Welcome to the first Weekly Roundup of March, Remote Work Tribe! It seems like just yesterday we were wishing you a Happy New Year… where does the time go? 🤔 Now that March is well underway, we want to kick-off the first Weekly Roundup of the month with a subject that’s equal parts comedy and tragedy: Awful professional advice.
Let’s be honest here, we have all received some downright terrible business counsel in the past. When it comes to professional advice, it seems like everyone and their great-aunt has an opinion about what might work best. However, not everyone has the right idea about what qualifies as “good” professional advice.
Case in point: This recent thread started by Jack Appleby, Senior Creative Strategist at Twitch. Jack’s question was pretty straightforward —
It didn’t take long for responses to come rolling in, and some were just awful, if we’re being honest.
“You gotta pay your dues” even if you hate your job, boss and/or client.
— Sonia Baschez (@SoniaBaschez) March 2, 2021
Normalize leaving when you’re not happy, growing, feeling fulfilled, etc even if you’ve only been there a few months.
First off, let’s just get rid of the phrase, “pay your dues” in 2021, okay? This phrase generally implies that entry-level employees should break their backs for access into their desired fields. How about, “pay employees what they’re worth and let them organically build connections to those on their respective career path” instead?
No one is implying you don’t have to work hard or even make some sacrifices along the way, but like Sonia says above, we must normalize leaving a role that does not fulfill you or make you happy.
“Stop Being Nice” Advice?
Here’s another great example of awful professional advice:
I was told that as I move up into more senior leadership roles I need to “stop being nice”. I have obviously ignored this advice and it has been fine I think!
— Daryl Morey (@dmorey) March 2, 2021
“Stop being nice” is a new one—and one that’s equally as garbage as “pay your dues.” Like Daryl says in his Tweet, a good attitude and friendly demeanor will get you a lot farther in business than a nasty attitude ever could.
Why to Avoid that Awful Professional Advice
Realistically, everyone will be keen on giving you some type of business wisdom through the years. While it’s not always ill-intentioned, it’s important to remember to take this guidance with a grain of salt.
No one will understand your career path the way you do. Be wary of who you trust and, above all, steer clear of awful professional advice that generally advises you to do anything you’re not comfortable with.
With this being said, we have a bit of cheeky advice for you… go ahead and read this week’s vibes!
The Tribe’s Weekly Vibes
1. This no-questions-asked, absolute yes.
2. This fantastic way to practice self-gratitude and celebrate YOU.
3. This quick reminder that not every opinion of you matters.
4. This fun fact about the roots of the word “mentor.”
5. This hilarious but dreadfully true description of many of our jobs.
6. This accurate description of what it’s like being the new kid on the block (and what to do about it).
7. This important message for Microsoft.
8. THIS!
9. This wonderful way to learn more about your remote team members.
10. This inspirational message that the offline world is waiting for you to rejoin it.
***
What’s happening in your remote world this week? Tag us over on Instagram, @TheRemoteWorkTribe, or on Twitter, @RemoteWorkTribe, for a chance to be featured on our next weekly thread!
[…] is a collection of the latest remote work news and relatable tweets. We cover everything—from terrible career advice to predictions for the future of remote work. Today, we want to dive into something many find […]
[…] and relatable threads (because we can all use a little laughter). A few weeks back, we touched on awful career advice we’ve heard over the years. But that trip down memory lane got us thinking… have you ever had […]