Career Lessons I learnt from watching MAD MEN CareerMetis.com

Career Lessons I learnt from watching MAD MEN I am sure you have heard about or watched the AMC show Mad Men. The show is set in the 1960s â€" it is about the lives of executives of a fictional Ad Agency called Sterling Cooper. The show has won numerous accolades for the cast and also depciting historical accuracies. For many who were not in the US during the 60s â€" this show is a great refresher. Don Draper is definitely a genius Ad-man, and that is evident from his Lucky Strike Pitch from the very first episode. There are numerous pitches in the show where Don Draper just wows everybody with his expertise â€" 1. The Lucky Strike Pitch 2. The Carousel Pitch 3. The Lipstick PitchAbsolute genius!! You would think.But Don Draper did not start that way. Throughout the show, they show us Don’s history about his upbringing, his life in the military, his experience selling cars, and then selling fur coats â€" all the way to how he got his job at Sterling Cooper. He definitely did not start out as an expert or genius.Pete Campbell is another great example from the show. In the first episode, I am sure you got the feeling that he was a self-absorbed prick who wasn’t as good as he projected himself to be. But fast-forward 7 seasons Too many times, we look at someone else’s success and we become envious. Worse we doubt ourselves ” I don’t think I can reach that position” “How can I become as good as that guy?” ” I am not sure if I have the stuff to be an executive”.Every Master was once a disaster. Everyone started out as a beginner. Everyone started out at the bottom. There is no such thing as a born-leader or a born-salesman. Everyone is born a baby!! And we learn things as we progress through our careers and life.Just give yourself time, with the effort with the proper attitude you too can become a Master.2. Never be Afraid to be a Beginner againevalIn the show, there are many events where Don Draper is forced to start all over again â€" a new job, a new company, new marriage, new city,etc. And every time he would do just that, and eventually come out on top.My favourite episode from Mad Men is Episode 13, Season 3 “Shut the Door and Have a Seat”. Everyone including Don is faced with a choice â€" either get purchased by a huge company In Season 5, Don Roger approach Dow Chemical 4. Your Reputation MattersIn Season 4, the newly formed Ad agency SCDP is a startup surviving in a hyper-competitive advertising world, and they are in serious trouble. One of their key account Lucky Strike calls it quits â€" they no longer want to do business with them. S*** hits the fan, and everything is in chaos- soon they are losing more clients, losing revenue and have to eventually downsize. The future of the company is at stake.Social Proof, Star Power, Subject Matter Expertise, Personal Branding â€" you can call it different names â€" it all boils down to this â€" Your Reputation Matters.And in this modern hyper-connected world â€" it matters even more than before. People can qui ckly assess your knowledge, your expertise and how good you really are within minutes (without even meeting you). And the better your reputation (in what you do) the more sought out you will be.Whether you are company or an individual, your reputation matters. And word always gets around. So guard your reputation like a sacred thing. If you are a good marketer strive to be a great one; If you are great salesperson strive to be a master. The more valuable your become â€" the better job offers you will receive, the better opportunities start knocking on your door and of-course more money you will make.Eventually in Season 4, SCDP does get good news. They have weathered the storm and eventually win a key car account Jaguar. And there fortunes also change with that win. We watch in the following seasons that they become a respected agency â€" winning more business, more reputation, etc. And the career(s) of Don Draper, Peggy Olson and Pete Campbell also soars.5. Become IndispensableLetâ €™s face the truth â€" we know that most of us are Expendable or Replaceable. If there is something I have learnt from the recent recession â€" nobody is immune to being sacked or being downsized. It happens to everyone from a store clerk to the CEO. But can you insure against that? Can you make yourself Employable for Life?Ofcourse!!In season 3, Sterling Cooper has been acquired. One of my favourite scenes is where the new owners of the company are suggesting a change in the Leadership and Company Culture. The previous owners Bert,Roger and especially Don are not happy with the change.Don makes a stand. He makes it clear that he does not want to be part of such changes. And he makes his point. As a result, you notice that the new owners do not completely move ahead with their proposed changes.Again in Season 7 when Don Draper is on the verge of being fired from his own company â€" Roger defends him by saying that Don can easily walk down the street and with his skills and reputatio n â€" work with another agency and win all their clients. Even though Don’s position was weak- he still carried more power because of his skills,expertise,client relationships,etc.No matter what you do make yourself Indispensable. The more indispensable you are â€" the more options you have within your job, of-course the more money you make, the better negotiation power you have.You don’t need to play mind-tricks or manipulate others- If all you do is just become the best you can be, the more harder it will be to replace you. Become irreplaceable, become indispensable and you will have a more secure stronger career.What are some of the lessons your learnt from MAD MEN?