Do you rationalize to fit yourself into a company during the interview, overthink at performance reviews or make up stories when you quit? There's an easier, better, more effective way.

Assumptions.

  1. You're a talent.
  2. Your boss/company isn't total shit.

Why are you qualified to give this advice?

I was lucky. I started my career as a summer intern at Lowe Vietnam. Two weeks into my internship my boss Daryl called me into a room with his boss Bikram and said, "You're not an intern, how much you want?" My salary jumped from 1m to 15m. Not a lot by international standards, but decent for Vietnam over a decade ago. Less than a year later, when I expressed a desire to work abroad, my old boss recommended me to TBWA Dubai. My then boss Kumkum took me out for shisha and said, "Stay, I'll give you half my salary."

I experienced amazing honest and fruitful relationships with my mentors (and some manipulative ones, too). I've also managed staff that quit on bad terms (sometimes my fault) and staff that I'd recommend anywhere and hire back in a heartbeat.

The difference is open communications.

You should openly communicate your career goals to your team often, but especially before joining, before performance reviews, and before you plan to move on. This will help the team plan around your career goals or see if it matches their own goals.

I understand the need to tweak your story so potential employers would hire you, or strategically align your career goals with the company's vision to get a better raise, or rationalize why you're leaving as not to hurt egos and feelings (including your own). It's natural, but it's unproductive for you and the team.

Your relationship with your team, boss, or company shouldn't be defined by employment. This doesn't mean you have to be their "friend" or "family". It means you have an honest relationship built on open communications and mutual understanding.

This is the way.

If you plan to open a business, communicate to your team. If (1) you're a talent, (2) they're a good boss/company, they'll respect that and work around you, or help you succeed, or even invest in your business. My former boss in Dubai messaged me out of the blue and asked if he can invest in my business to import to the United Arab Emirates.

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