1. Early career years are a time for growing and learning. In your first job, you have to earn the respect, trust and credibility of your team. Deliver tangible value by bringing results.
  2. If you make a commitment, see it through. You’ll be astonished how quickly you get ahead if you say you’re going to do something, and do it. Repeat.
  3. Identify the low hanging fruit: everyone knows it is there, but for whatever reason, it hasn’t been fixed. Solving it will create momentum.
  4. Figure out pain points for your colleagues and boss. Is it a particular type of study no one likes to read? Is it a referring doctor who is difficult to deal with? A challenging imaging protocol? Figure out what the company needs and what colleagues don’t like doing… and do it!
  5. Every situation is a function of incentives, personalities, constraints, resources. Personality is a big variable — make it more predictable by making friends and being likable. People go to bat for people they like. Being nice to others pays unplanned dividends.
  6. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Develop your instincts, seek out opportunities to learn and grow. Ask genuine questions, listen attentively, be curious. No task is beneath you.
  7. Dissolve your ego. There is much to learn from technologists, administrative staff, colleagues. If you disagree with something, try to understand the reasoning first.
  8. Over communicate. That requires not making assumptions. Verbally or in written fashion, be clear about what you are thinking.
  9. Find your “thing”. Everyone in the group can read radiology studies. What is your +1? You are going to be the AI person? Marketing/sales guru? Government policy expert? Find out what you like and what you are good at, and get after it!