#GrowWithAJ

Learning to lead without authority is crucial.

The workplace of the future is self-organizing, collaborative, and has flatter management structures.

To succeed as a leader, you must learn to inspire others to cooperate and engage willingly. Giving orders is unlikely to get anything meaningful done.

Authentic leadership comes from influence and not fro

Be patient.

I know you’ve been working hard all year.

Some things just take time.

It doesn’t matter how talented you are, or how much effort you put in.

You can’t produce a baby in one month by getting nine women pregnant.

Be patient.

Keep going.

there’s always a little truth behind every “just kidding,”

…a little knowledge behind every “I don’t know,”

…a little emotion behind every “I don’t care,”

and a little pain behind every “I’m okay!”

Always lead with empathy—be compassionate when people share their feelings with you.

#GrowWithAJ

Adversity does not equal failure!

Everyone faces adversity.

It is rare to find vision, ambition, and ultimately, success without adversity.

To find the success that lies beyond hard times, you must view adversity as a hole to climb out of instead of a grave to lie down in.

Successful people embrace adversity because they understand its value.

Don’t quit

Excellence is not an act; it’s a habit.

It doesn’t matter what you’ve done in the past—you are what you do consistently.

Your long list of past accomplishments becomes irrelevant if you start making bad decisions today.

Let me explain.

If I start smoking cigarettes today, I am officially a smoker. Right?

In contrast, imagine I had been a smoker for seve

Make friends, not contacts!

Everyone knows that your network is your net worth. But what exactly is networking?

Here’s what people think networking is:

Step 1: Walk around a big event.

Step 2: Shake random hands and try your best to be extroverted.

Step 3: Wait and hope for a dream opportunity to fall right into your lap shortly.

Sorry, this is not netwo

Real networking doesn’t happen at networking events!

Real networking happens in backyards, exclusive dinners, private meet-ups, and at happy hour.

Real networking happens when a friend introduces you to a friend.

And then that friend introduces you to a new group of people.

And then in that new group of people, you make a new friend.

And on and on and o

Losing your job might not be a bad thing.

Many of you were recently laid off, had your job offer revoked, or denied a new career opportunity due to the ongoing pandemic.

You might feel rejected, anxious, or upset.

With such negative emotions, losing your job is undoubtedly a bad thing. Right?

Not quite. Not yet.

Five years ago, my internship offer with

Get the job you want by connecting with the people who already have it.

If you want to be a writer, surround yourself with writers, and learn from them.

Great opportunities come from taking the time to build great relationships.

This week, reach out to someone in a role you admire.

Tell them, “I want to do what you do.”