I am officially down to 50 days left of this Experiment. Time to get serious about what's going on in my head. And yet, before I do, I need to focus.
I read a transcript of Jay Leno's commencement speech that he recently gave to the graduating class of Emerson college. He gave several bits of advice on being successful in the entertainment industry. One of them I thought relevant no matter who you are went, "Do not judge your own success by the success of others." I couldn't agree more. And as I read through the transcript, I thought, if I were asked to give a commencement speech, what would I say to the class?
There is no pressure in this exercise, as this will never happen. However, it's an entertaining exercise just the same. Do I actually have any words of wisdom that are worth sharing to a bunch of twenty two year olds that wouldn't have them rolling there eyes and saying, "Why the hell couldn't we get Bono or Clinton?"
"Graduating class of 2014. You sit here in this auditorium, dressed in formal cap and gowns, looking incredibly similar. From where I stand up here, there is nothing to differentiate you. Consider it your mission to never be in this situation again. From this moment on, you want to stand out, not blend in with the masses.
Everything you just learned over the past four years has provided you with facts and knowledge about your chosen field of study. Along the way, hopefully you have met a variety of different types of people from all walks of life, and you've learned to cooperate and play nicely with them in the same sandbox. And with any luck, you've had a bit of fun along the way.
Rest easily in those chairs, because real life is about to come slap you right in the face. I know you have all worked your tushes off for the past four years, but what this wonderful school never prepared you for is this: you are about to learn that college was not that hard. The reality of your new life post college is much harder than any class you'll ever pull an all-nighter for. That's because real life is hard. Think of your college experience as real life on training wheels. Today, your wheels are being taken off.
You are about to realize that you can't sleep in, blow off your work and collect notes from a meeting because you are tired in the real world. Sometimes, we all want to sleep in. That's what Saturday and Sunday are for. Until you have kids. Then you will rarely, if ever, sleep in again.
You are about to see those basic lessons from your Econ 101 class come into play. There may be a huge supply of college students in the market this June. Many of them will have the same degree as you. The demand for all of you doesn't always match the supply. Look around the room today, and look at all the graduates with degrees similar to your own. How do you differ? What makes you stand out? You all learned the same things, so why are you so special? Start asking yourself that question now, and never stop asking it. You didn't just invest four years of your life to get a degree. I'm making a grand assumption that you took the time to earn your degrees because you wanted to actually pursue something. If that's the case, than own that. Don't go passively into your field and take a job. Take advantage of each and every opportunity and make your mark. Even if it's not your dream job at first. Every role is a stepping stone to where you want to go if you treat it as such.
You are about to put your finance skills into practice as you learn how expensive it is to live on your own. Living with a crowd of people in a dorm room or shared house seems completely normal when you are on campus. When you are trying to assert your newfound independence, it's hard to achieve when you have a single income and you want to live in the city. Roommates become a necessity, and a far better option than moving back in with mom and dad. And saving for the future? It's hard to put money away when you are doing your best just to cover your basic necessities plus an extra beer or two if you are lucky.
I could go on, but you are starting to get the picture. And guess what? While this all might sound dismal, you'll find your twenties are going to be one of the times of the most explosive growth in your life. On top of that, it's going to be one of the only times in your adult life where you get to be self-absorbed and "you" focused. Think about it: no spouses, no kids, no mortgages. This is your time to discover who you are and what you you are about. This can be an incredible time in your life, if you choose to take advantage of it. If you do not, you will likely look back later in life and wish you had taken that time to explore who you really are.
And you'll change. I promise. Ten years from today, you will look back and think, wow, I can't believe how much I've grown. At least, that is my sincere wish for all of you. And to send you off into the world with a few bits of unsolicited advice to carry along with your hard-earned diplomas, I leave you with this:
1) Operate as if nothing is beneath you. Even if the best job you can get upon graduation is a hostess in a restaurant, be the best damn hostess the place has ever seen. Putting in the time early on will pay off in the long term. And it will be recognized.
2) Realize no one owes you anything. On your youth soccer team, every got a trophy for playing. That doesn't happen in the real world. There are winners and losers. You might lose out on a promotion, or not receive the raise you were hoping for. Seek to understand why. Don't be a sore loser. Prove them wrong through your hard work and talent. It will pay off. If it doesn't, only then consider leaving.
3) Focus on making an impact. No matter what you do, think about what impact it is having on the organization. I work with front desk people who are referred to as "game changers." Why? It's not the role. It's the way they play the role and the impact it has on the entire office they support. Anyone in an organization can have an impact.
4) Think globally. Travel as much as you can, and seek to learn. Understand different cultures, and try new languages. We live in a global economy, and the more diverse your skill set, the more marketable you become - inside or outside your company.
5) Find mentors. Seek to find people both inside and outside your company who's careers you respect and admire. Select someone who's lifestyle you really love, so you can ask him/her what it took to achieve a similar outcome. Ask the tough questions, and listen hard. If you find the right person, this becomes an invaluable relationship.
6) Be fearless and ask forgiveness, not permission. You need to be bold, and to stand out from the crowd. Sometimes to do that, you'll need to take some measured risks. In doing so, you might fail sometimes. That's ok. Dust yourself off, and try again. Just apologize, learn from the mistake, and don't repeat.
7) Remember this is your life. It's not a dress rehearsal. You've got one shot to get it right. Luckily, you get to make a whole lot of changes along the way. However, it's important for all of you to live your life to the fullest. It may seem as though because you are so young that you have your entire lives in front of you. Some of you don't. Some will be taken by illness, others by accident. It's morbid, but it's life. So don't squander yours. Make each and every day count, because they do.
and finally,
Thank you for your time today. I wish you all the very best, and many congratulations. Enjoy today, as you have much to be proud of.
Now go stand out and make an impact.
No comments:
Post a Comment