You Don’t Have 90 Days.

So let me share a secret. For years, I believed that when you start a new job, you have 90 days to simply observe, learn, and build relationships. But that belief cost me more than I ever expected.It starts even before your first day. While I was still doing paperwork for a new position, people from the company were already looking me up, checking my LinkedIn, assessing my background, and forming opinions about who I was. There’s no 90-day grace period. The truth is: the assessment starts before you even step in the door.In this episode, I talk about what really happens in those early days, drawing on real stories from my own career. There was the time a stakeholder called my company arrogant on the very first day and I realized one response would define our relationship for years. Another time, I walked into a turnaround and saw a team so obsessed with the competition they lost sight of their own strategy—I banned the competitor’s name from meeting rooms and yes, locked the door to start meetings on time. My intention wasn’t to embarrass anyone but to set a new standard, right from the start.By waiting too long to act, you risk coming across as inactive or invisible. I almost lost my job by being too cautious, waiting to understand everything before doing anything. Now, I spend weeks beforehand observing quietly—joining meetings, looking up my new team on LinkedIn, trying to understand the unofficial dynamics—because preparation counts for much more than time.One concept discussed here is that assessment is a two-way process. As much as people are assessing you, you are assessing them. When onboarding new hires, I ask them to get out and meet our people in the field before even coming to the office. Facts matter more than assumptions.A key theme is that meaningful first impressions are built in moments, not months. You don’t have 90 days. You have, maybe, a split second. So set your tone, declare your standards, and build trust from day one.Are you starting a new job, or stepping into a leadership role? Forget the 90-day myth. Take action, get intentional, and remember: the clock starts ticking before you ever arrive.Chapters:00:00 Book The First 90 Days and the reality of first impressions01:17 When people start assessing you before you even arrive02:35 The pressure of first stakeholder meetings and setting a new tone04:32 Why there is no such thing as a ‘courtesy call’05:43 Turnarounds, setting new standards, and changing team habits06:39 The importance of visible action over caution09:31 The dangers of being invisible by waiting too long10:08 Doing research before your first official day and assessing the team11:12 Why new hires should start in the field, not the office12:12 The real timeline of assessment and why nobody has 90 daysConnect with Uche Ofodile:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ucheofodileTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uche_ofodileInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ucheofodile/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ucheofodileofficial/