Based on personal experience, I'd add - treat all human based organizations as what they are, Bad. The Badness is just a matter of degree. All good investors know that all stocks are bad - this is no different. They're bad because people are not 'good' (as we would all like to make ourselves out to be), but rather we're inherently bad, flawed, sinful to some degree - trending hopefully in a more perfected direction but often a more debased one. Add to that the stress of pride, self preservation, greed, deceit, murder (of character), in day-to-day operations - and 'good' organizations show their true color - bad.
Other musings:
1. Liars know they lie particularly when you're unsuspecting. You can lose years and years of your career with those that cloak bad values. Check trusted references of the execs you will work with and for. These values will manifest themselves in real consequences, it's just a matter of time.
2. Check the REAL specific behavioral norms / values of the organization. Is there a related specific Code of Honor ("I never abandon a teammate in need")? If not, why not? Can all players including the execs be held accountable to it or do they just want it to apply to you? Know the vast majority of stated values are virtue signaling BS - Marketing. Get your head straight - and do not fall for it.
3. If their core REAL values are incompatible with your own, and you can afford to, Pass.
4. Never fall in love with your organization - it's not a person, but rather a composite of flawed humanity. A beast of sorts. It will generally consume your extra good deeds, good ideas, extra work and strangely enough, you may even be hated for it.
5. Do not rely on others to 'do the right thing'. The players and values within the beast change. Get a lawyer involved particularly with equity and non-competes etc. Do not fear offending by having a lawyer involved. Do it in a direct, aboveboard, and civil manner. It's not what you're worth, it's what you negotiate for AND have in writing.
6. Cultivate options. All negotiations are determined by the parties' BATNA (Best Alternative To a Negotiated Agreement)...i.e. your options - have some.
7. And yes, make the best of your own situation with eyes wide open.
No, not really good advice. At least too pithy to be complete.
The real meaning is that your career will take care of itself as a byproduct of focusing on these other things. It's not the endgame, not a worry, and certainly not an obsession - recipes for failure actually.
The most effective focus rather is on personal improvement - i.e. Virtue - i.e. Strength aligned in Serving your stakeholders (team, executives, both sides, etc).
1. Forget about schooling as the checkbox to get you to Director Eng as you'll be more likely self-focused, and more disappointed when people don't check the promotion box along with your personal ambition. Your personal ambition will be a motivator -- to no one but you. Now, get more schooling and shut up about it - people will recognize it in your words and action.
2. Understand that responsibility and authority are inseparable. Be prepared to take fullest possible responsibility of results (good/bad/ugly) in exchange for true authority both formal and more importantly, informal.
3. Have a decent (B or better) set of relevant technical skills and then, consider it malpractice to further develop those skills on your team. You're now a developer of them.
4. Forget about your career, rather for your team members, figure out how you will AMP their careers - more Autonomy, more Mastery of their craft, and more Purpose (AMP).
5. Work on your RELATIONSHIP/LEADERSHIP skills by determining honestly what type of leader you are and will become. Hint, servant leaders, when necessary, will make severe personal sacrifices for their team members, not throw them under the bus to those higher up. They will love you for it.
6. Work on your communication skills / Lead some project meetings whether internal or external and involve everyone you can, while showcasing their contributions.
7. Develop a behavioral Code of Honor with Values congruent with those of the organization at large that you, first, and everyone on your team will subscribe to, and expect from each other. This is about Trust, particularly when the kitchen gets hot - and yes, the kitchen will get hot.
8. Without pissing off your current boss, craft an approach to get to someone who has the authority to make such a call and then, ASK....ASK. "if at some point, I was a developer and steward of a team with these attributes - A, B, C to this organization, what would we ideally help you accomplish over the next 18 months, and how would you know it was successful?
9. Oh and generally (not cause I know you) reduce the use of the word "I, Me, My" by like 80%.
Based on personal experience, I'd add - treat all human based organizations as what they are, Bad. The Badness is just a matter of degree. All good investors know that all stocks are bad - this is no different. They're bad because people are not 'good' (as we would all like to make ourselves out to be), but rather we're inherently bad, flawed, sinful to some degree - trending hopefully in a more perfected direction but often a more debased one. Add to that the stress of pride, self preservation, greed, deceit, murder (of character), in day-to-day operations - and 'good' organizations show their true color - bad.
Other musings:
1. Liars know they lie particularly when you're unsuspecting. You can lose years and years of your career with those that cloak bad values. Check trusted references of the execs you will work with and for. These values will manifest themselves in real consequences, it's just a matter of time.
2. Check the REAL specific behavioral norms / values of the organization. Is there a related specific Code of Honor ("I never abandon a teammate in need")? If not, why not? Can all players including the execs be held accountable to it or do they just want it to apply to you? Know the vast majority of stated values are virtue signaling BS - Marketing. Get your head straight - and do not fall for it.
3. If their core REAL values are incompatible with your own, and you can afford to, Pass.
4. Never fall in love with your organization - it's not a person, but rather a composite of flawed humanity. A beast of sorts. It will generally consume your extra good deeds, good ideas, extra work and strangely enough, you may even be hated for it.
5. Do not rely on others to 'do the right thing'. The players and values within the beast change. Get a lawyer involved particularly with equity and non-competes etc. Do not fear offending by having a lawyer involved. Do it in a direct, aboveboard, and civil manner. It's not what you're worth, it's what you negotiate for AND have in writing.
6. Cultivate options. All negotiations are determined by the parties' BATNA (Best Alternative To a Negotiated Agreement)...i.e. your options - have some.
7. And yes, make the best of your own situation with eyes wide open.