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So last week I was reading the Friday Update and was very interested in the careers question and answer. A student asked Mag Gottlieb for some advice on entering the profession at a level commensurate with his/her talents, and got a nice answer about working hard and networking and all the things you have to do to be successful.

I liked the answer, but I would have come at it from a different angle. Not surprising to me, but Mag is significantly kinder than I am. I would have told the student – and anybody else who came in to see me about their future – that you will not ever get a decent job in this business without the right attitude.

What I read in the question was an attitude of entitlement – since I am smart and know my stuff, I should not have to pay my dues like the little people do.

Wow. Try that in most offices in this town and the hiring official or search committee will sniff it out in a second, and you aren’t getting that job.

Politics is a business of people. It is about emotions and values and connections and if you present yourself as better than everyone else, you can’t do the job.

Start with whatever job gets you in the door at the place where you want to be. Answer the phones. Get the coffee. Smile and love it. And earn the chance to show them what you have – then your native talents will shine, reinforced by your willingness to support the team effort.

Above the gates of Royal Military College Sandhurst is a simple note carved in stone: Serve to lead. Officers are trained and brought into service to lead; that is what they do. But the saying also calls them to serve their followers – only then do you have the moral authority to lead them well.

Why not do that in your political career, too? That should be the GSPM way, and following it will get you somewhere in politics.

What do you think – This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , drop by, or raise issues on the GSPM blog so we can all talk about them together. And please look for dates on the first GSPM community forum, in early February – we are working space for the forum and will invite you all to join us for it.