Career Advice

I attended a BYU Management Society meeting last week. The speaker was Kurt Schneiber, who has lived in the Eden Prairie ward for about a year and was called to be Stake President in May. He was impressive--articulate, insightful, approachable. He's currently CEO of a medium sized company in the Minneapolis.

He talked about his career and gave advice to those in attendance. Some of which may be valuable to you.

1. Read--gain insights into your career discipline. And otherwise, pursue learning. He listens to books on tapes on the way home (currently: the history of Israel and fundamental Astronomy). He admitted to listening to ESPN in the morning on the way to work.

2. Make friend and use mentors. You've got to make time to make friends at work--they're are valuable resources. And mentors--find one or more. Meet with them regularly (once a month) and challenge them to tell you something at each meeting that will make you uncomfortable.

3. Don't set artificial limits on yourself.

4. Results are key--you get no credit for activity.

5. Demonstrate intellectual curiousity--ask questions. See also #1.

6. Differentiate yourself (what can make you stand out?). For him, he decided to learn Arabic--and did so, and then spend 3+ years in the Middle East. (Then he moved to India for 3 years so he wouldn't be branded as "the middle east guy."

7. Make a business of yourself--have a plan. What's the plan for your career success? What will the product look like? How will you market it? How will you keep it fresh?

8. Finish your degree(s): they're the rite of passage (entry).

So that's it. He said he had 12 points, but time got in the way and we only heard his top 8. But it was worth it.

For me, my view is that our careers essentially are there to provide for our families--that's the fundamental need and purpose (the tips above will help us get and keep jobs). However, virtually everyone wants to be involved in satisfying work--and that's a worthy goal also. His advice will help open doors to doing the work we want to do--else we become average and someone else gets the choice assignments/jobs.

Clearly there is always the risk that we put too much focus on our careers and work--and lose sight of the bigger missions in life--and I am sure that is an issue that you'll all face as you build your careers. This brother was able to pursue big things in his career and still maintain a healthy balance--and spiritual compass.

Love, Dad