You might call my friend Johanna a Disney expert. She and her family had so much fun on Disney cruises that they decided to host an extended family trip. There was just one wrinkle. She crossed her fingers hoping her free-spirited brother-in-law, who prefers to go on a wing and a prayer, would get with the program.
First, he was late for the designated port arrival time. Then he awkwardly admitted he received the welcome packet but left it—and his special Disney credentials—in a stack on the kitchen table. He also hadn’t checked in online, delaying the whole party, which couldn’t wait to board early for exclusive activities. At that point, Johanna redirected him to the Disney Customer Service desk and joked, “Hasta la vista!”
In the July series, High Results, High Value People, we’re discussing three quantifiable work skills qualities—courage, curiosity, and preparation—which will make you a key contributor. Here’s what high value people (HVPs) know: Street cred doesn’t happen automagically because you’re in good company. Instead, being prepared is a critical part of being an HVP.
Let’s meet someone who became a HVP after graduating from the School of Hard Knocks.
You may know Phil Rosenthal from his popular Netflix program, Somebody Feed Phil. In a recent podcast, he remembered his rocky early days. A few friends helped open doors to situation comedies. However, transitioning from an occasional New York actor to a full-time Los Angeles writer took more than well-placed connections.
His rock bottom moment was a live audience version of the hit movie, Look Who’s Talking. The premise duplicated the genius idea from the film: Babies would mimic funny bits. But the plan on paper didn’t come close to working in real life. The results were so bad that the exasperated director fired the babies in the middle of taping.
The fascinating part of Phil’s hilarious war stories is that he doesn’t consider the early misses wasted time. That’s because those disappointments prepared the way for his future. For instance, Phil learned critical work skills, such as how to think on his feet when collaborating with difficult people, negotiate with talent, and be resilient and compassionate when a project went south. When Phil got the chance to be the showrunner for Everybody Loves Raymond, he was ready.
You might think relying on a powerful network is a surefire way to get where you want to go. But have you ever known people who are good at dropping names but can’t accomplish much? (Looking at you, nepo babies.)
As an alternative, take a second look at the merits of preparing and find a path that works for you. For example, sometimes preparing is learning how to develop a business plan or financial framework. Other times, it’s as simple as putting your lived experience to work to get to the next step—that’s a takeaway from the case study. So, whether you’re using a formal or informal path, apply insights about what makes people tick. Demonstrating emotional intelligence will differentiate you from peers and competitors and can also provide a boost of healthy self-confidence.
Here are three ways HVPs make the worthwhile habit of preparing fun:
Knowing heavy hitters may jumpstart opportunities, but people skills seal the deal. So, equip yourself and prepare to be a high results, high value contributor.