90 Days In!
1st of May marks 3 months into my new role so I thought I'd recognise it with a few reflections from my time here at Diageo.
🥂 The Drinks Industry is Always Awesome
I know people who work in big corporate roles can often find passion and purpose in their jobs - but I struggle to believe it's anywhere easier to find that spark than in the drinks industry where the joy and entertainment you bring to others is so readily available. The tribalism of our brands, the history we're now custodians of and the innovation the industry is always striving for attracts the most genuinely interesting, friendly and inspiring people to work with every day.
📚 There are other ways of achieving things
For me, growing-up in one company had its benefits and, now I realise, its shortcomings. Like buying a new car, my muscle memory might kick in and I find myself flipping the wrong button - but soon-enough you realise that the old ways weren't always the best and that you can continue to grow and feel energised every morning by re-learning what you thought you'd already mastered. A new perspective on your industry does wonders for your motivation.
🤓 Take the opportunity to ask the 'stupid' questions
Obviously there are no stupid questions - but you sure do look stupid if you're asking certain questions after 10 years in a company. Often though, you're not the only one who needs the answer! I've found that leaning into the 'I'm new so can you explain it to me like I'm a five year old' can help enormously. More often than not, you're helping someone else in the room who's also not sure on the topic but is too scared to ask. And when incumbent or embedded ways of working are laid-out in a simplistic way, it becomes easier for everyone to challenge them and all of a sudden, you're all realising things don't need to be the way they are.
💪 You were hired for a reason so bring all of that, every day to the new role
The further along you go in your career, the more your experience plays a role in how much value you bring to a position (obviously). It's important to balance humility and learning experiences when you're new, with confidence and a willingness to share your counter-perspective. A good culture will appreciate that and see it for the collaborative intent it is meant as.
I'm hoping this is the beginning of a long career in Diageo that provides me new challenges, opportunities to grow professionally and in exchange allows me to help sustainably grow our world-class brands and contribute to the growth of our business partners. Whether you're planning to stay with your current team, you're are a serial jumper or you're taking the first 'big step outside', I wish you all the luck and confidence to succeed and hope you find a group of colleagues as fun to work with as I've always had.
Love the playful vibe! 😄