On a recent podcast, David asked me about the key contributor to my career success. Over the years, the answer has evolved and I surprised myself with the response, “orbiting the giant hairball.” Man, I’ve said this before – podcasts are the best therapy – you get peppered with insightful questions you need to answer quickly 🙂 Then, it dawned on me that this is, in fact, a great description of my career!
What is Orbiting the Giant Hairball?
It’s a fanastic book! Written by a 30-year veteran at Hallmark Cards, the book honors creativity and considers its intersection with the bottom line.
That topic is still important and relevant – and there’s a second layer to the concept that resonates with me. You see, if the hairball is the complex center of corporate (critical with great gravitational pull, if a bit hairy), entrepreneurial leaders thrive when we find a good spot to orbit. That is, identify where we may benefit from the organization’s resources while still pioneering outsized growth.
So I’m orbiting the hairball.
I’ve enjoyed leading the Jovian planets, those circling a little further from the sun. So, what defines a Jovian planet in the corporate world? It’s when you’re charged with an audacious change management agenda and empowered with decision-making to right/grow the P&L.
Working abroad half of my career, geography has frequently set that context. But even before that, I worked on the Walmart customer team for P&G, which was one of the most fun jobs I’ve had!
Should I keep orbiting the giant hairball?
Naturally, after answering the first question, I wondered if this is steady state or even future state. I know I’m comfortable here – and with my recent role leading West, I’ve gotten much closer to the sun… leading more of a terrestrial planet (yes that’s twice I’ve cited NASA in this post). You can take the nerd out of science but you can’t… well, you know.
Anyway, it’s the right question – and the reason I’m sharing here is, we should all take time to reflect on where we’ve been, where we are, and where would like to be.
- What are the contributing factors to a space where you thrive?
- Does what worked for you 10 years ago work for you today?
- What gets your heart fluttering and your imagination racing?
Here’s to your orbit. May you fly high and soar.
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