Let’s continue… (in case you saw this article first click HERE)

Stage Four – Weekend Home Tourist

And it’s time to build your base and find your safe harbor where you will be able to feel very comfortable and to give the best of you. It’s time for your most fruitful business years and best results.

At this stage you should be capable to create efficient teams, leading teams that have more than one layer below you, and make difficult decisions without too much stress. You work a lot, more than you would like to, but you are having an impression that you are building something big and important. It’s the peak of your career.

What is the most important to learn at this stage: more people will try to damage you rather to help you; you should know how to build strong relationships with loyal associates because you can’t manage alone at this stage, you should master all timing issues and stress management. You should learn how to recognize and support innovation and talent. You should learn how to kill what is not good in a fast and efficient way.

At this career stage, you should leave when you feel you are on the very top. It’s cold on the top so don’t stay there too long. There are more important things in life.

Stage Five – Japanese Tourist   

You are coming at this career stage a bit tired. You know a lot, you have seen many things, did a lot of good and bad projects, met hundreds of people… It was all exciting, but also tiring. Now it’s time to leverage all that.

To access situations and business challenges very fast. Snapshots should be enough for you. And just move, move, move… Don’t get stuck with one project or one company at this phase. This is maybe your final chance to try things you didn’t manage in the past. New industry, new role, new experience… But not as a fresh start that asks for a lot of investments. More like an experiment. You are not making your legacy at this stage. But you can have quite some fun!

What is the most important to learn at this stage: making quick decisions without over-analyzing them, advising instead of working hands-on, ignoring (people, in most of the cases), saying NO. Polish your political skills in order to secure some good consultancy opportunities in the future.

Stage Six – Cruise Ship Tourist

At this stage others should do everything for you.

What is the most important to learn at this stage: Nothing. If you haven’t learnt everything you need until now, it’s simply too late. You can, maybe, start learning painting, cooking or another foreign language.

Open a bottle of Don Matias Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile and congratulate yourself on everything you’ve done well, and forgive yourself for everything you’ve failed. Cheers!