36. 9 Things That You Need to STOP Right Now
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWelcome to Episode 36 of Navigating the Fustercluck\u2014a podcast full of snackable insights to help you navigate the unpredictable world of creativity & marketing.My name is Wegs, like eggs with a W, joining you from Deaf Mule Studios in Dallas, where we\u2019re here to talk about 9 things you need to stop right now. I doubt that you\u2019re doing them all right now, but if you\u2019re doing just one of them, you\u2019re doing one too many. None of them are going to advance your career or improve the quality of life. Number One:No Fish in the MicrowaveGodfrey Daniels, Mother of Pearl! I know it\u2019s kinda funny, but\u2026C\u2019mon people, if you\u2019re aiming to be hated, there\u2019s no quicker way than to send fish smells waffing throughout the whole office. I\u2019m serious.\xa0The bigger point is this: You share your space. You\u2019ve got to take the feelings and olfactory senses of others into consideration. If you\u2019re willing to be so careless with your food, then imagine what other thoughtless things you\u2019re doing. Consciously or unconsciously. If there\u2019s something fishy about your leftovers, there may be something fishy about you. Oh, and in the same vein, remember\u2026Your music is your music. Keep it to yourself. Next\u2026We Over MeI\u2019m here to tell ya\u2026People, we\u2019ve got a pronoun problem!Too many people using I instead of me.\xa0Maybe they\u2019re afraid of not getting their due credit.Maybe they\u2019re just thoughtless.Or at worse, maybe they\u2019re just megalomaniacs.Whatever the case, ya gotta stop it.It\u2019s We over Me, people. We over Me.You want to build a team?You want to earn trust?Then you\u2019ve got to share credit and spread the wealth.I, I, I isn\u2019t going to win you any fans or allies.It\u2019s just so obvious.Instead, be the one touting the accomplishments of others.You\u2019ll find that they\u2019ll tout yours.But it\u2019s no quid pro quo.It\u2019s just the right thing to do.Plus, pronouns are confusing.By the time someone finishes a story of any length, I can\u2019t remember who \u201cthey\u201d is or whether \u201cus\u201d includes me or which him or her is to thank or blame.What\u2019s the easiest way to solve this?\xa0Curb your use of pronouns. Stop using them as much as possible.\xa0It will clean up your storytelling and emails.Moving on to #3\u2026Stop Telling Everyone How Busy You AreI\u2019m so busy\u2026Thanks for reminding us all all the time, Great Advertising Martyr. Do you expect us to carry your cross? Really, we\u2019re all busy virtually all the time.\xa0Now, of course there are times that you\u2019re especially swamped. When that happens, quietly figure out with your boss or colleagues how to lighten your load. And volunteer to do the same when you sense that someone may be drowning.But it\u2019s annoying to hear someone constantly carping about how no human being has ever been dumped on more than you. It brings everybody down.#4: Don\u2019t Hookup with Co-WorkersDon\u2019t care how hot she or he is. Don\u2019t care how much you had to drink. Don\u2019t hookup with co-workers. It\u2019s the quickest way to office drama, HR nightmares and problems at home.20 years ago, I didn\u2019t understand this and I wish I had. Could have avoided a lot of awkwardness. You don\u2019t want to be doing the walk of shame into the office and past a colleague who is now a hookup. Because there\u2019s no way of hiding from one another.That said, office romances can lead to serious commitments. Even marriage.\xa0If you\u2019re heavily gravitating toward someone, step back and take the proper steps. Coffee. Cocktails. So on and so forth.And if something sparks between you and someone else, do yourself a favor and just inform the person you\u2019re supposed to tell. Your boss. HR. Whoever. May sound rigid. But I\u2019ve done it and it has made things a lot easier. Weird? Kinda. But it really does help.#5: Be Nice to Admins, Maintenance People, Everyone!!!As the old restaurant saying goes, if you\u2019re not nice to your server, you\u2019re not really nice. Same in advertising. Any business. If you\u2019re not nice to those you feel are beneath you or who can\u2019t help...