Career Lessons from Toby Carrington: Embrace Stretch Assignments and Imperfect Action

In Episode 2 of COLD ONES, we had an insightful conversation with Toby Carrington, Chief Business Officer at Seismic. Toby shared valuable career insights from his journey, emphasizing the importance of taking on stretch assignments and embracing imperfect action. Here are the key takeaways from our conversation.

Toby attributes much of his career growth to taking on stretch assignments that pushed him beyond his comfort zone. He advised young professionals to seize opportunities that may not have an immediate reward but offer significant learning and growth potential.

“Take on stretch assignments and don’t ask what’s in it for you. Just take on extra responsibilities and focus on improving your internal brand,” Toby suggested. This proactive approach can significantly enhance your reputation within the organization and open up new career opportunities.

Internal branding is about how you are perceived within your organization. Toby emphasized the importance of cultivating a positive internal brand by consistently delivering value and demonstrating a willingness to go above and beyond.

“The more you can do to improve your internal brand at whatever organization you work with, the better,” Toby noted. By taking on challenging tasks and delivering results, you can establish yourself as a reliable and valuable team member.

One of the most impactful pieces of advice Toby shared was the idea that “perfect is the enemy of good”, or as President Truman says, “imperfect action beats perfect inaction every time”. He explained that striving for perfection in every task can lead to inefficiency and burnout. Instead, it’s important to recognize when a task can be deemed “good enough” and move on to other priorities.

“Certain things need to be perfect, like engineering a car, but not everything does,” Toby said. “Focus on delivering good work efficiently rather than getting bogged down in perfectionism.”

Effective time management is crucial for career success. Toby stressed the importance of prioritizing tasks and knowing when to stop refining a project that is already good enough. This approach allows for more efficient use of time and resources, leading to better overall productivity.

“Ask yourself if something needs to be perfect or if it can be good enough,” Toby advised. This mindset helps in managing time better and focusing on tasks that truly matter.

Toby’s career advice highlights the value of taking initiative, embracing challenges, and managing your time wisely. By focusing on these principles, you can achieve significant career growth and make a lasting impact in your organization.

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