[skamed]

1. Its more about a politics and power game then it is about actual work

2. First impressions are often final.

3. If you screw up once, there may be no redeeming yourself possible.

4. Everyone communicates indirectly because they don't want to be held accountable for what they say and because they don't want to make other people defensive. Indirect communication is often used for put downs and insults that would otherwise come across as hostile (they are still hostile anyways). Indirect communication can be very incisive.

5. If someone has a problem with you, they won't tell you. They will tell your boss.

6. Email lasts forever and can end up anywhere. Never email anything that could make you look bad. Selectively email and rely on face-to-face or phone conversations.

7. Never confide anything in anyone. Chances are, it will circulate around and to your leadership as well.

8. Your co-workers are not your friends. Your co-workers are not your friends. Your co-workers are not your friends.

9. If you don't learn to be selectively honest, you can get burned

10. You should never reveal your insecurities to anyone or they will use those against you and pick at them.

11. People believe what they hear. Image and reputation are everything

12. Your own intuition about how you think others perceive you is likely to be more accurate than what they will tell you about how they perceive you, if you ask them. Its better not to ask, or if you must be judicious. No one will give you a straight answer and if you show that you are insecure, they will take that as fact.

13. Don't count on being given direct or honest feedback.

14. Be aware of the assumptions you are making. As reasonable as they may be, if there is a disconnect between what you're assuming and what your co-workers and leadership are assuming, you can get burned.

15. There is no guarantee that you will be given well-defined tasks and deadlines.