Navigating the Business World: Advice for Your Younger Self

Navigating the Business World: Advice for Your Younger Self

Introduction:

Starting a career in the business world can be both exciting and daunting. There are numerous challenges to overcome, but with the right advice, you can navigate your way to success. In this article, we will explore the insights shared by professionals in the field, as well as the importance of leveraging your strengths to build better working relationships.

Finding Fulfillment in Your Strengths:

One crucial piece of advice is to focus on your strengths. Many individuals mistakenly believe that excelling in a particular area automatically makes it a core strength. However, if something you do well leaves you feeling depleted, it may not be a true strength. Instead of trying to fix these aspects, it is important to identify and amplify the parts of your professional life that energize and fulfill you.

Plotting Your Strengths:

To gain a clearer understanding of your strengths, try plotting out your "good at" activities and "fulfilled by" activities on a matrix chart. On the horizontal axis, list your "good at" activities from low to high. On the vertical axis, chart your "fulfilled by" activities from low to high. This visual representation will provide a clear picture of your strengths and help you identify areas where you can excel and find fulfillment.

Leveraging Your Strengths:

Once you have identified your strengths, it is crucial to leverage them to foster growth, engagement, and better working relationships. By using the amplify question, you can uncover and capitalize on your existing strengths, talents, and successes. The more you play to your strengths, the more fulfilled you will feel over time.

Insights from Corporate Bankers:

Corporate banking offers a wide range of career opportunities, and professionals in this field have shared their experiences and insights. Many corporate bankers find fixed income more interesting and enjoy better working hours compared to other areas of investment banking. The deep product knowledge developed in corporate banking allows individuals to explore various roles such as LevFin, sustainable finance, IR/CR, LM, treasury, FinTech product management, sales, relationship management, real asset finance, ECM, and credit sales.

Career Longevity and Growth:

While corporate banking provides opportunities for growth, it is essential to assess the longevity of your career. Talk to professionals in the field to gain insights into the day-to-day challenges and compensation in corporate banking. Examine the career paths of your colleagues and explore potential exits within the industry. Comparing corporate banking to other areas like equity research or investment banking can help you determine which path aligns better with your interests and goals.

Conclusion:

As you embark on your business career, it is crucial to remember the importance of leveraging your strengths and finding fulfillment in your work. By focusing on what energizes you and amplifying your existing strengths, you can foster growth, engagement, and better working relationships. Additionally, exploring different career paths within the business world, such as corporate banking, can provide valuable insights for shaping your professional journey.

Actionable Advice:

• 1. Identify your strengths by plotting out your "good at" and "fulfilled by" activities on a matrix chart.

• 2. Leverage your strengths to foster growth, engagement, and better working relationships.

• 3. Explore different career paths within the business world to gain valuable insights and align your interests with your professional goals.