New Year, New Me with Michael Riegel

New Year, New Me

I know for many, this is the attitude that comes with turning the page to a new year. The prospects are tantalizing and palpable. We can see ourselves in a different light. We can almost feel what a “new me” would look and sound like. For those of you who know me, you know I don’t entirely believe in resolutions. I think of transformation as a long, hard road. So, I think about my clients and my own outlook from a different vantage point.

I like who I am and what has made me successful. I don’t need or want to change the fundamental essence of who I am or what I believe or how I interact with others. Are there elements of my relationships that could use some attention to let me be a better friend, colleague or client? Of course. None of us is perfect and we don’t need to throw the baby out with the bath water. As we begin a new year with hope and optimism, here are a few ideas to keep in mind.

Don’t Work for People You Don’t Want to Become

Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett’s longtime investing partner, talks about this idea. Many people begin considering possible career moves for 2025 and I think it’s a good one to keep in mind. I can recall having some truly awful managers and I made the decision to leave before the bad behavior began to rub off on me. In fact, just about every job I left was because of regular violations of my personal ethics. Whether that was the business interactions with clients or interpersonal communications with team members. Adhering to the standards I set for myself was not always easy. Though working for someone who shared my outlook was easy and fun.

Loyalty Must Be Given Before Earned

It’s clear that I lean heavily on relationships and communications as avenues for personal and professional success. For many leaders, the attitude is “show me loyalty and respect” and I will do so in return. As a corollary to the first idea, why would you want to work for someone who believes that their loyalty to you is predicated on you displaying your loyalty to them. Leaders, true leaders, understand that you “give to get” and that is the road to success for everyone involved. It’s like the “don’t ask others to do what you won’t do” attitude which has been a hallmark of my own career.

The new year can be challenging. There will be pressure to buy into resolutions and major changes. Sometimes the best thing you can do is just take it all in, consider what you want for the new year (and why that’s important), and find someone you trust to share your thoughts with. Being a better boss or employee should not require you to make radical changes. Stay true to who you are and what has made you successful.

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