Keeping your Passion
Getting this site up and running (long time coming, right?), I had to clean up a lot of digital remnants of the previous site and the social legs that had fallen to the wayside over the past year. This quickly ended up taking me down the rabbit hole, cleaning up my personal social media presences
I ended up stumbling upon an old cover letter associated with a Google + account (remember that? right? I know...). Written almost 3.5 years ago, it's largely still as accurate now as it was then. While this may elicit concern from some that you're not growing enough or developing enough, I'd rather like to think that it shows I knew my purpose then, and have kept that same passion until now.
It's not easy to keep your passion in the midst of challenging projects. This is especially true when the goal of the project is undefined, or if your position in the project is not aligned to your skill set.
For those doing the heavy lifting (aka, the lovely engineers and designers), I can make these recommendations:
1. PULL UP: Stop and level set with what is left in the remainder in the project. Be it a month or a week left, take a minute to scrub out the 'Done' column and take a look at the last remaining tasks. It doesn't end up feeling so daunting then.
2. RESET: Pull together as a team and take a minute to congratulate each other on what you have achieved so far. Go for drinks at the bar, or stop and take a whiskey break as a team. Be proud of what you have done.
3. REDEFINE: Why are you here? It's a simple enough question, but it is an important one we often forget in the midst of the hardest projects. We get caught in the middle of all the tickets and unit tests, and forget the larger picture. Take a minute to think about the larger goal. I often have Slackbot remind me of this twice daily in the last couple weeks.
For my fellow product managers, some of the above recommendations may help, but you'll probably be coordinating the above sessions. However, there is something much better at your disposal, your team.
In the midst of the most challenging builds, the best resource you have is your team. You're going to be tired. Answering client emails, doing check-ins, following up on tests, trying to keep the team energized, and the five billion other tasks you have going on, you're going to feel alone and exhausted and like you have nothing left to give to anyone.
Stop.
Breathe.
Look around you.
Those developers working hard, and giving you everything they have. The machinists, overtired and still operating heavy machinery. The designers, still trying to stay inspired and thoughtful despite running largely on cheap coffee. They need you. Regardless of everything you have going on, They. Need. You.
To keep the scope from ballooning, from working too late and missing dinner with family, to make sure they get lunch and smoke breaks and materials and approvals. They still need you.
It's the thing that keeps me working long after everyone is home and before anyone else gets in. That team needs you and you're not replaceable here. Get it done — for them.
And if you need a quick battery jump, you can read this letter. I'm more knowledgeable and more savvy, but the heart is still the same. Check it out below —
Dear Googlers,
I imagine there are more than enough applications you have to read, so I’ll be straight with you - more than anything, I want to do something meaningful with my life, that solves problems, and affects the world positively.
I went to the former U.S. Patent Office to reconcile my thoughts for this application, because while a cover letter is not required, it would be a great disservice to not express the skills that I have in media, technology, and the passion for the renaissance of innovation in which we find ourselves. The building is now the National Portrait Gallery, and hosts the faces of some of the most influential persons the world over. Singer, Wright, Hitchcock, Ronalds, Einstein, and Edison are just a few of the portraits and prototypes housed there, as a testament to their innovation and capitalistic drive. Then, as now, our changing technological environment is defining our new social hierarchy and relationships. It has lead to the fundamental change of information exchange from the ground up and importance in social groups determined by connectivity. This is the society that I have learned and grown up in – one determined by merit, creativity, pragmatism, and adaptability. With this spirit I have sought to modernize, innovate, and maximize on our technologies and influence in every position that I have held.
At this point in my career, at my current position, I am looking to be challenged to grow. Marketing, communications, and technology are spectacularly ruthless environments, and if you are not evolving, you are dying, if you are not ahead of the game, you are late. Currently, I am part of the database migration and development team, as well as creating a resource database for my department and transitioning all deliverables to electronic copy. I have brought on new software to our department which enables us to become more self-sufficient and minimize response time to clients. These transitions is being made to improve operational efficiency, anticipate the needs of our clients and members, and reducing our environmental impact. In fact, I have become so proficient in managing these multiple priorities while liaising with both internal and external clients, managing off sites and events, and resolving operational and administrative issues before they arise, that I am entrusted to train new staff on operational needs and SOPs. There is still work to be done, as there always will be, however I am looking for an environment that fundamentally challenges my thought process - where I can thrive.
I hope that you are able to take the time to review my linked profiles in my resume to more wholly understand the qualifications and spirit I would bring to the Google team. The ambition and dedication that had made me successful in every position I have held will allow me to exceed your expectations and drive constant development at Google.
I look forward to meeting you all soon.
