The Trouble With Paying Dues

Wow, this post was featured at a great time for me. Yesterday was another one of my days where I had to remind myself to slow down. Sometimes it can seem as if my little family is at a stand still, even when we make a little progress it never seems like enough. But we have a plan that has been altered so many times because we know the importance of going with the flow. It can be frustrating not seeing the fruits of your labor right away but like you said the journey should be relished and remembered.

Great Post! It's much more refreshing to view the start of our careers as the beginning of a learning experience, rather than time wasted "paying our dues."

I have taken the liberty of highlighting a quote from your post because I think it is so insightful:

"You can actually pay your dues while still stirring the pot. In fact, maybe the best way to create change in hierarchies still governed by more mature generations is to work well within the structures that exist. And through that, to earn the trust you can use to innovate. After all, blowing things up isn’t the only way to change a landscape."

Yes, yes, YES! That slow steady pressure from within is what will bring about changing those "we've always done it this way" structures that are starting not to work. And "paying your dues", as you know, is not about putting in time; it is about learning along the way, building trust, and using your personal power to influence others!

Wow, you just embodied what about every twenty something I know is going through right now. This is a difficult time, but with these struggles we learn-and we change, hopefully for the better. I like that you highlight mentoring, making mistakes and accessing opportunities, thanks for the advice. I can't say it's anything I haven't heard before but your excellent writing style and structure put me at ease. THANK YOU. I guess right now, all we can do is hang on to the dream, hope and pray that someday we'll be SOMEBODY at our companies.

This is a great summary of the impatience and frustration of younger individuals (this is not unique to Gen Y, they are just at that age now). Most importantly, I appreciate how you articulate the value of committing, persevering and staying to learn how to influence change.

One thing that I have really enjoyed is networking in my industry (HR). I have joined some special interest groups and volunteered at events to get to know other individuals. I have met some amazing, accomplished older individuals. I often ask how they got where they were - and the stories, full of challenges, opportunities (even missed one) and learning always bring me back to "my time will come with work and focus on intention". It makes my dreams feel more tangible, real.

Thanks!

I agree that paying your dues is more an investment in your future than some waste of time that you should avoid at all costs. I was downsized from my first job out of college. I called 3 college career centers in my area and offered to work for free. 2 told me know. 1 said yes. 11 years later, I'm director of MBA career services at a major university. Don't think I couldn't have gotten there had I not started as an unpaid intern. Plus, working my way up through all the layers from unpaid intern, to secretary, to assistant to the director, to assistant director, etc., allowed me to learn the business from the ground up. Now, as a manager, I know what it takes to plan an event, build a web site, etc. and that helps me monitor how much I delegate to my staff at any one time.