Learning fom private equity

Building on yesterday's post, I've picked out some of the key lessons learned while working for a small Private Equity shop over the past year. Like with the previous post, I'm focusing more on the context of work as opposed to the content; as Seth Godin points out in one of his post (I can't find it yet, but it's in there), content can always be Googled, learning "the how" is the key. I'll flesh out many of these items in later posts so for now I'll keep this in a list format:

General

• Project confidence
• Manage expectations. Always.
• Measure twice, cut once
• Seek to understand reality as it is, not what you want it to be
• Always learn from others and then immediately teach what you've learned (this helps others as well as helps yourself - when you teach is when you begin to really understand)

Presentations

• Get to the point immediately, then provide the details
• Always have an agenda/ specific goal for any meeting, call, etc
• Prepare and speak to the world view of the recipient (boss, client, etc.)

Analysis

• Find the key levers of a business. "In this business you win by...[enter short phrase]"
• Systematically layout the assumptions of any problem then work to find the answers to those assumptions
• Someone in the world knows the information - you just need to find them
• After completing your analysis, take a step back and find the questions you would ask someone if they asked you to review the analysis. Then answer them

Organization

• Leave the desk and desktop clear every night with only tomorrow's to-do list
• Complete a self-assessment every month: listing out what I've learned, and what I need to learn next
• When in need of a productivity boost - work in tabata sprints (30 min increments of extreme focus with 5 minute breaks)
• Stay on top of the calendar