Significant Career Lesson From a Category Business Manager at Google
Christopher, a Category Business Manager at Google, learned that slowing down is crucial for success. Instead of rushing to complete tasks, "taking the time to not only do the work, but to kind of like skill hack a little bit" and deeply understand the task at hand leads to better learning and higher quality deliverables.
Career Development, Time Management, Learning Strategies, Self-Reflection, Productivity
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Christopher Speed
Category Business Manager
CSU San Marcos
MBA University of San Diego
Economics
Manufacturing, Operations & Supply Chain, Technology
Strategic Management and Executive
Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. Slowing down to deeply understand work and its lessons leads to greater success than rushing to complete tasks quickly.
2. Taking the time to ask deep questions during work allows for skill development and produces higher quality deliverables.
3. Rushing through tasks without reflection can lead to mistakes and require rework, highlighting the importance of thoughtful analysis.
Transcript
What is one lesson that you have learned that has proven significant in your career?
This is similar to a previous answer. I think it's about learning to slow down. If you learn to slow down, you'll be more successful.
In my career and even in school, I used to focus on finishing first. I would do schoolwork as fast as possible and turn papers in early. Or I would aim to complete an analysis of accounts before anyone else.
That's fine, but it's more about taking the time to not only do the work but also to learn from it. Ask yourself what it's teaching you and what you're looking at. Ask yourself some deep questions as you go through the work.
I never did that in my career. It was just a hundred miles an hour. I was successful most times, but there were many times my boss asked, "What is this?"
The point I'm making is that you have to learn to slow down, because that's how you'll get where you want to be. You'll be able to learn and turn in a really high-quality deliverable.