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3 Keys to Success and Sanity

After over a decade of experiences and information overload, I've come up with the top 3 things that I would tell people as they enter the management consulting profession. 

 If I think about them, they probably apply to entering any profession. I would be interested to hear what you think. 

  1. It doesn't matter how you get there, it only matters what you accomplish when you are there. Just like the military, everyone has the same Day 1. Pedigrees, relationships, and nepotism aside, you've made it. Figure out what it takes to differentiate yourself from the pack.
  2. You're not better than anyone else, but you should be bettering yourself each and every day. Find the experiences that will improve you as a person. Find the mentors and people that you want to be like. As Jim Rohn says, "Formal education will make you a living, self-education will make you a fortune." 
  3. It is and it isn't about you. The consulting profession is about helping others. When you consult, you advise. Hopefully it's advice to make a situation better or to solve a business problem. Put colleagues and clients first - but don't forget to let people know about it. As Adam Grant says in Give and Take, "You hope your doctor, lawyer, teacher, dentist, plumber, and real estate agent will focus on contributing value to you, not on claiming value from you." Sometimes I think the profession focuses more on the latter which is unfortunate. 

If you go back to my posts in 2009, you'll see that I can only think in groups of 3. Reading those McKinsey books really made an impression on me. 

I hope this helps. Comment if you have others.
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