How learning typing on a manual typewriter advanced my career?
“How I can get accelerated growth in my career?” many young executives ask question worried about being stuck in same role for years. One proven way is to learn and do something new or different and then be patient about it.
When I started my career from government service in 1986, my work was to prepare draft letters, reports, proposals, etc. In pre-computer era, manual typewriters were used and only trained and skilled typists could operate those bulky machines. Officers gave dictation to typists who would type and bring draft for editing. I corrected typos which typists would then retype or apply blanco fluid. As it was all manual work, the typist would make some new mistakes in revised draft which looked pretty messy after 2-3 iterations. Competent typists were limited and attached with top bosses only. I wasn’t happy with look and feel of my drafts being presented to bosses but there wasn’t any improvement in sight. Frustrated, I started learning typing which was considered lower in status and laborious work for an officer. Unlike today’s keyboards, manual typewriters’ keys were hard and required strong hands besides skills in spacing, pulling the manual return lever at end of each line, inserting carbon paper between papers for multiple copies, punching keys more hard for additional carbon copies, and so on. My colleagues laughed at me as they could never imagine an officer would sit on typewriter and make hands dirty and tired.
In few weeks I learned and started typing my drafts with minimum errors. My drafts started catching eyes and one day top boss, who wouldn’t even know name of a junior officer at my level, commented that he received most neat drafts from myside. My english wasn’t that good but presentation of my drafts improved many folds from my colleagues whose english was far better than mine. No other officer was willing to learn typing and hence despite the fact that their knowledge and english was better, I started getting recognition by top bosses on basis of my neatness and better presentation.
A couple of years after, through a donor funded project, first ever personal computer (PC) landed into our organization, something very special in early 1990s. Few people could work on a PC as it required typing plus computer skills. I had a competitive advantage as I knew typing. I took a short computer course at a training center at my costs and requested boss to allow me to use PC which was still packed. I unpacked it and installed. Use of easy keyboards was like driving a luxury car and laser printer made documents as if they came from a different world. I got instant visibility not only in my organization but in related government departments. Many senior officers requested me to make their documents and I obliged. I had no idea that more work would bring more comforts and privileges, too. In those days, officers in grade 19 and above only could have air conditioned rooms. But government made it exception for computer rooms because it was then a requirement of PCs to operate at controlled temperature and humidity. Since I had a PC in my room, I became a sole privileged grade 17 officer whose office was entitled for an air conditioner. When I started learning typing, I couldn’t have imagined that how much benefit I was set to get in coming years from learning and applying a mundane skill.
Sometimes, an opportunity comes to your way that requires learning a new skill or doing something different that no one else is doing or reluctant to do. It may appear a low level or insignificant work in short term. But in long term, it could become your best competitive advantage and put you on path of fast growth and recognition.
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4moWahaj, thanks for sharing!
Regional Manager (S&M) at WACO INTERNATIONAL
7moASDFG ;LKJH 💖this was the first lesson in Asia college G. 6, 1/3, Islamabad
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8moYour narrative brings to light an important lesson about taking advantage of chances that others might pass over or undervalue. Occasionally, an activity that appears minor or unimportant initially can have enormous potential for development and achievement later on.
Chairman & CEO @ InfoTech Group | Global Expansion | Financial Services & Capital Markets Technology | Digital Governance | Driving Growth | Building Relationship
2yLesson learnt: Learn whatever comes your way, and whatever relates to your aspirations....