Introduction
Career success isn’t built on luck or talent alone. It’s shaped by the relationships you build, the risks you take, and the clarity of your decisions along the way.
On the latest episode of the Ramped Podcast, Rich Moran—venture capitalist, author, board member, and career strategist—shared his insights on what truly drives professional growth. Through years of working with top companies, startups, and universities, Rich has seen firsthand that small decisions, compounded over time, can lead to massive outcomes.
In this article, we break down his most actionable advice, from the importance of relationships to the danger of saying "whatever" about your career.
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Why Relationships Are the Hidden Career Superpower
If there’s one theme that keeps coming up across Rich Moran’s career—and across countless successful careers—it’s the importance of relationships.
Relationships aren’t just nice-to-haves. They are your career insurance policy, your personal brand amplifier, and your bridge to opportunities you might not even see yet.
Rich emphasized:
- Strong internal relationships: Your boss, your colleagues, and your mentors need to know who you are. Visibility inside your organization matters more than you think.
- External networks: People you meet on boards, projects, or even college can reappear years later in critical ways. Always nurture those connections.
- Never burn bridges: Even if you’re leaving a company, resign gracefully. A two-minute resignation focused on gratitude—not complaints—preserves your reputation.
When layoffs come or when opportunities arise, the people who remember you and your contributions will often be the ones to help you land your next great role.
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Making Career Decisions: Never Say "Whatever"
At the heart of Rich Moran’s latest book, Never Say Whatever, is a simple but powerful idea:
Every time you say "whatever," you are refusing to make a decision—and that's dangerous.
We make around 35,000 decisions a day, most small, a few large.
The danger of "whatever" thinking is that it leaks into both small and major career moments:
- Should I apply for that promotion?
- Should I switch industries?
- Should I move to a different city?
When you abdicate decisions with "whatever," you not only stall your own growth, but you start to project an image of apathy. Hiring managers, peers, and mentors notice. They want to support decisive, energized people—not passive ones.
If you find yourself feeling paralyzed at a career crossroads, use decision-making tools like:
- Pros and cons lists
- If-then scenarios
- Gut checks
- Asking mentors for input
Most importantly, make the decision. Even imperfect choices move you forward, while "whatever" leaves you stuck.
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Taking Strategic Risks Without Losing Stability
Risk-taking in your career doesn’t have to mean reckless moves.
Rich Moran advises young professionals—and mid-career professionals—to take smart, calculated risks:
- Volunteer for stretch assignments that are slightly beyond your comfort zone.
- Join internal task forces or consulting projects that expose you to new parts of the business.
- Move to a new city or a different team if it opens significant growth opportunities.
Risks should open doors, not blow up your foundations.
The key is intentional risk:
- Is there upside?
- Can you develop new skills or expand your network?
- Is the risk time-bound and reversible?
If so, jump in. Careers are built on decisive moments of courage, not passive waiting.
Want inspiration from professionals who took strategic risks and won? Watch the full Ramped Podcast episode with Rich Moran here
How to Navigate Returning to the Office
The debate around remote work is far from over.
But Rich’s advice is simple: if you can, show up.
Returning to the office—even if only part-time—offers important advantages:
- Visibility: Your boss and leadership can see your commitment.
- Relationship-building: Informal conversations over lunch or coffee still matter.
- Opportunity spotting: Being in the mix often means hearing about projects or promotions before others do.
Here’s a practical strategy for hybrid environments:
- Find out when your team or manager is most often in the office.
- Coordinate your in-person days around those times.
- Make yourself available and visible when it matters.
Remember: being physically present is valuable—but being engaged is even more important.
Don’t commute just to put on headphones and work in isolation.
Use your office days to truly connect, collaborate, and be seen as someone who adds value.
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See our guide to resume improvement
How to Build a Professional Reputation That Lasts
A career is a long game.
The reputation you build today will follow you for decades.
Here are Rich Moran’s key principles:
- Never burn bridges: Exit companies professionally. No rants, no angry LinkedIn posts.
- Stay positive: Avoid workplace gossip and negativity.
- Celebrate others' success: Don’t fall into the trap of schadenfreude. Root for people to succeed.
- Stay in touch: Send a quick email or message now and then. You don't have to wait for a reason to reconnect.
Ultimately, people want to work with those they trust and like.
Your technical skills may get you the job, but your reputation will sustain your career.
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Early Career Advice: What Universities Don’t Teach You
The transition from college to work is often much tougher than students expect.
Rich pointed out a few key gaps between education and employment:
- Decision overload: Career, city, relationships—all major decisions often hit at once after graduation.
- Lack of tactical training: Universities rarely teach you how to build relationships, navigate corporate dynamics, or sell yourself.
- Mismatch of expectations: Students expect passion-driven work from day one. Reality often demands that you first pay your dues and build experience.
Here’s how to navigate those early years:
- Accept that your first job is just a start: It's not your forever job.
- Balance passion and pragmatism: Find work you can tolerate well that pays the bills—and keep your passions alive on the side if needed.
- Be the person who gets things done: Reliability, attitude, and resilience go farther than most technical skills early on.
Above all, don't settle. Don't "whatever" your way into five years at a company you dislike.
Keep learning, growing, and making intentional choices.
For more inspiration, watch Rich Moran’s full Ramped Podcast episode here.
Conclusion
Your career is shaped by thousands of small decisions—not just one or two big ones.
Every choice to build a relationship, take a calculated risk, show up visibly, or avoid passive apathy compounds over time.
Rich Moran’s wisdom reminds us:
- Relationships are everything.
- Clarity in decision-making matters.
- Risk is essential—but it can be strategic and smart.
- Reputation is your most durable career asset.
- Never let “whatever” thinking steal your momentum.
By showing up intentionally, adding value, and keeping a bias for action, you’ll create a career that not only succeeds, but sustains your happiness for decades to come.
Ready to stop saying "whatever" about your career?
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Things You Need While Searching for a Job
Once you are armed with the knowledge about what kind of job will make you happy, there are core things to get lined up for a job search. Let's look at a few.
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What to Look for in a Job
Fun fact, most people will have about 12 different jobs in their working lifetime. This goes to show that finding a job that you love enough to hang onto takes some forethought and possibly a bit of trial and error. Just the same, you can make some plans in advance, helping you land in a position that leaves you perfectly content. Check out a few things to look for when looking for that perfect job.
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