The routine of the work week and the pressure of our job responsibilities can often get the best of us. However, whether it's putting more effort into your job, or finding one that makes you truly happy, its time to commit to your career.
"Finished reading the book Secrets to Winning at Office Politics: How to Achieve Your Goals and Increase Your Influence at Work.
Some takeaways from the last 3 chapters:
HOW TO MANAGE YOUR BOSS
Accept the power structure. Your boss has formal authority over your work, regardless of competence or personality. Resisting this reality only creates friction. Influence is gained by working within the system, not fighting it.
Adjust expectations and avoid triggers. Managers are imperfect and have quirks. Identify your boss’s sensitivities and avoid provoking them. Appreciate a good boss when you have one; otherwise, lower expectations.
Understand your boss’s style. Learn how your boss prefers information, decisions, and results. If expectations are unclear, ask directly. Most managers value employees who seek alignment early.
Make your boss successful. Deliver high-quality work on time, stay responsive, solve problems, and contribute ideas. When your boss looks good, your own credibility and influence increase.
Do not complain about your boss. Public criticism—especially to subordinates or outsiders—is politically damaging. Limit discussion to trusted peers for constructive problem-solving.
Offer genuine praise occasionally. Sincere compliments build goodwill and trust when given sparingly and authentically. This is recognition, not flattery.
Build relationships above your boss. Visibility with senior leaders strengthens political capital and job security, particularly during leadership changes.
Adapt quickly to new managers. A new boss changes expectations. Resistance labels you as difficult to manage. Stay flexible and open to learning, even if the adjustment is uncomfortable.
HOW TO MANAGE EXECUTIVES
Communicate quickly and concisely. Executives are time-constrained and process information rapidly. Lead with your most important points and avoid long explanations. Expect interruptions and questions—executives prefer to steer the conversation rather than listen to monologues.
Do not expect clear or detailed instructions. Executive thinking is high-level and fast-moving, which often results in vague guidance. Pressing for specifics can be interpreted as a lack of judgment. Success requires interpreting intent, exercising initiative, and reading between the lines.
Build a strong relationship with the executive assistant. Administrative assistants often understand the executive’s priorities and thinking better than anyone else. They can help clarify expectations and provide context when direct guidance is unavailable.
Take ownership and make things happen. Once a task is delegated, executives mentally consider it resolved. They do not want to revisit it unless there is a problem. Avoid going back for clarification; instead, use your own judgment, networks, and available resources to deliver results.
Deliver flawless execution despite ambiguity. Even with unclear instructions, executives expect perfect outcomes. They dislike dealing with details but assume all obstacles will be handled and mistakes avoided. Sloppy work quickly erodes credibility.
Do not take bad behavior personally. Some executives communicate harshly under pressure. While unacceptable, it is often not personal. Choose carefully when and how to push back, recognizing potential career risks—and never emulate such behavior yourself.
Set aside ego but retain confidence. Competing egos lead to unwinnable power struggles. At the same time, excessive submissiveness signals weakness. Executives respect confident professionals who acknowledge authority without diminishing themselves.
Maintain a sense of humor. Perspective and emotional resilience are essential for working effectively in high-pressure executive environments.
"
"12/28/25
Today I paid online Spanish class subscription. Set up a virtual meeting with NW rep for advisor role, for Tuesday 3Pm. Research credit cards options. Finally approved. Finally credit card holder. Now let’s not get $100K in debt. Do not spend stupidly….
Ledgit bs servicers kept denying me. It should not have taken this long wtf…."
"12/27/25
Today was bitter and sweet. I located loss mail with important charges. I upload income proof docs for school loan. . I grew tired from working a mortgage loan project. And more. Cheers to productivity "
"12/26/25
Out of state. Fam/dad is my focus..
Cleared out email n other job inbox’s. A few messages needed thoughtful replies, but most just needed sorting. Felt like sweeping r lm stubborn carpet. I would know. Hate sweeping my carpet as crib. Moving soon"
"Ik heb vandaag de skin nog proberen aan te passen, ik heb flashback geïnstalleerd, ik heb plannen voor morgen om meer te doen dan vandaag. Ik vandaag heel weinig gedaan, maar wel iets, morgen wil en moet ik er meer aan gaan doen"
"I just set up this commitment. I'm 24, by 25 I'm supposed to be a master songwriter who has written and completed 364 songs by writing unfailing everyday. I suck at consistency, but this could make my music career into something legit and not just a dream. "
"12-24 n 12-25-25
Out of state. Visiting fam/dad
Paid the utility bill. Quick, simple, and satisfying. Folded and put away the laundry. Sorted clothing for trip. Closet looks calmer now"
"Ik heb vandaag niet veel kunnen doen, maar ik heb wel de problemen met replay mod gefixd en ik heb een alternatief gevonden. Ook heb ik een skin gemaakt, ik denk alleen wel dat ik die nog ga veranderen"
" this was a good week. struggle but got the snippets marked up. gemini promises a lot and there is chance things accelerate in a big way from here. main insight: thread the needle and for that choice + state: felt focus, food, sleep, 90s emotion ride, focusmate (Fe), 5+20 reward (s...!) and timers. Basically all Se work for the most part. Te is good from time to time to improve the whole stack. "
"Vandaag heb ik ideeën toegevoegd voor mijn java wereld. Ik heb al een klein script bedacht voor de video's en ik weet welke thema's ik allemaal wil hebben (modern,middeleeuws,romeins)"
"12-23-25
I responded to overdue messages, reviewed upcoming appointments, and set reminders for the rest of the week. I also finished a lingering task: backing up important documents."
"Late night from wedding, so ran out of time. I could have probably squeezed it in later on, But I need clarity on where I'm going back to work. I think I just need to go back to the cycle."
"12-18-25
Today I accounted for debts and made plans to pay over a three figure payment. Checked car parking to make sure I did not get a ticket. More importantly, I finally got credit approval. Research has paid off…"
"Good week, I guess. Was dragging until Cavallo's email. Moved to finish the snippet review. Got cars more ready or almost ready. Drove Uber on target and dropped yesterday. Concerned that it is a real drop. Funny how inertia is inertia. Running super low on cash. Part of me is wanting to test the edge and not to do what is in front of me - so weird. Lynh (PT from San Rafael) dropped, then Laura (uber, yale), and Lisa continues but also into psych world which is great and bad. Haha. Tried a double dose of meds at one point. Deep rabbit hole digs into Sumer/Uruk and the broader historical synthesis along with the econ contribution. Overall, not solid. Real need is to start on schedule on focusmate and adhere to a timeline until the timeline brings confidence and then energy will flow into tasks and not above tasks. "
"12-16-25
Having factory reset my pc, out of a need for storage space, I reconfigure all previous programs and installations. Not complete with all installations. This took up 6 hours. Scheduled other appointments today. "
