A week ago, no-one had heard of Jeremy Lin. Since then he has electrified the NBA with his inspirational play and has become a media sensation and a fan favourite. The Jeremy Lin phenomenon continues to grow and has far reaching effects outside of the sports world.

Barely recruited after high school, Lin went on to Harvard and remained unnoticed by NBA teams after college. Undrafted and in his second professional season in the NBA, he was cut by two other teams before being offered a non-guaranteed contract by the New York Knicks. Due to injuries to teammates, he has recently been given the opportunity to play and has excelled.

As I write this, Lin has led the New York Knicks to an amazing and improbable six game winning streak. He has embraced and maximised his opportunity to play, going from being an afterthought on the team to becoming the starting point guard for the Knicks. He has single handedly turned their season around.

Recently, after Lin had beaten and out-scored NBA legend Kobe Bryant; Kobe had the following to say:

“It’s a great story. It’s a testament to perseverance and hard work. I am sure he has put in a great deal of work to always have that belief in himself, now he has the opportunity to show it.”

In the work place, opportunity can present itself in many forms – getting a promotion; a position opening up when a colleague leaves; an overseas assignment, or simply taking on more responsibilities and duties above and beyond your current role.

Take a long hard look around your workplace – for those in management positions, is there a Jeremy Lin in our midsts who is a star in the making?

You never know when you may get that opportunity, but when you do – it’s your chance to step up like Jeremy Lin and to embrace it. At times we feel that we are not given the opportunity to shine, however be patient; continue to work hard and you will be given a shot when you least expect it. When that opportunity does come up, grab it as you never know when it may come around again.

Until next time!

Career advice, determination, Harvard University, Jeremy Lin, job promotion, Kobe Bryant, Linsanity, NBA, New York Knicks, seizing the opportunity, talent management, 林書豪

There has been a bit of ‘musical chairs’ in several asset management and private banking firms this year, with some top management changes within the big players in the market. Experiencing a transition of managers can be quite a stressful time. When your boss leaves, you might be concerned about things such as:

• Job security
• Work chemistry with your new boss
• Hierarchical changes
• Verbal promise with your boss no longer valid
• Building trust with your new boss
• Culture of the firm may change.

If you suspect, or have been told that your boss is leaving the company, I would advise you to be ‘alert but not alarmed’. Here are some of my top tips for managing this type of situation:

• Consider your position – will you be in line for promotion? If so, start preparing your case to ‘win’ the role. Set aside some time to think about your achievements (especially those that are quantifiable), as well as your goals and ideas for the future. You may want to discuss these with a contact you trust, either internal or external to the company.
• If you have a good relationship with your boss, he or she may invite you to join them at their new business. This could be an exciting prospect for you to consider but be careful; this type of career move might contravene the terms and conditions of your employment so be sure to check your contract.
• Ensure your CV is up to date (this is a good idea regardless of what your boss is doing!).
• Explore the market – get in touch with a recruitment consultant to discuss what opportunities there are in the marketplace. Your recruiter should be able to coach you through your current situation, as well as outlining other potential career moves.

asset management, boss quits, Career advice, hierarchical changes, job promotion, job security, private banking, work chemistry