I found this article
on Yahoo! the other day and thought it was beneficial enough to post here. The
article title is 20 Things 20 Year Olds Don’t
Get. It’s written by Jason Nazar. You’re welcome all.
1.
Time is Not a Limitless Commodity – I so rarely find young professionals
that have a heightened sense of urgency to get to the next level. In our 20s we
think we have all the time in the world to A) figure it out and B) get what we
want. Time is the only treasure we start off with in abundance, and can never
get back. Make the most of the opportunities you have today, because there will
be a time when you have no more of it.
2.
You're Talented, But Talent is Overrated – Congratulations, you may be the most
capable, creative, knowledgeable & multi-tasking generation yet. As my
father says, “I’ll Give You a Sh-t Medal.” Unrefined raw materials (no matter
how valuable) are simply wasted potential. There’s no prize for talent, just
results. Even the most seemingly gifted folks methodically and painfully worked
their way to success.
3.
We’re More Productive in the Morning – During my first 2 years at Docstoc
(while I was still in my 20’s) I prided myself on staying at the office until
3am on a regular basis. I thought I got so much work done in those hours long
after everyone else was gone. But in retrospect I got more menial, task-based
items done, not the more complicated strategic planning, phone calls or
meetings that needed to happen during business hours. Now I stress an
office-wide early start time because I know, for the most part, we’re
more productive as
a team in those early hours of the day.
4.
Social Media is Not a Career – These
job titles won’t exist in 5 years. Social media is simply a function of
marketing; it helps support branding, ROI or both. Social media is a means to
get more awareness, more users or more revenue. It’s not an end in
itself. I’d strongly caution against pegging your career trajectory solely to a social
media job title.
5.
Pick Up the Phone – Stop hiding behind your computer. Business gets done
on the phone and in person. It should be your first instinct, not last,
to talk to a real person and source business opportunities. And when the
Internet goes down… stop looking so befuddled and don’t ask to go home. Don’t
be a pansy, pick up the phone.
6.
Be the First In & Last to Leave – I
give this advice to everyone starting a new job or still in the formative
stages of their professional career. You have more ground to make up than
everyone else around you, and you do have something to prove. There’s only one
sure-fire way to get ahead, and that’s to work harder than all of your peers.
7.
Don't Wait to Be Told What to Do – You
can’t have a sense of entitlement without a sense of responsibility. You’ll
never get ahead by waiting for someone to tell you what to do. Saying “nobody
asked me to do this” is a guaranteed recipe for failure. Err on the side of
doing too much, not too little.
8.
Take Responsibility for Your Mistakes – You
should be making
lots of mistakes when
you’re early on in your career. But you shouldn’t be defensive about
errors in judgment or execution. Stop trying to justify your F-ups. You’re only
going to grow by embracing the lessons learned from your mistakes, and
committing to learn from those experiences.
9.
You Should Be Getting Your Butt Kicked – Meryl
Streep in “The Devil Wears Prada” would be the most valuable boss you could
possibly have. This is the most impressionable, malleable and formative stage
of your professional career. Working for someone that demands excellence and pushes
your limits every day will
build the most solid foundation for your ongoing professional success.
10. A
New Job a Year Isn't a Good Thing – 1-year stints don't tell me that
you’re so talented that you keep outgrowing your company. It tells me that you
don’t have the discipline to see your own learning curve through to completion.
It takes about 2-3 years to master any new critical skill, give yourself at
least that much time before you jump ship. Otherwise your resume reads as a
series of red flags on why not to
be hired.
11. People Matter More Than Perks – It’s so trendy to pick the company
that offers the most flex time, unlimited meals, company massages, game rooms
and team outings. Those should all matter, but not as much as the character of
your founders and managers. Great leaders will mentor you and will be a
loyal source of employment long after you’ve left. Make a conscious bet on the folks you’re going to work for
and your commitment to them will pay off much more than those fluffy perks.
12. Map
Effort to Your Professional Gain – You’re going to be asked to do things
you don’t like to do. Keep your eye on the prize. Connect what you’re doing
today, with where you want to be tomorrow. That should be all the incentive you
need. If you can’t map your future success to your current responsibilities,
then it’s time to find
a new opportunity.
13. Speak
Up, Not Out –
We’re raising a generation of sh-t talkers. In your workplace this is a cancer.
If you have issues with management, culture or your role &
responsibilities, SPEAK UP. Don’t take those complaints and trash-talk the
company or co-workers on lunch breaks and anonymous chat boards. If you can effectively
communicate what needs to be improved, you have the ability to shape your
surroundings and professional destiny.
14. You
HAVE to Build Your Technical Chops – Adding “Proficient in Microsoft Office” at the bottom
of your resume under Skills, is not going to cut it anymore. I immediately give
preference to candidates who are ninjas in: Photoshop, HTML/CSS, iOS,
WordPress, Adwords, MySQL, Balsamiq, advanced Excel, Final Cut Pro – regardless
of their job position. If you plan to stay gainfully employed, you better
complement that humanities degree with some applicable technical chops.
15. Both
the Size and Quality of Your Network Matter – It’s who you know more than what you
know, that gets you ahead in business. Knowing a small group of folks very
well, or a huge smattering of contacts superficially, just won’t cut it. Meet
and stay connected to lots of folks, and invest your time developing as many of
those relationships as possible.
16. You
Need At Least 3 Professional Mentors – The most guaranteed path to success is to emulate those
who’ve achieved what you seek. You should always have at least 3 people you
call mentors who are where you want to be. Their free guidance and counsel will
be the most priceless gift you can receive.
17. Pick
an Idol & Act “As If” – You
may not know what to do, but your professional idol does. I often coach my
employees to pick the businessperson they most admire, and act “as if.” If you
were (fill in the blank) how would he or she carry themselves, make
decisions, organize his/her day, accomplish goals? You’ve got to fake it until
you make it, so it’s better to fake it as the most accomplished person you
could imagine.
18. Read
More Books, Less Tweets/Texts – Your
generation consumes information in headlines and 140 characters: all
breadth and no depth. Creativity, thoughtfulness and thinking skills are freed
when you’re forced to read a full book cover to cover. All the keys to your
future success, lay in the past experience of others. Make sure to read a
book a month (fiction or non-fiction) and your career will blossom.
19. Spend
25% Less Than You Make –
When your material needs meet or exceed your income, you’re sabotaging your
ability to really make it big. Don’t shackle yourself with golden handcuffs (a
fancy car or an expensive apartment). Be willing and able to take 20% less in
the short term, if it could mean 200% more earning potential. You’re nothing
more than penny wise and pound-foolish if you pass up an amazing new career
opportunity to keep an extra little bit of income. No matter how much money you
make, spend 25% less to support your life. It’s a guaranteed formula to be less
stressed and to always have the flexibility to pursue your dreams.
20. Your
Reputation is Priceless, Don’t Damage It – Over time, your reputation is the
most valuable currency you have in business. It’s the invisible key that either
opens or closes doors of professional opportunity. Especially in an age where
everything is forever recorded and accessible, your reputation has to be
guarded like the most sacred treasure. It’s the one item that, once
lost, you can never get back.
