3 Simple Actions to Start at your Best!

When starting in a new role or business, I was often guided by rigorous training, semi-reluctant mentors, and 250+ page books to study (i.e. The First 90 Days & Good to Great). Although these are effective approaches, I recommend 3 simple actions for starting your career at your best. This is my humble opinion based on 25 years of learnings (sometimes painful) working in R&D, ENG, and MFG across 7 different categories in 5 continents.

How to Start at your Best:

1. Make a friend with a respected Finance leader. At a University, someone paid for you to gain knowledge. At a Company, you are paid to provide knowledge. Blindly following your boss's direction might lead to promotions, but it won't make you maximized. Learn to calculate your ROR (Rate of Return) based on your quantified contributions, salary, expenses (e.g. training, office supplies, travel), and benefits. Would you hire yourself if you owned that company? Learn how fractions of a penny saved on your project lead to exponential savings across the supply network. Learn how this helps you think and make decisions like an owner. On your projects, you will naturally be curious to challenge status quo "what has to be true to do this for half the time at half the cost or, does it need to be done at all?"

   
   

2. Make a friend with a respected IT (Information Technology) leader. My experience has been IT is the most undervalued and understaffed group in most companies (until there is a problem!). The IT department is who connects you to the company data (required for ROR calculations), the competitive intelligence, and the network (i.e. when your computer glitches). I believe it is better to have a friend to help you during lunch rather than waiting for "help" desk to respond!

   
   

3. Make a friend with a respected HR (Human Resources) leader. HR is closest to the pulse of the organization, the policies, and the soft skill training not provided at university. HR can guide you on the cultural norms, who to influence and/or collaborate with, policy expectations, and what behaviors are needed from employees and why. With this knowledge, you will naturally behave like a valued cultural change agent (as well as business owner). Besides, at the end of the day, any special favors from your IT friend needs approval by HR!

   
   

With the 3 resource friends above as your foundation of knowledge, you will quickly discover every discipline has a unique and valuable role to play in an organization. If you focus on delivering your ROR on contributions, communicating regularly reflecting company desired behaviors, and approaching work with an owner's mindset your start will be maximized. I hope this helps in your transition! Feel free to reach out for more perspectives!

© Nuri Dimler 2025