10 tips for being a more influential man
Viewers who watch the Emmy-winning series Mad Men have many reasons not to admire Don Draper. Set in the 1960s at a New York advertising firm, Don sexually harasses women, engages in extra-marital affairs and drinks like a fish.
Yet nearly everyone would agree that he is successful. In fact, in 2009, Ask Men named him the Most Influential Man in the World ahead of real-life figures Barack Obama, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg.
If you would like to tap into Don Draper's professional philosophy and career strategy, consider the following techniques:
1. Work hard.
In the very first scene of the series, Don is sitting in a restaurant contemplating the Lucky Strike campaign and writing ideas on a cocktail napkin. It seems like Don is always working. Although he sometimes does so to avoid facing problems at home, the fruits of his labor are undeniably plentiful.
2. You don’t need to be liked by everyone.
Don periodically confronts others on their behavior. At one point he even calls his boss at the time, Roger Sterling, foolish. At a time when nearly everyone dismisses the talent of women, Don recognizes the contributions of Peggy, regardless of the ostracizing he might receive for it.
3. Focus on results.
It is not enough to simply produce work; you need to create good work. When Peggy informs Don that the team has worked hard to create an ad design, he reminds her that her job is to bring him an ad he likes. When she works on the Vicks account, she states that she is very behind because the art director lost the ideas he drew for her. Don again reminds her that she has a deadline to meet regardless of the unfortunate circumstance.
4. Be professional.
The drama in Don’s personal life rarely plays out at work. He generally appears calm, cool and in control. When he learns of events in his colleagues’ life, such as Sal’s affair or Peggy’s pregnancy, he does not gossip about it.
5. Be confident.
Despite the stigma of a mother who was a prostitute and the other tumultuous events in his past, Don never seems to second guess himself. Don’s advice for you is simple: “You want some respect? Go out there and get it for yourself.”
6. Be attentive to details.
Don might be the only one who notices Peggy’s new haircut, but he later signs a background check form without reading it, which could potentially reveal his true identity and cost him his career.
7. Dress the part.
Don consistently dresses sharp because he knows it matters. If you want to be taken seriously, invest in a professional wardrobe.
8. Take risks.
Some people prefer security and find comfort in the familiar. When the opportunity arises to start his own business, however, Don boldly seizes on it. At a time when every advertising firm is generating revenue from cigarette companies, Don places an ad in the The New York Times boldly stating that "Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce will no longer work with them." Although it might have been helpful to first communicate with his colleagues about it, the act goes on to define the agency and land them a large account with the American Cancer Society.
Sometimes we avoid risks because we fear change, but as Don said, “Change is neither good nor bad, it simply is. It can be greeted with terror or joy, a tantrum that says, ‘I want it the way it was,’ or a dance that says, ‘Look, something new!’"
9. Know the science of your work and examine the stereotypes of your field.
Peggy comments to Don that sex sells in advertising. He quickly chastises her for trivializing their work and informs her that advertising is more about getting the audience to feel something. What misconceptions do you have about your work? How will you respond when others cheapen it? For example, if you are going to be a teacher, I imagine you might have heard the saying, “Those who can’t do, teach.” Identifying these misconceptions now will help you formulate your response and recognize when you play into these stereotypes yourself.
10. Sex and alcohol should be avoided at work.
In Season IV, Don curbs his drinking after losing control at work. Alcohol on the job only results in disorderly conduct -- the kind where somebody’s foot gets cut off with a lawnmower. Take it from Pete and Peggy, office romances are also messy. If I had to guess, we will probably see this play out in Don’s life in Season V now that he has proposed to his secretary.
Billie Streufert is director of the Academic Success Center at the University of Sioux Falls in South Dakota. With nearly ten years of experience in career and academic advising, she is passionate about helping individuals discover and achieve their goals. She is eager to connect with students via Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and her blog.
This story originally appeared on the USA TODAY College blog, a news source produced for college students by student journalists. The blog closed in September of 2017.