When Roger graduated with a degree in engineering, he couldn't wait to get started on his career. He secured an interview with a top engineering firm and passed it with flying colors.
Roger imagined that, as a professional engineer, he would have a spacious office, a personal secretary, a company car and a generous salary. Unfortunately for Roger, the reality was quite different. He was placed in a tiny cubicle in a row of other tiny cubicles. There was no secretary or car, and his salary was barely enough to cover his monthly expenses.
Disappointed, Roger was determined to make a good impression. He worked hard every day and always went home late. His work was always of the highest standard. After several years of this, Roger hoped that he would be selected for the company’s fast track scheme, which prepared employees for management positions, but he was shocked to find that his colleague, Carl, was chosen instead.
In desperation, Roger spoke to his boss about it. He pointed out that he worked much harder than Carl, who never worked late. He often corrected Carl’s mistakes. So why was Carl chosen over him?
His boss explained that, although Carl was not the most diligent employee, he had excellent communication skills and he was a natural leader. In meetings, Carl was outspoken, while Roger kept quiet. Carl had made friends with everyone in the department, while Roger was too busy with his work. Roger’s way of working hard and keeping quiet may have been suitable for school and university, but it was not suited to the office environment.
Roger's boss pointed out that he was eligible to sign up for up to three training courses per year, yet he had never taken the opportunity to improve himself. Roger had always assumed that once he had graduated, his days of formal learning were over. He had not realized that you need to continue learning and improving yourself all throughout your career.
Roger finally realized that if he wanted to be successful, he would need to dramatically change his ways.