I’ve been thinking a lot about my future in the business world. What do I need to learn? Where should I point myself for education? What skills are truly the ones that are important?

One thing I always come back to is management. The thought of management scares me. I’ve never liked telling other people what to do, which is the gist of what I’ve perceived from a good number of my managers in the past. Generally not directly to me because I always knew “what I needed to be doing”, but to many (most?) of my other colleagues.

David Weiss, a developer with the MacBU, recently posted a quote from by Dee Hock, founder and CEO of VISA. Not only did I find what Mr. Hock said to be motivating, but also to be intriguing in the way that he presents what a manager should be and what those who strive to survive in this hectic world of management should be doing. It actually helped shape my impression of management and Managers more to the positive side.

I know that I need to work on his first responsibility of management – Management of Self. I’m working more and more on this, trying to find that happy medium for myself. I feel apprehensive about trying to manage my superiors, Mr. Hock’s second responsibility of management, let alone apply the third responsibility of managing my peers – I simply do not have that professional level with a few to provide feedback to them without offending them in some manner. Then again, at time I take the same input from others after a personal strike against my abilities as well. As I do not have subordinates, Mr. Hock’s fourth rule does not yet apply to me in this position, though with his thoughts, it really shouldn’t anyway.

Some day, I may learn to be able to separate work from life – a fine line as my hobby is my work and vice versa.