347: Focus On The Value That You Can Deliver with Marcus Olson

<p>In this week’s show, Phil talks to Marcus Olson, who discovered his love of technology by disassembling and reassembling computers salvaged from a shuttered Black & Decker office. He also taught himself Basic so that he could create his own, simple text-based games.</p> <p>He is now the CEO and Founder of Pliancy, a technology-enabled professional services company that helps growing start-ups scale their corporate IT.</p> <p>Marcus talks about why we should always focus upon the driving value behind the companies we work for. He also discusses the value of being prepared and showing up entirely, so that opportunities can be taken.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>KEY TAKEAWAYS:</strong></p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>TOP CAREER TIP</strong></p> <p>Focus on what the value is that you drive for the companies in which you work. Often, people fall into the trap of loving their product because they love it for themselves instead of identifying the need it can serve.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>WORST CAREER MOMENT</strong></p> <p>Marcus took a job at the government that paid okay, but the prospects were dull, and it did not allow him to follow the pursuits that interested him.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>CAREER HIGHLIGHT</strong></p> <p>After leaving a company, many of Marcus’ clients followed him, who advised him to begin his own consulting firm, which was the ignition beneath his second chapter in life.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T</strong></p> <p>The IT departments are slowly driving the success of companies in general, and so are slowly becoming more and more integral to conversations about growth and direction.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>THE REVEAL</strong></p> <p><strong>What first attracted you to a career in I.T.?</strong> – After receiving a computer as a gift, Marcus realized the potential of taking something apart and putting it together again.</p> <p><strong>What’s the best career advice you received?</strong> – Be authentic.</p> <p><strong>What’s the worst career advice you received?</stro