What’s your one tip? Your one piece of advice? What’s gotten you ahead? What’s worked? What do you know now that you wish you knew then? The one thing you – if you could go back in time – would tell the college-age you?
For reasons passing understanding, I’ve been asked to impart wisdom on a group of students at Mizzou this afternoon. They’re getting ready to go out into the real world.
You haven’t seen my wisdom lying around, have you? Or is it laying? See, I’m totally unqualified for this assignment.
I mean, I know you should listen more than you talk, but when you talk you should actually say something.
I know you should put your phone away more often … but you should actually use it more frequently to call old friends.
I know facebook, twitter, youtube, tumblr, and linkedin are no substitute for a three-hour dinner with friends.
I know all good things eventually come to an end: You finish dessert. They cancelled The West Wing. Barenaked Ladies broke up. Evenutally, we end, too.
I know you should travel early and often – that all the pictures and stories I’d read of St. Andrews didn’t prepare me for walking and playing the course.
I know you should make conscious decisions to say “no” more often … and also try and find reasons to say “yes.”
I know you are a composite of the people you spend the most time with.
I know you need to drink more water.
But that’s about it. Well, I guess my son taught me a few things, and my wife taught me a few more, and I shudder to think what my daughter will ultimately teach me, and I’ve learned a few things from the many mistakes I’ve made.
But I could really use your help.
What’s your one tip? Your one piece of advice? The one thing you – if you could go back in time – would tell the college-age you? Please leave your answer in the comments at the bottom of this page. Thanks!
Here’s something I cooked up about 18 months ago. Seems to fit fairly well…http://under30ceo.com/8-things-i-wish-i-knew-when-i-was-22/
If “traditional”, day and/or evening classes, college doesn’t work for you, doesn’t fit, don’t give up. Explore all your options, because you might just discover that the answer is online-only classes (perfect for introverts like me).
do NOT load yourself up with debt. then you can remain flexible and make career choices based on what you want to do, rather than what you need to do.
For those still in school, don’t be afraid to drop a class. Not every professor is a great teacher. If you get one that’s not, drop that class. For those graduating, don’t wait to see other parts of the world. Go to Europe or Asia. It’ll give you a whole new outlook on your place in the world and the limitless opportunities.
It’s ok. Explore the world in your 20’s. You’ll find yourself in your 30’s.
The free t-shirts the Visa people are handing out are worth far, far less than the compound interest you’ll be paying on those new purchases.
So true, Kari!
#6 is spot on, Brent. I wasted half my career gutting things out because I was raised not to be a quitter. I should have trusted my instinct that told me things weren’t right.
Follow your passions, not what others expect from you. Chase your dreams while you’re young before you start taking on obligations which will change your decision making process. Debt is not your friend. Get a plan for your life or you’ll end being a cog in someone else’s plan. Beer is not one of the food groups. Learn to speak your mind professionally and always set expectations at the start of a relationship.
Never attempt removing bread from a toaster with a fork..
Your work experience will teach you more than college. Maybe you should get a job instead of racking up that debt.
Ask for what you want. Don’t assume the boss knows you want the job that is opening. Ask for it. If there is any opportunity that you see and you want to take advantage of it, ask for it. Nobody will give you anything they don’t know you want, so ask for it.
Be You. Be Real. Be Human. Be…There!
Don’t think you can do it alone. Surround yourself with the people that give you energy and support.
Don’t settle… you can do whatever YOU want in life… set your sights… and build a plan to get there. It will amaze you at how LUCKY you are when you work hard.
Make yourself useful. Bring an interesting gif. Look into the eyes of whomever is speaking to you. Be sensitive, but don’t be easily offended.
Good one!
I thought of that one too. But, they are already there. So, guess he has to roll with that one.
Others have already said this, but…debt is your worst enemy. When you have no debt, you are free to make decisions that you otherwise wouldn’t be able to. You could travel more, take cooler jobs, don’t work and write a book…all things are possible if you free yourself emotionally, spiritually and FINANCIALLY!! PS..also one of the leading causes of divorce. Payoff those student loans as quick as possible and don’t take on any thing new. I’d recommend this as a resource for anyone looking for help: http://www.daveramsey.com
Absolute perfect time to convert your dream to a goal. Tighten the laces and enlist a game-plan and assign an end date to convert your far-fetched dream to an step by step obtainable goal. If it is not written….then it is not REAL! Write it down and keep score.
Keep inside of your car free of junk stuff.
I would remember that college provides a context, and a foundation, a broad context that you can build on. For many degrees, it is more about learning how to learn than actually learning a specific subject.
Because of that, you don’t have to get a job in the same area you studied and if you do, you’re going to have to re-learn a lot and be willing to un-learn a lot that you were taught.
The education doesn’t end at graduation. It begins.
You can always re-take a class, but you can never re-live a party! (not completely tongue-in-cheek)
Don’t “take classes”… sign up for “learning opportunities” and make the most of them. Make “learning” a lifelong priority.
Your first job is about only two things… 1) Experience 2) A reference. Act accordingly. (This was my grandfather’s advice from thirty years ago and it still rings true today)
Always count your socks BEFORE they go into the washer.
Don’t be afraid of screwing “it” up, as long as you were busting your butt while doing “it.” Doing nothing is the worst thing of all.
I always share that you are the only one who can change your own situation, and you can’t wait for others to do it for you. But I didn’t learn that until AFTER college. I’d called home crying one too many times because I hated my job, didn’t like where I was living, didn’t have any friends in the area, etc. My dad said “either you do something about this or stop calling home crying because you’re just making us both miserable.” I found a new job, a new place to live, and in an area with great friends within the next month. I was the only one who could actually change my situtation.
Most of my regrets were for things I didn’t do, risks I didn’t take.
Life is about risks, and most “mistakes” are things you can recover from, and the lessons learned are worth the pain.
Your career is a poor substitute for a life. None of it matters. Not really. Best case scenario, you reach the end of and look back to… what? You moved some products? Made numbers grow on a spreadsheet? Fuck it.
Don’t obsess about the job. Obsess about a life worth living.
When you find something you’re passionate about, the money part is easy.
Passion – do everything with passion (but remember that nothing good ever happens after 2AM). Debate with passion, study with passion, enjoy friends with passion. Enjoy every day with passion. Please do not mistake this for some altruistic and unrealistic view of the world. At 55 with 1 son in university and a second joining him this fall, I reflect on what I did and didn’t do. Success came when I cared and was passionate. When I couldn’t light my own fire, the results were not that good. The oldest has learned this and is having great success in all aspects of his university life – on the football team, in the classroom and in the community.
Great leaders know that leadership is an affair of the heart…why not start college with passion.
School teaches students to wait for an assignment, do the assignment, then turn it in and wait for the next one. The real world doesn’t work that way. You have to figure out what your own “assignments” are by observing what’s going on, seeing what needs done and DOING IT. Don’t wait for someone to tell you what to do. Impress them by doing it before you’re asked. P.S. Never quit learning!
To the graduating class of 2013
Listen. If you don’t understand, ask questions until you do.
It has always been said that it’s not what you know, but who you know, that is only partially true. You must also be known for what you know. Your personal “brand” is what will move you up/down in life. It is important to be yourself, but the reality is that if “yourself” is a brand that no one likes or can use, it will take you no where.
If you can be one thing, be about other people.
My somewhat boring advice compared to all the great comments below is this: if you think for one second you will go back for a graduate degree, take your prep exam soon after graduation. It’s true that studying for one more test is the LAST thing you want to do…but you are in shape to study for hours at a time, that discipline is there. Trust me, it’s must harder to do that 10 years out when you have a job, a house to keep up, friends to see, volunteering to do, etc. You can take the test and get (I believe) up to 7 years to start a program. So on that note…take the test, but work a couple years before going back to school. No offense, but you have nothing to gain from getting an MBA 6 months after school. Get some experience, make it relevant.
To ditto some of my other favorite points below: don’t get a credit card and and ask questions. Always ask questions.
Things I wish I would have known before I started this
journey….
1.)
Live
below your means. When you’re tired of
your old broke down car, rather than taking out a loan for a new one, buy one
even cheaper and worse off then the one you previously had and drive it around
for six months or so and you will feel like your old broke down car is actually
rather nice. It’s all about perspective 🙂
2.)
Work for cheap and be overwhelmingly grateful
every day that your boss gave you an opportunity to contribute to their dream.
3.)
Be
willing! There is no greater gift you
can offer to a team, then to be willing.
Harness this and you will come as close to being irreplaceable as one can be.
4.)
OWN IT!!!
Own every mistake you make, and take responsibility even for the ones
you don’t make. Do this, and magical
things will happen for you…this I PROMISE.
5.) Never EVER complain. Offer solutions to things you believe could be improved. Remember, you have complete control of where you choose to work so if you find yourself in an environment that doesn’t support your belief systems, then exercise that right and walk away with a hand shake and a thank you for the opportunity and speak only of the you found useful from the company. If you follow this, you will never become the toxic.
My best advice is in three parts.
Choose carefully whom you marry; for from this one decision comes 90% of your happiness or 90% of your misery.
Pursue what you love to do. Forget about the making of money – it will come. Way more important is to spend 40 -50 years of your life chasing after something you love to do rather than the pursuit of money – it is very illusive.
And lastly what money you do make, sock away 10% of it – if you do this, you will always have money. If you don’t do this, you will always be broke.
Once employed, make it your goal to meet as many people as you can within the company. From the janitor to the CEO, learn their names and get to know them as individuals. Treat each and everyone with kindness and respect–you never know who can be of help to you in the future. A co-worker of my daughter’s, once asked her how she knew so many people outside of her department–her response, “I make it my job. ” The more people you know, the more you can learn about the opportunities within the company–each one is a valuable resource.
To steal a phrase from Chet Holmes, “Pig headed determination. “
2 things: (sorry, couldn’t leave either out….)
1) As you think, so shall you become (not mine).
2) Put yourself in play (this one’s mine).
If you love what you do, you’ll do it well. And if you don’t do it well, you’ll want to do the work it takes to do it better.
Here’s a letter I wrote to a graduate last year after days of thought….
Although many may beg to differ, I will tell you: going to college, getting good grades, landing a good job and having the big house, cars and other toys does NOT make one successful… CHOICES DO!
God planted a seed of success within you from the beginning. Jeremiah 29:11
states: “For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord. “plans to
prosper you and not to harm you. plans to give you a hope and a future.” The question is what will you do with that
seed?!
Without going into much detail and/or boring you, I’ll just say, I have not always made wise choices. My past is riddled with wrong decisions actually, but I did make the right decision to change (difficult as it was) and I learned a few things along the way.
Please allow me to share with you some tidbits I’ve gleaned over time:
· Life means risk. Without risk, you only have a near-life experience!
· Be willing to make mistakes – don’t be careful – do NOT live life in fear!
· Use wisdom – look to those who have gone before you and have accomplished what you want – The Lord says to come to him who seeks wisdom and he will give it liberally.
· Choose your friends wisely – it is as they say, “You are who you hang around”!
· Instead of being overcome, BE an overcomer!
· Failing does not make you a failure. Rather, it’s what you do when you fail that makes all the difference!
· Wealth is a state of mind – Riches are what you have, but wealth is who you are!
·Live life INTENTIONALLY with purpose! If you don’t define your climate, one will do it for you causing distraction and obstacles to you fulfilling who you are!
·Ask yourself: will you be a creature of circumstance or a creator of circumstances?
·Set your mind and keep it set – do not be swayed but take every thought captive unto truth! If you want to change your life, change the way you think! As a man thinks, so is he!
·Don’t live your life for your parents, a boy-friend, your friends or even yourself – Live from your WHO not your DO! God made you with divine purpose – live from your
original design.
·The best resolution for personal conflict is to hear the Lord’s heart for the person you’re in conflict with!
·Fight selfishness – Let your life bring great influence to others – Live in service of God and others!
·The hangover to self-righteousness is self-pity! Don’t be pitiful, be powerful!
·You can resist something without being resentful!
·Don’t let your history channel rob you of your discovery channel! If your past is louder than your ideas for your future, you are strapped to something hindering vision and your future – those without vision perish!
· Trying NOT to be something rarely creates the opposite – Therefore, always choose to move towards something and
not against something.
· Jealousy will always cause you to chastise that which you are jealous of and create a wall to things you might otherwise have been open to and probably learn and grow from!
· Vision sets context for what you’re going to do; it gives a framework to your choices.
· Work as unto the Lord – give everything your BEST!
· There is a difference between being a “Fan” of Jesus Christ and being a BELIEVER!
· A leader is a servant of leadership to others – it takes courage to NOT control others!
· Leadership = the capacity to influence by inspiration, NOT manipulation, generated by passion that is motivated by vision and birthed by divine purpose!
· Be good with who God made you to be. Enjoy yourself!
· LOVE WELL!
Choices have the ability to limit or lift our lives. Every person who accomplished something started right where they were with a decision. God gave us the freedom to
make choices! Please make your choices wisely in ALL that you do!
Finally, the best thing I can leave you with is this:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways and He WILL guide your path.” Proverbs 3:5-6