Entreprenuership Wednesday: 10 things learned working in Corporate America

I started working full time for Big Oil in June 2009, each day maybe the same, but its a new learning experience.  I am continually growing, changing, and asking God to order my steps in the workplace. These are the top TEN things that I have learned in my first nine months working in Corporate America. Enjoy!

1) Perception is reality
Seeing yourself through other people's eyes is key to your success.  The way others perceive you is how they make "judgments" of your work ethic.  What you do when no one is looking tells a lot about your character and integrity.  Always remember that perception is reality.
2) Being respected out weighs being liked
Yes, you want everyone to like you, but its not all about being liked.  Being respected out weighs being liked (in my opinion).  Your coworkers and colleagues should respect you, your opinion, and your work, space, and area.
3) Corporate politics is a game
Time to get in the starting line up and be ready to play.  Its a game simply put.  Learn how to play the game, even though you may not like it, you have to learn to love it in order to succeed.
4) Get a mentor
Mentors were essential in my success in college. So, it was no different in coming to work full time that I sought a mentor.  The mentor should be there to discuss number 3 corporate politics and your work without judgement and offer sound advice and suggestions on how to approach different situations.
5) Get a advocate
An advocate is exactly what it is, someone to talk on your behalf. This is for evaluation and performance purposes, when it comes time to get evaluated you want to have more than one view point of your quality of work and performance.  Thus, it means you need to get out, network, and talk to others about what you are doing so they will know and can be advocates for you during performance evaluation time.
6) Learn the corporate lingo
At Big Oil its the word PROCESS they pronounce it as PROOOOCESS with an emphasis on the O.  LOL I have adapted and started using this in my everyday corporate vernacular and its more acceptable by upper level management.
7) Short sounds confident
No need for a long explanation of why, how, what.  Keep it short and sweet.  Short sounds confident and it takes more effort and thinking to communicate your point.
8) Your eyes are a window to the soul
Just like on interviews look people in the eye when they are talking to you or you are talking to someone.  Don't look not interested or around the room.  Stare them directly in the eye as your eyes are a window to your soul.
9) Don't ask for permission to do something
Never ask to do anything.  Tell your supervisor you are taking a day off.  You aren't an intern/co op anymore.  Time to just inform your superiors on what you have going on.
10) Don't apologize for unintentional errors
Never apologize for wrongdoings.  I learned this the hard way, because your supervisor will not have a pity party for you.  Your response should be "I recognize the mistake and will make the necessary revisions to solve the problem" Never apologize for unintentional errors.

What are somethings you learned when you started working full time?

Keep the Faith!

Until next time,
~E