Page 44 - Roy W. Rice - CEO Material How to Be a Leader in Any Organization-McGraw-Hill (2009)

You Have a Good Track Record • 25

Mentors and sponsors are people to get advice from, but at the same
time, you have to consider the source, trust your gut, and decide for yourself.
My sponsor and I would have a chat. He’d say, “Do you know so and
so is not an admirer of yours?” Then he’d tell me what to do about it.

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You have to be the one to seize opportunities to influence those who
influence your career.
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From old people, seek stories. From young ones, seek technology.

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One of my mentors would say, “Sit down kid; let’s talk.” He was only
four years older than me.

You carry out exceptional work when you have a solid track record
in the opinion of the constituents involved: (1) You produce the right
results because of your specialist skills in a core competency critical to
the company, (2) you go beyond what’s expected, and (3) you help others
do exceptional work beyond what’s required. All of this is made possible
because of your individual effort, improved by the coaching, mentoring,
and guidance from mentors and sponsors.