Be the CEO of your Career

I recently finished an article in an older issue of the Harvard Business Review entitled What Only the CEO Can Do (May 2009, by A.G. Lafley)  As I read it, I realized, like many HBR articles, that the principles described can be applied in another way.  In the article, then Proctor and Gamble CEO A. G. Lafley suggests a company’s CEO is the link between the operation inside the company and the world outside.  In this capacity, there are four tasks that only the CEO can perform.

I’ll paraphrase the four tasks because they’re slightly out of context here, but I highly recommend reading the article (Reprint R0905D):

  1. Define the what’s important to the company in the outside world.
  2. Decide what business the company is in.
  3. Balance short term and long term goals.
  4. Shape the values and standards by which the company operates.

If you think of yourself as the CEO of your own career, you can translate these four tasks into crucial activities that only you can do:

  1. Define what is meaningful to you
  2. Decide what you’re going to do with your career
  3. Balance the immediate needs of your life with long term goals
  4. Determine your personal values and standards and hold yourself to them

Let me break these down. Read more »

categories Career | Craig January 28, 2010 | comments Comments (0)

Welcome to Spring 2010!

One of my duties as president is to speak to the incoming MSPM students about the PMSA. Orientation was last week, so I headed down to DC, taking the opportunity to meet with a few groups while I was there.

First, I’d like to welcome the 41 new students and wish all of you luck. The program you are entering is a challenging, yet rewarding one. You will meet a lot of talented people from a wide range of backgrounds, industries, and locations, making this an excellent way to increase your network. At the same time, you will undoubtedly learn something new regardless of how much experience you have in project management.

If you’re a student who has been in the program for a semester or more, you may be interested to know that orientation has changed somewhat. Anne has expanded the previously 1.5 day program to two full days and the first day now includes the Bridge Game from the Fundamental class, a change that allows distance students to participate. Read more »

categories Board Activities, PMSA | Craig January 13, 2010 | comments Comments (0)