in your career.
2. Take initiative
Gen Z is willing to put in significant effort in their jobs, but the change is not as significant as people believe. The way we consume information and its visibility has changed significantly, leading to a new mindset that questions why they work so hard for someone else. To overcome this, individuals can learn new habits and abilities from their employer, not related to their position or experience level. They should look for a job that supports their development, allows room for growth, and encourages their curiosity to drive their growth.
3. Say “yes,” but know when to seek assistance.
The individual held the role of Independent Label Business Development Lead at Facebook, then led a cross-functional music initiatives team, implemented procedures for music partners to report royalties, and collaborated with various departments to assess new features.
During my first year at Facebook, I always said yes, feeling stimulated and enterprising. However, in my second year, I felt overburdened and needed assistance. A growth mentality involves saying yes without hesitation, and a sustainable approach involves asking for assistance when necessary. It’s important to recognize professional boundaries and take appropriate action when necessary, while also being realistic about what is sustainable.
4. Develop your intuition by acting
Practice is crucial for becoming proficient in Slack messaging. Iterating, asking questions, and trying different ways can help build trust with yourself and others. Instinct is developed through action, and curiosity about one’s motivations is the foundation for developing instinct. Trust is built with curiosity about one’s motivations.
5. Show humility
The speaker regrets not performing better at Merlin’s recent board meeting, stating that they should have focused on listening and understanding instead of making a point. They now find self-reflection and correction easier due to their habit of evaluating their performance. They emphasize the importance of humility in examining choices with curiosity, stating that self-reflection without second-guessing is the foundation of curiosity.
You have power over your professional development. That begins with having an insatiable curiosity about everything, looking for chances, and always accepting them when they present themselves. These practices will help you progress if you are deliberate about developing your intuition and accepting self-reflection. Your career-changing experience begins with an unbridled curiosity for everything.
