Congratulations to all of you parents out there who have a son or daughter graduating high school, vocational school or college this year. Great job! Now you can stop reading this article and hand it over to your recent grads, because the rest of this column is for them.
Congratulations, graduate! Hopefully you just completed a wonderful experience and are getting ready for higher education or the working world. In either case, here are a few pointers about businesses and people. If someone had told me this when I graduated, I would have avoided a lot of bumps along the way.
Define success: Your definition of success will be a critical guiding principle upon which you base many decisions. I have met many people in my 30-year career who measure success by money, a title, a car, their neighborhood or power. If you do, you might end up leading a rather empty life.
As you think about your definition of success, consider the importance of friends, a spouse, children, family, ethics and community service. The meaning of success may change as you age, and perhaps you will find that climbing the corporate ladder doesn't fit with the life you want to lead.
Don't grow up: Most successful businesses (the kind you want to work for) reward creativity, innovation and risk-taking. These are attributes we all possess as children. Unfortunately, in some organizations, procedures, rewards and promotions are often based upon employees following the rules, playing corporate politics and avoiding risk. These types of companies kill the kid in people, leaving management to wonder why their employees are not innovative, risk-taking, entrepreneurial top performers. Go figure! Keep being a kid at heart. You'll be more successful and have a heck of a lot more fun!
Master communication: It is critical that you can read, write and speak well in public. These skills are essential to getting along with others, selling your ideas, resolving conflict and contributing to your company. Your ability to converse one on one or with groups will be an essential factor in your career success. If texting has diluted your interpersonal skills, you had better brush up on how to engage in conversation without the keypad. One more thing: Don't forget to turn off your cell phone in meetings, presentations and your boss's office.
Keep learning: Your graduation may mark the end of one educational era, but you are really just beginning the learning process. You have about 40 years of work in front of you. Challenge yourself – read all you can, including general literature and career-related information. Ask plenty of questions, and don't be afraid to consider new ideas, skill sets and technology.
It's called work: There is no substitute for hard work. You need to show up every day, sometimes early, and occasionally work late. The bottom line is your employer expects you to put in a full day and be incredibly productive. You slack off, you lose. Period.
Flame on: Probably the most important part of your career is to do something you enjoy. Living for the weekend is horrible. If you don't enjoying coming to work most days, you are probably in the wrong profession or at the wrong company. If this happens to you during your career, take action and move on. Do not stay in a dead-end job because you have a mortgage to pay.
Fail: It's OK to fail once in awhile. That simply means you are trying something new. Great organizations recognize this and support employees that at least try to do something different, creative and innovative. The people they write about in history books had many more “failures†than successes.
Join the winners' circle: If you plan to work for others, find a great workplace. Do the research, and identify companies that are known for treating their employees well, support career growth, are ethical and have a history of delivering high-quality products or services. Also, surround yourself with other high-achievers in all aspects of your life.
Avoid jerks: There are plenty of great managers out there. Find them, work for them, and learn from them. Of course, there are also some bad apples. If you find one, get out fast. They will make your life miserable, and life is too short to put up with their nonsense.
Balancing act: I wish you a great balance among work, play, friends and family. Work is not everything; at least I hope it does not become that for you. If you can strike that balance, you will find that your time at work is more fun and satisfying.
Lead: There is a huge leadership void in our country and in business today. Because of this, your generation has a tremendous opportunity to make a difference. Take the lead on ethical business operations, develop and maintain great workplaces, take risks, and give back to the community.
It's been 30 years since I graduated from college. It went by in a blink of an eye, and it will for you, too. If you believe in, know and love what you're doing, you will find career success rather than just getting a job. There is a huge difference – you'll see.