The quote, “Avoid working directly under somebody you don’t admire and don’t want to be like,” carries a profound message about personal growth, career development, and value alignment. It suggests that the people we choose to work under or learn from can significantly influence our personal and professional development. The people we admire often embody the values, skills, and traits that we aspire to possess. Therefore, working under someone we admire can inspire us, motivate us, and provide us with a model to emulate, accelerating our personal and professional growth.

However, if we work under someone we don’t admire or aspire to be like, we might find ourselves learning and adopting traits, attitudes, or habits that are incongruent with our values and aspirations. This could lead to dissatisfaction, stagnation, or negative personal and professional development.

In today’s world, where work environments are becoming increasingly complex and diverse, this idea is more relevant than ever. With the rise of remote work and digital nomadism, we have more freedom to choose who we work with and under. Therefore, we should exercise this freedom wisely by choosing to work with people who inspire us, challenge us, and align with our values and aspirations.

In terms of personal development, this idea encourages us to be more selective and intentional about who we allow to influence us. It reminds us that we are not just passive recipients of influence but active agents who can choose who we learn from and how we grow. This can lead to more meaningful, fulfilling, and successful personal and professional journeys.