Significant Career Lesson from a Project Manager at United Launch Alliance
Joshua, a high-performing Project Manager, learned early in their military career to "never tie pride to success," a lesson reinforced by a commander's warning about the fleeting nature of top performance. This humility, they explain, prevents complacency and encourages continuous self-assessment, ultimately safeguarding against the devastating consequences of unchecked confidence.
Project Management, Leadership, Resilience, Overcoming Challenges, Motivation
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Joshua Adams
Project Manager
United Launch Alliance
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
MBA - University of North Alabama
Industrial, Supply Chain Management
Aerospace, Aviation & Defense, Manufacturing, Operations & Supply Chain
Operations and Project Management
Worked 20+ Hours in School, Veteran
Video Highlights
1. Never tie your pride to your success; always keep moving forward and learning from mistakes.
2. High performance is important, but continuous self-assessment and risk management are crucial to avoid stagnation and complacency.
3. Success is not a guarantee; one mistake can undo prior achievements, so humility and continuous improvement are key.
Transcript
What is one lesson that you've learned that has proven significant in your career?
I'd say the biggest lesson I've learned is not to tie your pride to your success. I've always been a high performer, ranking number one in my positions.
However, the first time I ranked number one in the military, my commander warned me not to take it personally. He said he'd never seen someone rank number one twice in a row, as people usually fall several levels.
He advised me not to take it personally, and I interpreted that as never tying my pride to my success. No matter how successful you are or how much positive reinforcement you receive, you're always one mistake away from failure or losing your job.
The army taught me this lesson multiple times. Just because I was the highest performer and my senior leaders trusted me didn't mean I wouldn't make mistakes. In fact, if you start to feel that way or identify with being the best, you stop paying attention to your own flaws.
You stop questioning yourself and assessing the risks around you. If you always believe you're right, you're bound to be wrong. Being successful is important, but never tie your pride to it.
Just accept success as it comes and keep moving forward. It only takes one bad mistake or decision to ruin everything. Always move forward and never consider yourself the best; let others think that.