Good morning everyone!! I hope you all had a great weekend and are ready to tackle the new week.

Article

Don’t fall for it.

The idea of ditching your employer every few years for a salary bump is very popular. They say companies aren’t set up to keep people there. The change from a pension to 401K is the main argument, but they also speak about the salary bumps you can get from jumping ship. What is often left out of the conversation is the desire to get rid of your existing problems. The appeal of a shiny new job begins looking glamorous compared to the problems you’ve faced again and again over the years. So people leave in hopes the grass is greener on the other side.

Morgan and I got to attend the BWXT service award dinner where work anniversaries were celebrated, music was played, and a record was set for the most engineers on the dance floor at once.

There was a gentleman who has worked there for 35 years. An amazing accomplishment and show of dedication. Others received 20, 15, 10, and 5-year awards. I hit my 5-year mark at BWXT this month and have grown so much personally and professionally during that time.

Those chasing the ever-elusive "next best thing" are missing out on the massive advantages that come with persisting at a company.

• Stronger relationships

• More impactful work

• Leadership opportunities

• Strategic opportunities

• Respect and admiration

The key is first finding a company whose mission you can fully get behind. Once you've identified an organization you truly believe in and where there are opportunities to achieve your professional goals, commit yourself wholeheartedly. Become an expert in your business. Study it. Build relationships. Go above and beyond.

Depth of experience is invaluable and rare these days. Even those who have spent the years at a company typically haven’t applied themselves to learn it. Expertise is a great differentiator.

Other Ideas

We all have to wait for things. When you are waiting, are you doing it passively or actively? You can sit and wait for things to happen, or you can use the time to prepare and learn.

Although gossip feels sweet on the tongue, its end is bitter. It destroys relationships, erodes trust, and damages the culture and community. Restrain at all costs.

Have a great week and thank you for reading my newsletter!!

God Bless,
Matt Virgin