I’m going to start by saying I’m likely an anomaly in that I have been incredibly fortunate to have some amazing bosses and mentors over the last ten years. Where I am today is only possible because of the mentorship, development, and opportunities that I’ve received from a few incredible individuals. That said, I often hear from friends, family, or co-workers how much they either dislike or hate the people they work for. Many of the stories sound like they’re straight out of a television show or movie. From bosses that would continually make unwanted advances at employees, to bosses that lie about where they are when they’re actually out running errands or on the golf course, to the selfish ones that take credit for all of their employees’ work and never show any gratitude – I’ve heard a lot of horror stories.

All this to say that it has gotten me thinking 1) I’ve been very fortunate to work for amazing, genuine people, and 2) working for someone you respect and that respects you is pretty damn important for a variety of reasons.

So, if you’re ever looking to change jobs, take stock in who you’re going to be working for. It matters a lot more than you think.

-Alex