Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, never expected to lead one of the world's most powerful tech companies. In a candid conversation with LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky, he said that when he joined the company in 1992 as a young engineer, becoming CEO was not even a thought in his long-term career plan.
He was excited to work there. I remember walking into building 22 at Microsoft thinking that's the greatest job on Earth I could have, and I don't need anything more, Nadella said in an interview with LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky.
Instead of being forward-minded, Nadella focused on excelling in the role he had at the time, and one of the most important lessons he learned during his decades at Microsoft is: Don't wait for your next job to do your best work. He said that there was never a time when I thought that I was doing that as a way to some other job, despite my 30 years of Microsoft. The most important thing that I was doing there was the job. Instead of perceiving your current job as a hinder to reaching your career objectives, you should view it as an opportunity to showcase your eagerness, dedication, and eagerness to learn. If you adopt this mindset, you may be able to increase your salary faster than any long-term plan.
During his time at Microsoft, Nadella adjusted to different teams and divisions while staying abreast of rapidly-evolving technologies. He co-managed the creation of several intricate Microsoft products, including Xbox Live and Bing.
Nadella also has guidance for situations when you're in a professional rut and lacking a sense of purpose in your job. In his thirties, a discussion with Doug Burgum, currently governor of North Dakota, prompted him to contemplate his mission at Microsoft.
Burgum pointed out the importance of thinking about a deeper meaning to work, one that is more than transactional, since we spend so much time at our jobs. It lead Nadella to ask himself: Why am I at Microsoft? What is it that gives me the energy at Microsoft, day in and day out? That motivation came from curiosity, a love of ideas, and the ability to translate that into impact, he said. Parents can be jailed for sharing their child's photos on social media in this country.