Don’t let this happen to you – career lessons from Ford Nation

I have to do it – I am sorry but I have to write about Rob Ford today.  He is in the news once again  and I just have to comment.

First of all, I do feel sorry for him.  He is clearly having a pretty tough time handling the stress of his job.  He is not the first, nor will he be the last politician to have substance abuse problems.

But here is the lesson for us all :  social media makes everything stick to everything.  And this can affect you and your career.

The same video camera technology that captured Ford’s escapades can capture your antics at the company picnic or your drunken rant at the Muskoka retreat.  We all have smart phones that can record anything.  And posting to the internet is easy and fast.

Don’t think it can’t happen to you.  That’s what got Ford into this mess.

I know a guy who sent an off colour joke to his buddies at work.  The trouble was that one of his buddy’s names came just before the Presidents name in the email directory.  Yep, you guessed it.  The joke went to the President.  Now, if the President had opened it, he might have found it funny but his assistant opened it and she was not amused.  He was walked off the premises later that day.

In the end, this is not about political correctness; it’s about conducting yourself with consideration and respect.  Because you never know who is watching, listening or recording.