The First 100 Days - Your Window of Opportunity
It’s a popular term, the first 100 days, made legendary by Roosevelt and still relevant today mostly through high-level business executives. Beyond the timeframe, the idea boils down to how a new employee (executive or otherwise) can leverage that attention as a new face with fresh ideas into something impressive and meaningful to our colleagues and superiors. The term usually applies to a CEO or executive, but I think as new professionals we’re given the same timeframe to prove our value and potential.
Quick story: When I started my first position in the corporate world, I had just begun an independent study in social media (I started working full-time prior to graduation). The timing ended up being right for me, my first big project was helping our CEO blog. The blog helped him extend his vision to field employees during his first 100 days and gain trust. For me, the access to an executive along with the immediate value the blog provided has opened many doors me for professionally (at that first job and through other professional opportunities). The opportunity, while VERY serendipitous, was a result of the application of my passion at an opportune time.
Weigh in, as a young professional how have you leveraged your first 100 days?
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April 18th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Welcome to the team, Jamie!
April 18th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Looking forward to your first 100 days at http://newlycorporate.com !
April 18th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Thanks guys! I tweeted my first post too, my name on twitter is jamiechabra.
April 18th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
I think the key is to get an early win. Do SOMETHING in those first 100 days so you don’t establish yourself as “all show, no go”.
April 21st, 2008 at 10:12 am
The first 100 days are absolutely critical, and Dan is absolutely right. I’d like to add, however, that it isn’t just about doing “something” in the first 100 days in the sense of getting a great sale or completing an assignment incredibly well. It’s also about establishing the best possible relationships. If you can implement the suggestions Mark Wiskup gives in The “It” Factor, you’ll have gone a long way to completing your first 100 days successfully.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:22 am
Totally agree, I think its a great combination of both - accomplishing something and building relationships. Especially in communications or a field where if you can’t show your colleagues you can build relationships internally they’ll have little faith you’re doing that externally.