Shifting Gears: 12 career success tips for new grads and young professionals

 

  by Scott Martindale
  CEO, Sabrient Systems LLC

 

With another graduation season upon us, I am publishing an updated and expanded version of my top career success tips—primarily targeted to new college graduates and young professionals, but really any young person entering the workforce. Whether you are just starting the interview process, or have your first job lined up, or are already underway in your career, there are certain behaviors, habits, attitudes, and actions you must know to succeed in today’s workplace. Even mid-career professionals, particularly those who are feeling a bit stuck in their careers, may benefit from what I have to share.

Over the course of more than 40 years of experience, observation, reading, reflection, and thousands of conversations, meetings, presentations, negotiations, and interactions while working within various organizations large and small, ranging from one of the largest multinational corporations to solo independent consulting to a small, entrepreneurial business, and in workplace situations ranging from corporate headquarters, to field operations locations, to virtual (home) offices, I have boiled it down to my top 12 tips for career success.

Of course, this is far from an exhaustive list. And I’m certainly not claiming to have leveraged them all to maximally benefit my own career (far from it). In fact, I wish I could go back in time and implement them more fully. My career surely would have progressed so much smoother. Believe me, I’ve made my share of mistakes—in career moves and interpersonal relationships, holding back when I should have gone for it, saying yes when I should have said no (or vice-versa), or inappropriately hitting reply-all (ugh).

Success habits are like any other type of skill—such as carpentry, surgery, chess, golf, public speaking, or writing—they can be learned, practiced, and improved. Adopting these behaviors also will enhance your appeal with employers, clients, and coworkers. They can even help you in your personal interactions like dating, community involvement, golf foursomes, and family life.

Getting by on the knowledge you learned in school or an internship is simply not enough to truly excel in the modern workplace, particularly given today’s mix of onsite, remote, and hybrid situations that make it even tougher to learn these critical concepts without fully experiencing the daily workplace interactions, politics, mentorships (whether formal or informal), and role-modeling of yore. That’s why it’s so important for you, the new graduate or young professional, to start your career with the right mindset, behaviors, and habits.

Many of these 12 tips likely are not what you heard at your graduation address. Hopefully, they can help jumpstart and smooth your path to career success. So, please share this article with all the recent graduates and young professionals in your life. Without further ado, here they are:

  1. Don’t burn bridges

  2. “Seek first to understand, then to be understood” (re: Steven Covey)

  3. Be a problem solver, not a problem creator

  4. Embrace a can-do spirit

  5. Operate with an owner’s mentality

  6. Never stop learning and growing

  7. Build your personal brand

  8. Become a skilled networker

  9. Find your moral compass

10. Practicality trumps passion (at first)

11. Take calculated, asymmetric risks (and be prepared to pivot)

12. Determine your own definition of success

Let’s dive into each of them….Click here

1. Don’t burn bridges 

“People will forget what you said; people will forget what you did; but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." – The Golden Rule

“There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.” – Ronald Reagan

When someone asks me my #1 recommendation, they are often surprised when I name this one. But that's how important I think it is to avoid messy run-ins or break-ups with employers, colleagues, or clients. As time passes, you will find that your industry is a small world. So, as the adage goes, what goes around comes around.

We’ve all seen those viral videos of dramatic in-your-face job quits or heard rants over a sales quota being raised “too much.” But my contention is there is no upside to them (other than perhaps some fleeting personal satisfaction or social media fame). Same with hostile turf wars or backstabbing or lengthy, emotion-fueled emails that regurgitate every bottled-up frustration accumulated about the person or company through the years. Keep in mind, videos, emails, texts, social media posts, and the like are memorialized in cyberspace forever. They can haunt you in both your personal relationships and as career killers.

So, don’t put anything into the ether that you wouldn’t want the whole world to see for the rest of your life. Keep in mind, if you like to post inflammatory political commentary, you might be cutting yourself off from 50% of the job opportunities out there. And even if the hiring manager is aligned with your politics, they might not want to risk the potentially toxic impact of a new employee who appears to be strident, volatile, rash, imprudent, intolerant, divisive, or vengeful. If you feel you must post on a topic of grave importance to you, try to tone down the rhetoric and focus on calm, reasoned, cogent arguments rather than unhinged rage and vitriol (which might cow some into silence or compliance but has never in the history of the world changed anyone’s mind).

Learn and practice how to deal with difficult people or with stressful situations within a team or workplace environment. There are practical ways to diffuse or deescalate a tense situation with calm, assertive behaviors that give you a sense of control while ensuring a focus on the issues rather than the personalities. Most importantly, aspire to not be the difficult person on the team—the one who others either avoid altogether or go to seminars to learn how to deal with. 

Often, you can head off problems by being a supportive co-worker yourself, even if there is underlying competition such as achieving sales objectives or earning a coveted promotion. Be willing to take responsibility and share at least some of the accountability even if you believe you had no role in creating the problem at hand. If a friend, colleague, boss, supplier, or client has intentionally or ignorantly wronged you, acknowledge the misdeed in a calm way without being rude or snide, which tends to escalate the situation. This is especially true if the other party was deliberately trying to get under your skin. Don’t give them the satisfaction of seeing you get all ruffled up. 

Unfortunately, there still will be some burnt bridges along the way despite your best efforts to avoid them. But it is in your long-term best interest that the instigator be the other party, not you. It is only then, if you happen to encounter this person again, that you can enjoy the higher ground and not be the one who feels embarrassed by the past. In addition, refrain from badmouthing your competitors or former colleagues or employers to others—it never reflects well upon you, even if the other person is goading you into it. Better to leave such things unsaid. That goes not only for your career and industry reputation, but for your mental health. Ruminating on perceived wrongs with bitterness and resentment is unhealthy and distracting to pursuing your goals. Instead, learn from situation and then move on, focusing on your future rather than your past.

If you are fortunate enough to be put into a leadership position at a young age, you will surely encounter some resentment and even perhaps some efforts to undermine your success. The key is to remain strong, resilient, resolute, and poised. Do not succumb to the urge to lash out, cry, complain to management or HR, or otherwise portray yourself as a victim. Your strength, poise, and ultimate success will either hush the naysayers or bring them around as allies (which can be the most satisfying outcome of all). On the other hand, avoid being the one displaying resentment if you are passed over in favor or a younger or less experienced colleague.

In fact, if you aspire to leadership roles, you should embrace followership. According to entrepreneur and former pro triathlete Troy Jacobson, “All leaders start off as followers, and the skills and experiences they acquire as followers lend themselves to the type of leader they'll eventually become…learning valuable skills, observing leadership styles, and understanding the dynamics of effective teamwork.” It can also help you identify bad leadership habits that you would do differently once you attain a leadership position.

Either way, be prepared to prove yourself in the face of adversity. Although Gen-Zers were raised in a time in which “everyone gets a trophy” and “bullying is bad,” the truth is that the real world is harsh and laden with bullies and back-stabbers. Adversity breeds grit and survival skills that will serve you well the rest of your career, so embrace adversity as a challenge rather than shrinking from it.

2. “Seek first to understand, then to be understood” (re: Steven Covey)

“You must force yourself to consider opposing arguments. Especially when they challenge your best-loved ideas.” – Charlie Munger

“The world won’t adapt to me. I must adapt to it.” – Laurence Gonzales

“Do you want the truth on your side, or do you want to hide behind falsehoods?” – Jordan Peterson

This is a primary way to avoid burning bridges while building trust and respect. In fact, given today’s polarized and hyper-politicized society, this one might even eclipse tip #1 in importance. It is Habit #5 of Steven Covey’s book, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and I love the way he puts it in that concise sentence, so I’m quoting it here verbatim. In other words, listen before you speak. Don’t try to make your point or your sales pitch until you fully grasp the other party’s perspective or needs. Importantly, the other party must perceive that you understand their perspective—in many situations, perception is reality. And if you get cornered by the facts, don’t just close your ears and start shouting vile epithets. Give credit where credit is due. Be humble, repentant, courteous, and magnanimous. As poet Rudyard Kipling once wrote, “…meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two impostors just the same.”

Social media algorithms today optimize for engagement, and nothing drives engagement like outrage, fear, tribalism, and the appearance of moral certainty—much more so than balance and nuance. The preponderance of partisan social media, podcasts, books, and cable channels is amplified by coordinated (often foreign) malicious actors and AI bots in a deliberate effort to antagonize, inflame, and undermine societal cohesion. But mainly it is driven by a media ecosystem that profits from sowing discord. The incentive structures reward emotional tribalism—people can stay in their “echo chamber” and avoid ever having to hear an alternative perspective much less try to understand it. This inevitably leads to hyperbolic demonization of alternative viewpoints. 

To be successful, you must steer clear of this trap. Truth matters; you can’t simply ignore it just because it negates your personal outlook. We live in a country founded on the ideals of liberty and free speech, so resist the temptation to be a troll who seeks to punish, destroy, or “cancel” those who see the world through a different lens. You cannot go far in your life and career by shouting down or labeling as “hate speech” anything you don’t agree with or consider offensive.

Instead, grow thicker skin. Maintain a clear and rational mindset. Try to understand the other argument before you make your own. Soberly vet the messages you are buying into to ensure you aren’t being manipulated or gaslighted. An open mind may lead you to an epiphany and personal growth. Your neighbor or colleague, although perhaps misguided, is not evil simply by feeling differently about things. In fact, he might turn out to be right. Make the effort to build rapport and ultimately draw people to you with a carrot rather than intimidating them into submission with a stick. Once you emerge from your echo chamber and take off the blinders, you might find the opposing viewpoint makes more sense. That’s the beauty of an open mind and rational, respectful debate.

Of course, you are certainly entitled to hold a strong opinion. Just be sure that if you express it, you can back it up with a solid argument. Focus on policies, no personalities. And by the way, if you can’t win a disagreement with rational argument, then maybe you are the one in the wrong. Those who can calmly articulate an opinion and politely counter the arguments of another not only win by default, but they also have a clearer path to higher moral ground and stature—not to mention benefiting the community by steering hearts and minds closer to the truth. 

In the business world, seek first to understand what a successful business relationship means to your boss, colleague, employee, or client. Ask probing questions without coming off as challenging or skeptical. When it is time for you to speak, demonstrate that you understand their perspective without sounding patronizing. Instead, focus on specifics that directly address what is important to the other party. If you show respect in this way, it is usually reciprocated. 

When speaking with a client, always focus on their needs or the benefits they will enjoy rather than expounding on how wonderful your products or services are, as if they must appreciate them. If possible, make clients feel they can shape or customize what they are buying rather than having to conform to what you are selling.

In negotiations, be non-adversarial, separating the people from the problem. In their book, Getting to Yes, authors Roger Fisher and William Ury advise seeking mutually beneficial, win-win outcomes by focusing on the interests of each party rather than only defending your own position. You will gain the respect of all parties. In fact, a good practice is to build a “steelman,” which is the strongest, most logically sound version of the other party’s viewpoint before challenging it. It is the exact opposite of a “strawman” argument, which relies on misrepresenting or weakening a viewpoint to make it easier to knock down. 

As Simon Sinek opined, “People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.” So, if you want to become a great leader, he suggests you start with your “why” (i.e., purpose), then determine your “how” (i.e., unique selling proposition or processes), and finally create your “what” (i.e., products and services).

The moral of the story is this: Don’t take things personally. Don’t be bitter and resentful. Stop seeking approval and validation at every turn. Instead, invite honest criticism. Show empathy to others. Apologize when warranted. Embrace failure as a learning experience. It makes you stronger. It makes you thoughtful, grounded, humble, resilient, tough, gritty, and thick-skinned—qualities that will serve you well over the long run in your business and personal relationships.

3. Be a problem solver, not a problem creator

“Obstacles and difficulties come not to obstruct, but to instruct.” – Brian Tracy

“Be proactive. You’re not a product of your circumstances. You’re a product of your choices.” – Steven Covey

“There are no constraints on the human mind, no walls around the human spirit, no barriers to our progress except those we ourselves erect.” – Ronald Reagan

No one likes to employ or work beside someone who is always whining, complaining, or stirring up trouble, or who shies away from addressing the tough problems, leaving the cleanup to someone else. We see so much of this in public discourse today—always aggrieved or vitriolic or deflecting the blame but never offering a realistic solution. If you identify a problem, don’t just complain about it; instead, offer up at least one reasonable solution, and preferably be prepared to help implement the solution. As poet and historian Bill Copeland said, “The person who rows the boat seldom has time to rock it.” 

Take a constructive rather than defeatist approach when dealing with problems, hurdles, slights, or setbacks. Show that you have the fortitude and confidence to let them roll off your back and push through. Strive to be a leader, advisor, confidant, and team player. Be the go-to person when something needs to get done. From a broader perspective, cultivate a reputation of trust, honesty, integrity, reliability, collaboration, positivity, and constructiveness.

You must learn to be comfortable, productive, and supportive working within a team. Many young professionals, particularly those who have spent a good portion of their time in school and early career in a remote or virtual setting never really learned through osmosis the best way to interact with teammates who you are both seeking high-performance synergy and at the same time competing for personal recognition and career progression. You don’t want to be the lazy coattailer, the uncooperative loner, nor the bossy do-everything tyrant. 

Even some who have experienced a lot of team interaction in their careers simply never got the hang of it—that is to say, it didn’t come naturally for them. Either way, unless your role is specifically designed to be a lone-wolf, remote, individual contributor, try to observe and emulate those in your organization who seem to revel and thrive in a team environment.

If you get the chance to lead a team, instill empowerment, personal responsibility, and accountability in your teammates and clients through your actions and deeds. “When you offer genuine accountability, your clients will respond,” says pollster Frank Luntz. Develop and empower your team and then hold them accountable, because you can’t (and shouldn’t try to) handle it all alone. Elon Musk likes to “…incentivize bold, disruptive pursuits rather than punishing failure, which teaches people to be only incremental in their improvements.”

But be careful and self-reflective enough not to fall into destructive habits that often befall managers and team leaders: 1) Micromanaging destroys trust, undermines autonomy, and disempowers subordinates. 2) Closing yourself off to your team’s ideas and input because you are too busy or because it is inconvenient is a morale killer, and might prolong unnecessary costs, conflicts, or inefficiencies that could be quickly resolved and create greater productivity. 3) Poor communication creates confusion, uncertainty, frustration, and isolation, especially with a remote workforce. Always reply to emails and messages, even if it’s only a one-word acknowledgement, as silence can come off as rude or passive-aggressive (e.g., saying no to a request or avoiding the issue altogether by simply ignoring the email). 

According to entrepreneur Bilaji Srinivasan, “…helping others [on your team] become strong is the right strategy. It’s really just the teach-a-man-to-fish proverb. You can reconceptualize it as enlightened self-interest, as win-and-help-win… It could mean investing in them, taking shared risk and shared reward. Or it could be training them as an apprentice.... By strengthening others, you strengthen your [team], and thus indirectly yourself.”

4. Embrace a can-do spirit

“Within every setback or obstacle lie seeds of an equal or greater benefit or opportunity.” – Brian Tracy

“Success is not final; failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill

“A lot of people feel like they're victims in life, and they'll often point to past events...The real question is, what are you going to do now? ...Because you can either keep focusing on that, or you can focus on what you want.” – Jack Canfield

Employers love an employee who is positive, optimistic, industrious, approachable, persistent, collaborative, frugal, and resilient. If you prefer to be an entrepreneur, those same qualities appeal to clients, employees, and investors as well. People want you on their team…or they want to be on your team. In accordance with the Law of Attraction, you become magnetic. But many new grads can be anxious, insecure, or easily dissuaded from pursuing career paths that are seemingly out of reach. Moreover, in today’s politically charged society, it can be easy to develop a victim mentality that accepts or even embraces failure and mediocrity.

Perhaps you think you don’t have the right degree or college pedigree, or that you aren’t “smart enough” to compete for the jobs you want, or perhaps you chose not to go to college at all. Or perhaps you’ve been misled by political activists (many of whom are paid operators for subversive NGOs) to believe sinister forces prevent you from achieving success in our irredeemable society due to your race or gender or sexual orientation (or that the world will soon be destroyed by climate change or nuclear annihilation, so why bother?). But I implore you, don’t believe any of it!

Here’s the reality. Yes, humans are inherently flawed, and individually we may display at times anything from ignorance to snobbery to prejudice. But, for society as a whole, it is merely a symptom of what I euphemistically call “not-like-me-ism,” i.e., the innate tribal impulse to be more comfortable with those who are like yourself (aka “birds of a feather”). This can lead to microaggressions (and sometimes blatant discrimination) against others for their age, race, religion, politics, hairstyle, lifestyle, clothing, tattoos, weight, stature, speech, accent, mannerisms, disability, alma mater, or whatever else makes them different.

But such biases are a human condition, not just among white Americans…or Republicans…or cops, as today's narratives might lead you to believe. No one is beyond reproach. We are all capable of prejudging and intolerance to some degree. And so, we all must make a concerted effort to do better in our interactions with others, and in fact most people want to be good towards others. Our nation is much more tolerant and accepting today than ever before (despite what you hear from politicians and the media), and it continues to improve. But we are not programmable robots, and you cannot legislate individual thought (unless you want a totalitarian system like China, Iran, or North Korea). So, you must learn how to deal with an imperfect world without shrinking in tears or anger; demanding censorship, preferences, or entitlements; or looking to the government or HR to intervene at every perceived slight. Win people over rather than berating them into submission.

Also, accept that nepotism and other forms of favoritism are a fact of life. We all innately want to “take care of our own.” It’s the way people are wired. But of course, it’s not always fair. It tends to work particularly well for those from affluence, but it’s also present in every sort of tribe and ethnicity. For example, if you are a white female, it’s quite difficult to land a recording contract as a hip-hop artist. So, get over it. Do not get caught up dwelling on what others have in the way of built-in opportunities or birthrights. Aggrievement and rumination form a dangerous path.

Instead, focus on the opportunities you are afforded; there will always be something. Moreover, strive to be likeable, approachable, eager, passionate, and interesting. Show interest in a given company or prospective mentor. You might have to make some modest effort to conform, just a tad, to the company culture. When you become the boss with the decision-making power, you can make your own rules. Until then, your disruptive or obstinate behavior may be seen as a cancer in the organization. This serves no one in the long term, least of all yourself. We see this a lot with pro sports and media personalities, who are dismissed from a job or team due to their unwillingness to conform to the expectations of the organization. 

Nevertheless, regardless of who you are and where you come from, the sublime reality is that never before in history has there been greater access to opportunity than you have today, both for you to find opportunities and for opportunities to find you—especially given the growth in remote work options. Humans are flawed by nature, and so all countries and societies are flawed. But in the words of French historian Alexis de Tocqueville in 1835, "The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults.” And as Senator Tim Scott opined, “America is not the land of oppression; America is the land of opportunity.”

So, embrace the fact that you live in a great country, and focus on the opportunities rather than the obstacles. Choose to think independently and practice self-reliance while striving to heal wounds, find common ground, and embrace winning values—like education, diligence, resilience, tenacity, cooperation, honesty, mutual respect, humility, and personal responsibility—while focusing on the many opportunities before you. Follow Kobe Bryant’s “Mamba Mentality” to visualize your future and then go about making it happen. Remember the adage, as reiterated by Jena Antonucci (who became the first female horse trainer to ever win a Triple Crown race at the 2023 Belmont Stakes), “If you can’t find a seat at the table, make your own table.” And as Rhonda Byrne says in her book The Secret, “There is no such thing as a hopeless situation. Every single circumstance of your life can change!”

Admiral William McRaven spent 37 years as a Navy SEAL and became Commander of all U.S. Special Operations Forces. In his book, Make Your Bed: Little Things Can Change Your Life…And Maybe the World, he asserts, “It is easy to blame your lot in life on some outside force, to stop trying because you believe fate is against you. It is easy to think that where you were raised, how your parents treated you, or what school you went to is all that determines your future. Nothing could be further from the truth. The common people and the great men and women are all defined by how they deal with life’s unfairness.”

Many of our richest and most successful people came from humble beginnings or never got a college degree, including Bill Gates (Microsoft), Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), Larry Ellison (Oracle), John Tague (Hertz), John Mackey (Whole Foods Market), Steve Jobs (Apple), Richard Branson (Virgin Group), Jan Koum (WhatsApp), Stacey Ferreira (Forge), Russell Simmons (Rush Communications), Oprah Winfrey, and Ralph Lauren. I personally know people who have accumulated enviable wealth in vastly different ways, even without ever having had a high-paying job. Sure, there are those who earned big compensation starting right out of college in lucrative fields like investment banking or management consulting. But most simply lived within their means and invested wisely.

For example, one long-time friend of mine worked at Apple Inc. from its early days for most of his career and maxed out his 401(k) in company stock. Of course, at one point it became the largest company in the world by market capitalization. Another friend joined and eventually took over a thriving family business in real estate development. A former colleague of mine got some early work experience as a chemical engineer, then went back to school to earn an MBA from a prominent university, then joined a major multinational corporation in their MBA development program (where we met), and eventually rose the ranks to become president of one its main operating companies. My brother-in-law left a corporate job early in his career, acquired a few investors for some small real estate developments, and it all took off nicely, turning into a thriving, diverse, cash-flowing property development and management business (in which two of his children now have joined him). Others got in very early on Bitcoin and Ethereum. And one acquaintance of mine risked it all to launch a crypto investment management firm that was ultimately acquired by a large cryptocurrency exchange.

But what they all did in common was accumulate a portfolio of assets that creates generational wealth as well as large incomes in retirement. Importantly, the most common paths to generational wealth among the average folks I know were either: 1) regular, substantial, mechanical investing in the stock market, or 2) accumulating rental properties. As Mark Twain once said, "Buy land; they're not making it anymore," or as country musician Jordan Davis put it, “Buy dirt.”

Quick story. A retired neighbor of mine spends his time with his wife shuttling among his three homes and monitoring his vast collection of rental houses. He self-admittedly was never a good student and “not the sharpest tool in the shed” (and with all due respect, I can attest that he is right). So, he staunchly believes that if he can find his way to career success, anyone can. After barely graduating high school, he eventually fell into a job selling insurance, which he was not very good at. But it taught him not to fear rejection. Next, he stumbled into an entry level job in the home title business and later started his own title company, which became quite successful despite some harsh challenges (particularly the Global Financial Crisis). He ultimately sold his business for a tidy sum—but has never sold any of his real estate holdings.

Here’s another story, my daughter once lived in a house with roommates in LA. The house was owned by an elderly Mexican man who could speak only broken English. He had worked for years as a painting contractor, but he was able to accumulate a stable of several rental homes that he personally managed, performed the maintenance and repairs himself, and collected the rent. Spend less than you make. Accumulate assets. Buy dirt. Embrace a can-do spirit.

Army Ranger Master Sergeant Cedric King, who lost both legs in Afghanistan but went on to run marathons and triathlons, regularly speaks on sacrifice and perseverance. He compares life to a pencil sharpener: “Each time you run a pencil through a sharpener, the cuts are brutal. The shavings inside are all parts of you, things you’ve shed. If a pencil has never gone through a sharpener, it will have never realized its purpose. A pencil is built to be used. I realized I am the pencil. You are the pencil.”

Life coach Colby Kultgen advises, “Action is the antidote to anxiety. No amount of thinking will get you out of the hole you’re still sitting in…. Take the leap. There’s someone out there who’s way less qualified than you living the life you want, simply because they took action…. Procrastination compounds. The longer you delay a task, the more difficult the task becomes.”

Yes, you can succeed. There is a path for you. So, act like you believe it. Embrace and display a positive, can-do spirit and you will be amazed at how many more doors will open for you.

5. Operate with an owner's mentality

“Initially, I was focused on my craft because that's what mattered most. But to win, you have to give parts of yourself to [your colleagues].” – Michael Jordan

"Those who really deserve praise are the people who, while human enough to enjoy power, nevertheless pay more attention to justice than they are compelled to do by their situation. And of all manifestations of power, restraint impresses men most." – Thucydides

“You're not going to get promoted if you're just doing your job.” – Elon Musk

As I said earlier, employers love an employee who is positive, optimistic, industrious, approachable, persistent, collaborative, frugal, and resilient. Someone who performs every job or controls spending like it’s their own business. Don’t allow yourself to become a clock-watcher, web-surfer, work-avoider, or “quiet quitter.” Show up. Be punctual, neat, respectful, and pleasant in all internal and client interactions (even if you only meet over Zoom), so that your presence, attitude, and actions reflect well upon both the firm and your boss. 

Be dependable. Reliability builds the kind of reputation that opens doors in business and in life. At first, reliability may go unnoticed. But over time, the those who are inconsistent—sometimes performing like a superstar and other times not showing up at all—fade out, and the biggest opportunities go to the people who are consistently present, positive, and productive. Play the long game. Success often belongs to those who stay in the fight. Boldness matters, but lasting success is built on consistency, dependability, and delivery.

Opportunity begets opportunity, so don’t be dismayed if your first job is not what you dreamed of prior to graduation. Being in the game is much better than staying home, sending out résumés, and waiting for the “perfect job” to come along. You are gaining valuable experience, learning how to deal with others in the workplace, creating new connections, and broadening your skillset. As TV personality Sandra Smith opined, “Master what you are doing in the moment rather than always looking for what the next step is or where you want to be… it will be noticed.”

Make yourself indispensable. Find your niche. A common mistake is trying to be a “jack-of-all-trades, master of none.” While it's good to have a broad range of skills, it's crucial to find your niche. Focus on what you're good at, what you enjoy doing, and what adds value to your organization. Develop your expertise in that area, and you'll become indispensable to your team and organization. 

Find ways to add value even if you haven’t been assigned a specific task, like a business owner would do. For example, seek ways to cut costs, improve processes and efficiency, increase client engagement/retention, or boost revenues—both within your immediate area of influence and for the company overall. Not only will this enhance your perceived value to the company but also improve and diversify your skillset—not to mention you will leave work at the end of the day with a greater feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction. 

Of course, you must be mindful of the politics within your organization and present your ideas with tact and diplomacy. You should willingly share credit with others when things go well, and accept accountability when things go awry. Avoid overshadowing or end-running your bosses; you need them in your corner. 

6. Never stop learning and growing

“Constantly try to be the best version of yourself...a constant quest to be better today than yesterday.” – Kobe Bryant

"Find where capital needs to go and then become relevant in that space." – Richard Rainwater

“Don't confuse movement with progress. Because you can run in place and not get anything done. So, are you moving forward? And who are you taking with you? And how are you making this better?” – Denzel Washington

Seek to build on your strengths and shore up your weaknesses. It’s never too late to start improving your skillset, and it’s always too soon to stop. Importantly, true growth only comes about by putting yourself in uncomfortable situations. For example, if you are deathly afraid of public speaking, then practice out loud by yourself or with a friendly audience (like your friend or dog), solicit feedback, and continually seek opportunities to speak in public. It will get easier, and you will get better. As Kobe Bryant said, “You have to work hard in the dark to shine in the light.” 

Read the classics, study philosophy, learn to play a musical instrument, play chess, write a novel, coach a youth sports team, volunteer your time in the community. Anything that expands your mind, thinking, perspective, and brain neurons, while distracting from your normal career stressors. In fact, virtually everything you do is a skill that can be improved through coaching, practice, and repetition—whether it be golf, carpentry, Wordle, piano, cooking, spelling, calculus, interviewing, speaking, writing, negotiating, selling, or whatever. Even focusing on one task at a time for 30 minutes without distraction (hard to do in today’s society) is a skill to be honed.

Today’s grads, with their entire professional lives before them, understand they are on the precipice of something big with the AI revolution, and they carry anxiety because of it. Their task is to develop transferable skills to thrive in a working world that may soon become virtually unrecognizable. Venture capitalist Bill Gurley advises, “Every [worker] who wants to protect themselves needs to be the most AI-enabled version of themselves they can be.” And entrepreneur and venture capitalist David Sacks believes, “Proficiency in Claude [by Anthropic] is the most marketable skill right now in the economy.” 

Your skills in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word), accounting, or DCF analysis are great and important, but today you also will need to be proficient with AI tools to accelerate your productivity. The judgment, relationships, or gut-level decision-making that comes from experience won’t be replaced anytime soon (at least until Artificial General Intelligence is perfected), but basic entry-level tasks will be—like cursory research, transcript or pitchbook summaries, year-over-year or peer comparisons, PowerPoint pitchbook first-drafts. The upshot: don’t be a “Luddite” (who resists new technologies and automation); learn how to leverage AI and preferably become a “super-adopter.”

Economist Ed Yardeni sees AI more of a productivity-enhancing force than a job-destroying force. Aside from job losses in entry-level white-collar jobs (e.g., junior programming, data-entry, or routine work), he cites continued labor-market resilience, “rewiring” work for productivity/efficiency gains, complementary effects on skilled workers (amplifying expertise and experience), job creation from AI infrastructure investment (skilled trades and construction labor), employer retraining (rather than layoff) efforts, and strong earnings/economic growth despite rapid AI adoption. Notably, despite recent announcements of layoffs in some fields (mostly involving repetitive work) and fears of AI-driven job losses and reduced hiring of college grads, Bank of America just hired 2,000 summer interns and another 2,000 full-time entry-level analysts—and the bank says its 18,000 software developers have become 20-25% more productive from AI.

According to Matt Ober of Social Leverage, “The new generation of college graduates going into the working world will work smarter. They will differentiate themselves by using the latest AI-driven tools. They will work faster and more efficiently…. I predict we will see kids straight out of high school jumping into Wall Street jobs. These will be those who embrace the latest tools, become experts in the market at a younger age, and embrace disruption and technology.” In fact, employers and clients may look to you for guidance on how to leverage or invest in new technologies.

More broadly, stay abreast of industry news and trends and continually seek out learning opportunities, including stretch goals in your current job. If you did not go to college, there are plenty of alternative avenues for you, but you should still seek some kind of advanced training or education—of which there are many, both formal and informal. In fact, roughly 42% of recent college grads (within 5 years of graduation) hold jobs that don’t require degrees at all, and many other work in fields outside of what they studied. A career counselor, trusted friend, or a mentor from a field that interests you can be helpful in this regard. 

Consider pursuing post-graduate education or professional credentials early in your career, because once you have a family, it becomes much harder to pursue such things after a full day of work. Regardless, learning should not stop with formal education. Read industry publications, take an online course, seek cross-training opportunities, or volunteer in areas where you can both learn and contribute. Join a community or professional organization. Learn a new language, how to code, build an AI agent, or better Excel skills. When you have your earbuds in while at the gym or bike ride, consider branching out from music to also include things like podcasts, audiobooks, taped lectures, and TED Talks. 

Above all, keep in mind the sage words of the colorful Charlie Munger, friend of renowned investor Warren Buffett and his vice-chairman at Berkshire Hathaway, who once said, “I constantly see people rise in life who are not the smartest, sometimes not even the most diligent, but they are learning machines. They go to bed every night a little wiser than they were when they got up, and boy, does that help, particularly when you have a long run ahead of you… Develop into a lifelong self-learner through voracious reading. Cultivate curiosity and strive to become a little wiser every day.”

But no matter what types of learning you choose, be sure to spend at least a little time improving your financial and investment IQ, because you don’t want to work paycheck to paycheck your entire life. Learn about things like how to create multiple income streams, how to start a side business, how to invest in both hard assets (e.g., real estate and commodities) and financial assets (e.g., stocks and bonds), and the tax implications of each. 

7. Build your personal brand

“Attitude is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than what people do or say. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill.” – W.C. Fields

"Treat the janitor with the same respect you treat the CEO." – Colby Kultgen

“It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.” – Andre Gide

More opportunities flow to those with an appealing personal brand, so it pays to spend time cultivating it. For example, are you a “Sales Associate at Acme Tools” on your LinkedIn profile, or should you be a “B2B sales & business development professional with a track record of driving growth, exceeding quotas, and delighting customers”? Whether you are searching for a job, building a business, growing your visibility within an organization, seeking press coverage, striving to exceed your sales quota, or simply building a diverse network, a solid personal brand can make a big difference in the speed and quality of your results. It also can help prepare you to pivot quickly when faced with an unforeseen event, like a sudden layoff or company acquisition or liquidation.

Stay current on the news and trends in your field. Join professional organizations, pursue an advanced degree or professional certification, or volunteer for causes that are either important to you personally or relevant to your profession. Take advantage of an internship or development opportunity that might open a door in the field you aspire to. Build your reputation and credibility by interacting with others on LinkedIn. Share relevant information or post your own opinions and insights on your social media accounts. Write articles and post comments on some of the myriad websites in your target field. They might get attention.

For example, my firm started publishing an annual list of top stock picks back in 2009 that eventually garnered a lot of attention—and completely changed the trajectory of the firm, from obscurity and financial struggles to modest fame and the proverbial hockey-stick revenue chart. Many people have networked into jobs, deals, and other opportunities by posting and interacting on LinkedIn in a meaningful, professional way with decision-makers—not by constantly pestering or pitching to them.

Ultimately, your brand should reflect a specific skill that you are particularly good at, so early in your career you should decide what that is. For instance, it might be sales, customer service, software development, nuclear reactor design, or corporate tax accounting. Charlie Munger once made a tennis analogy by saying, “When you're young, you should practice your forehand, backhand, serve, overheads, and net game. But at some point, if you have a particularly great forehand, you should structure your life so that all you do is pound forehands all day long.” 

Being a generalist is great for many middle management jobs. But you will find the most stability and the highest compensation if, in addition to developing a broad skill set, you also can boast deep expertise in a particular area—just make sure it isn’t a skill that is soon to become obsolete. Early in your career, uncover your true interests among marketable skills—such as sales techniques, coding, litigation, mechanical design, technical writing, recruiting, or investment management, for example—and then pursue excellence. Be irreplaceable. 

To that end, seek to build relationships with mentors who can help you find your path toward a valuable expertise as well as help you shape your views, image, and message. Eventually, you might decide to start your own blog, website, podcast, or Substack. Post videos. Seek outside speaking engagements or “lunch & learn” presentations in your workplace. The ultimate goal is to create a personal brand that is unique to you—a combination of your skills, talents, background, experiences, ideas, and interests (both personal and professional), plus of course that “go-to” expertise that makes you so valuable.

According to author Allistair McCaw, “Talent might provide you with an advantage, but in the long run, a person who is committed, hard-working and coachable will eventually outperform the talented person who lacks the grit, resilience, and tenacity…. Hard work is a choice. Attitude is a choice. Discipline is a choice. Doing extra is a choice. Excellence is a choice.”

And in the words of ManlyMindz on X.com, “Develop unshakable self-discipline. Discipline is the bridge between goals and success. Show up even when you don’t feel like it. Every small win strengthens your willpower. Your future self depends on today’s discipline… Replace bad habits with productive actions. Discipline means saying no to what harms you.” As basketball great Michael Jordan explained, “I chose discipline over temptation, focus over fun.”

8. Become a skilled networker

“People don't have great attitudes because of great success; they have great success largely because of great attitudes.” – Earl Nightingale

"The Secret [to success] is the Law of Attraction...Everything that is coming into your life you are attracting into your life...based on the thoughts in your mind...Everything you think and feel is creating your future." – Rhonda Byrne

“Fly with the eagles...Watch out for the naysayers and dream killers.” – Brian Tracy

Who you know in the business world can be every bit as important as what you know, especially in the early stages of your career when you are on a steep learning curve. To be considered for desirable roles, you can’t be invisible. So, networking is key. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to new people, whether in person or via email—without being rude or pushy, of course. I’m not just talking about sales or job prospecting but also more broadly about building diverse personal and professional relationships. Although we’d all like to meet Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, or Elon Musk, they are probably not the ones who will advance your career. Often, new opportunities arise when you least expect them and from acquaintances that might not be obvious. It is estimated that 70% of all jobs are filled today through networking rather than traditional applications, whether using an alumni network, a former colleague, or niche communities. This serves as a reminder of my tip #1: Don’t burn bridges.

Resist the temptation to blast out reams of cold LinkedIn connection requests with the default language to people you don’t know. It’s so fast and convenient to do, but it portrays you as lazy or desperate. I constantly receive connection requests from people trying to sell me a service. Why would I want to connect with this person? Preferably you should try to pursue personal networking where you get to know people and build meaningful and mutually beneficial relationships with them. Be genuinely interested and offer to help but be careful not to come off like a pitchman for your product or for a job. 

But if you do decide to send LinkedIn invitations to your classmate’s parents or to second-level connections or to a higher-up in your firm that you admire, you must include a personalized note. This used to be hard to find on the mobile app but no longer, so there’s no excuse not to write a brief but thoughtful note as to why you would like to connect. I always do this myself, and I rarely accept invitations that do not include a personalized note (including those from my daughters’ friends!).

If you are not well-connected from birth or come from humble means, you will need to work a little harder in finding workplace mentors and opportunities rather than have them handed to you. Seek experienced mentors who can help guide you on your path, while also accepting opportunities to mentor others. In this regard, working in an office environment (or at least a home/office hybrid) is much more conducive to developing those important professional/mentor relationships, so I feel that all new grads should spend some of their early years in face-to-face work environments rather than working from home right after graduation.

In fact, after extensive experience with remote work, training, and mentorship in the wake of the pandemic, it seems many employers have grown reluctant to hire fresh graduates for remote jobs. An analysis by the New York Federal Reserve confirmed this, observing that rather than AI being to blame (as is fashionable to say today), roughly 2/3 of the increased unemployment among new grads can be attributed largely to the difficulty employers find in trying to train an inexperienced worker from afar in a “distributed work arrangement,” while unemployment among more experienced workers in similar roles has actually declined. So, your best bet might be to seek jobs that require you to be onsite.

While mentors are critical for your career development by providing guidance and advice, you also need sponsors, i.e., more-senior confidants with some influence who are willing to lobby on your behalf for plum assignments or promotions. Much like requesting a letter of recommendation for college applications, you need to ask a senior co-worker or boss who you have gotten to know—and who you think admires you and your capabilities—to be your sponsor. Whenever possible, seek to work for someone who gives regular, substantive, honest, and constructive feedback. A boss who is willing to challenge you early in your career often becomes a strong advocate or sponsor for you later. Anything less risks stalling your career progress.

Prepare yourself on how you plan to receive and respond to honest feedback from a boss or coworker, or how you would approach a senior manager if you happen to run into them in the elevator or social function. These are soft skills that many Gen-Zers lack, according to 82% of managers in a Harris Poll for Fortune Magazine. They think this cohort also has unrealistic workplace expectations, and 75% of managers say it’s harder to train new hires in soft skills than in technical skills. Gen-Zers themselves acknowledge that they need office interaction and mentorship to truly learn soft skills, navigating organizational networks and politics, and how to be friendly and empathetic but still businesslike in emails and phone interactions. 

In addition, you must learn how to tactfully advocate for yourself. Job search coach Sumit Agrawal says, “I learned the hard way that visibility often trumps performance…. It’s not just about how much value you create; it’s about how much value others perceive…. I eventually learned to balance both doing solid work and advocating for myself when it mattered.” And in a WSJ article, Callum Borchers wrote, “Early impressions can have lasting effects. Your list of potential references is short at the start of your career, so each one carries outsized significance.” This serves as another reminder of my tip #1: Don’t burn bridges.

When interviewing, be careful with how much you embellish your history. Here are some thoughts from the inimitable Elon Musk: “I ask someone to tell me the story of their life, the decisions you made along the way, and why you made them. Also, tell me about the most difficult problems you worked on and how you solved them. The people who really solved it remember the details, while the pretenders forget the details. They maybe can go one shallow level and then get stuck describing the solution.” 

By the way, it is said that you are the average of your friend group. The "Average of Five" Rule states that you naturally absorb the habits, income, and mindsets of the five people you spend the most time with. If they drag you down, you stay down. So, seek to assemble a primary friend group and support system that helps you pursue your goals and find new opportunities. You must develop a close network that, on average, is smart, diverse, and ambitious—and not solely weighted toward people you work with, grew up with, or went to school with, or those who depend upon you to uplift them in every way (i.e., a “one-way street” relationship).

In other words, seek a close network of friends and associates in different career stages and with whom you can have a reciprocal (win-win) relationship, i.e., you uplift them in some ways while they uplift you in other ways. Be each other’s cheerleader. For example, you might have a friend who is diligent about studying for a professional exam, which might help motivate you, while perhaps you have bigger social and professional networks, which can help her build her own network. I’m not suggesting that you turn your back on your old friends from the neighborhood. Loyalty to them is important and admirable, but they must be balanced with those who can help and support you in pursuing your goals. This applies to your romantic relationships as well.

Regardless, you must avoid at all costs those people whose apparent objective is to hold you back from your dreams and goals—and by the same token, don’t allow yourself to be the one holding back a close friend or associate. Don’t become trapped like crabs in a barrel, pulling each other down with negativity. As Jordan Peterson states in Rule #3 of his 12 Rules for Life, “Surround yourself with people who want you to succeed.”  And as ManlyMindz on X.com explains, “Your circle either builds or destroys you, so cut out toxic people immediately. Friends who drag you down are dead weight. Surround yourself with ambitious, disciplined people. A strong circle pushes you to level up. Isolation is better than bad company.”

Part of being a skilled networker is learning to play the game. Be a chameleon to impress the people you need to impress and assimilate into your industry. You will often hear advice, for really any endeavor, to “just be yourself.” For example, the judges and mentors on the American Idol singing competition say it all the time. And your friends might tell you the same thing when you are having a job interview—“Hey, relax, just be yourself.” Now, this is fine advice if you are seeking to build an audience that appreciates your unique artistic talent. But it’s not always the best approach when seeking a new job. Sure, you are the most relaxed and natural when you are just being yourself, but the reality is, unless you know specifically that the company will appreciate your style or personality type, it is better to try to fit the mold. In other words, if “being yourself” is a wide divergence from the norm of employees at the workplace for which you are interviewing, you are likely setting up yourself for rejection.

In the immortal words of William Shakespeare, “All the world’s a stage.” In the workplace—and indeed many aspects of life—you are an actor in a play. If you are interviewing for a buttoned-up finance job, you can’t show up dressed like a heavy metal rocker, drag queen, or surfer dude. I am not suggesting you completely change your appearance or personality, but you should wear the appropriate attire (e.g., a business suit), be prompt and polite, and speak proper English. Know the culture of the workplace you are seeking to join and do your best to fit in. You can “just be yourself” away from work, with your friends and family. The workplace is different. At some point, you might be able to gradually reveal your true self after you have developed relationships and standing in your company. In the words of ManlyMindz, “Dress like the [person] you want to be. Your appearance reflects your self-respect. Fit, clean, and simple clothing speaks volumes. People will take you seriously when you take yourself seriously.” 

Don’t pester or overwhelm people in your efforts to network. Be confident but humble, conversational but non-interrogative or overly chatty. As an example of what not to do, I once spoke at a conference to an audience of master’s degree students in quantitative finance. Most were foreign students seeking work sponsorship. For the dinner afterwards, I was seated at a table with about 10 students. And as I was trying to eat, I was peppered with questions non-stop. Most gave me their business cards or asked for mine. One student even told me about a school assignment he was working on and sought my advice on how to approach it. Another took it upon himself to top off my half-filled glass of red wine from a new bottle containing a different wine. Obviously, these are poor ways to network with a guest speaker, reflect a lack of manners, and don’t leave a good impression. 

To sum up, in the words of NYU professor, entrepreneur, and author Scott Galloway, “One of the keys to success is that ‘Greatness is in the agency of others’… Your job in your 20s is to collect a set of allies and experiences that strengthen those alliances such that you’re constantly put in a room of opportunities, even when you’re not in that room…. Remote work is a disaster for young people…. You need to get out and make mentors, friends, and find romantic partners in your 20s…. Really lean into experiences and environments where you are meeting and cementing relationships—it will carry you a lifetime.” 

9. Find your moral compass

“When meaning is absent, people often fill the void with pleasure-seeking, power-seeking, conformity, or distractiion.” – Victor Frankl (paraphrased)

"When you want to help people, you tell them the truth. When you want to help yourself, you tell them what they want to hear." – Thomas Sowell

“Those who start with a 'why' have the ability to inspire those around them or find others who inspire them.” – Simon Sinek

A moral compass rarely appears fully formed. It is built through thousands of small decisions made when no one is watching. Young professionals often focus intensely on developing technical skills, earning promotions, and increasing their income, but character is every bit as important as competence. Your reputation is one of your most valuable assets, and it is shaped less by major moments than by everyday choices. If you consistently tell the truth, keep your commitments, give credit to others, and take responsibility for mistakes, people will learn they can trust you. Trust takes years to build and minutes to destroy. 

One of the most effective ways to maintain a strong moral compass is to decide in advance what principles are non-negotiable. The greatest ethical failures often begin with small compromises that seem harmless at the time. A misleading sales claim, a hidden conflict of interest, or taking credit for someone else's work may appear to offer a short-term advantage, but these decisions have a way of compounding over time. Before making an important choice, ask yourself a simple question: Would I be comfortable if this decision appeared on the front page of a newspaper with my name attached to it? If the answer is no, it is probably the wrong path. 

In my view, the rapid secularization of our society (and “anything goes” attitude) has led to a degradation of our moral fabric and erosion of long-held societal norms, with many people left searching for meaning and purpose in life. For some, they have found it in identity politics, tribalism, and an unhealthy narcissism. For me, although I was never particularly religious, watching the insidious nature of this trend has led me to become more spiritual, and I have gained even greater appreciation for the structure of traditional Western society, founded on Judeo-Christian principles, and our divinely inspired and brilliantly crafted US Constitution. So, if your influences, particularly social media, are negatively impacting your attitude, mood, focus, relationships with friends, family, and coworkers, and your job performance, perhaps it is time to take stock of your situation, honestly reflect with that person in the mirror, and pivot as necessary. 

I urge you to pursue truth and wisdom rather than personal agendas and tribalism. Root for your colleagues, teammates, and fellow citizens. Seek fairness rather than retribution. Turnabout is not fair play; it is destructive escalation. Two wrongs do not make a right. Success without integrity often proves temporary and costly. Surround yourself with people who challenge you to be honest, accountable, and fair. Just as importantly, avoid environments where unethical behavior is tolerated, rewarded, or excused. Culture has a powerful effect on individual behavior, and even good people can gradually drift from their values if they spend enough time in the wrong environment. 

ManlyMindz suggests, “Define your purpose. Without purpose, you’ll drift aimlessly…. Write down your goals and chase them relentlessly. Purpose gives your life meaning and direction.” And in the words of Charlie Kirk, “You need to have a destination in your life…. If the most important thing for you is just feeling good, you’re going to end up miserable. But if the most important thing is doing good, you will end up purposeful.”

Eric Peters of One River Capital once wrote a loving tribute to his deceased uncle Gregory Peters that included the following passage: “The world needs more [people] who do not have a price at which they can be bought. Who do not borrow from integrity to pay for expediency. Whose handshake is an ironclad contract. Who are not afraid of risk. Who are as honest in small matters as they are in large ones. Whose ambitions are big enough to include others. Who know how to win with grace and lose with dignity. Who do not believe that shrewdness and cunning and ruthlessness are the three keys to success. Who still have friends they made twenty years ago. Who are not afraid to go against the grain of popular opinion and do not believe in consensus. Who are occasionally wrong and always willing to admit it. In short, the world needs leaders.” 

To sum up, remember that a moral compass is not simply about avoiding wrongdoing; it is about actively doing what is right. Treat people with respect regardless of their position. Show integrity. Be principled. Be willing to speak up when something is wrong, even when doing so is uncomfortable. Look for opportunities to help others succeed. At the end of a career, few people wish they had made a little more money, won one more promotion, or spent more time at the office. Many, however, take great pride in knowing they built a life and career that earned the trust, respect, and gratitude of the people around them. Character may not always produce the fastest path to success, but it is often the surest path to a meaningful and enduring one.

10. Practicality trumps passion (at first)

“Take ownership of your actions and hold yourself accountable. You are in control of your destiny.” – Nick Sirianni

"Take a pause before you make a decision and say, 'What if,' because...whatever decisions you make are going to have consequences...be [ready] to deal with the consequences of the decisions you make." – Michael Jordan

“What other people think of me is none of my business.” – Wayne Dyer

For most young people entering today’s workforce, practicality and pragmatism should trump passion. Similar to my earlier discussion about the common but misguided advice to “just be yourself,” another trope is to “follow your passion.” But most new graduates don’t know what their passion is. Here’s a tip: you can find passion in something that you become good at and that compensates you well. Ultimately, this will allow you to establish a solid financial base, which provides the freedom and choices to pivot later in life without the burden of financial instability.

Faced with market uncertainty and a competitive economic landscape, unless you have the backing of wealthy parents, your priority should be stability, financial security, and developing marketable skills. Identify resilient, high-growth industries where the median pay can support your financial stability. In your early career, rather than chasing a dream, you should prioritize building “career capital” to develop valuable, inflation-proof skills that will give you leverage in the marketplace.

So, rather than passion being a prerequisite for your first career step, allow your passion to grow as your expertise in a high-potential field grows. As Scott Galloway opined, “The worst advice kids get every graduation speech is telling them to follow their passion. If someone tells you to follow your passion it means they’re already rich…. Your job is to find what your talent is and ideally commit to something that has a 90+% employment rate…. If you can find something that you’re good at and could be great at…in a 90+% employment sector…being great at something and the economic accoutrements, the relevance, will make you passionate about whatever it is…. Finding a way to be an expert in your field is a good way to become successful, no matter what else happens around you.” 

I was once on the board of directors of a town’s Chamber of Commerce. One year, they had the local superintendent of schools join the board as a temporary member, and at one meeting he told us about a “day in the life” program to let high school students experience a day in a job that interested them. The jobs he mentioned were things like radio DJ and a music production studio. Sounds like fun, right? I asked him if he set up students with accountants, engineers, or construction trades. He said no, because the students didn’t request those fields. I was shocked. I asked him if perhaps the program should be about creating awareness and exposure to the many opportunities in the world rather than just indulging youthful fancies. He said, “Hmm…let me think about that.” No leadership, guidance, or mentorship from the school district superintendent, just indulgence. It was disgraceful. 

This doesn’t mean you have to abandon your dreams and passions. Being pragmatic and practical doesn’t mean giving up on what you love; it just means moving the passion project to the side. Young professionals often use their practical, “9-to-5” income to fund their creative pursuits, hobbies, or side ventures, removing the financial pressure from their true interests, while offering a concrete path to homeownership and independence. The passion project can come later. But often, as young professionals mature, learn more about the world, and their horizons broaden, they discover new passions with greater opportunity for financial rewards, status, and success.

As a few examples, my firm’s compliance consultancy comprises two attorneys who stumbled into compliance work early in their careers at larger firms, developed expertise in the field, and ultimately went out on their own to create their own firm helping financial advisory firms stay compliant in a highly regulated industry. Of course, neither had long dreamed of becoming compliance consultants (I mean, who would?), but their learned expertise led to financial success, independence, and a passion for the work. My friend Joe—whom I met in an evening MBA program—worked most of his career at Apple. He didn’t start out with a passion for product pricing strategy, but he ended up spending many years leading teams that analyzed and recommended prices for Apple’s vast array of consumer electronics in markets around the world, traveling extensively, and meeting many interesting people. My neighbor Gary went to work at a home title company after bombing out in insurance sales, eventually started his own title business, and garnered a tidy nest egg in addition to developing passions for real estate, small business ownership, and property management of his many rental properties.

In my own case, I was good in math throughout K-12 and my father was a civil engineer, so I pursued civil/structural engineering in college through the master’s degree level and worked as an offshore platform design engineer for several years (and earned my Professional Engineer registration). But my heart wasn’t in it, and I felt pigeon-holed. So, I earned an MBA in an evening program while continuing to work and then shifted into a senior analyst role on the presidents’ planning staff at my employer (a major multinational corporation), which later led to various field operations management and regulatory compliance positions. Ultimately, I left the big oil company due to the continued industry stagnancy created by ultra-low oil prices (falling to as low as $10/bbl) and moved into the world of quantitative equity research, where I could pursue my passion for the investment world while leveraging my full array of technical, analytical, leadership, writing, speaking, sales, and relationship management skills that I had developed throughout my career. 

11. Take calculated, asymmetric risks (and be prepared to pivot)

“Audentes fortuna iuvat," i.e., "Fortune favors the bold.” – Virgil

"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." – Wayne Gretzky

“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do...Explore. Dream. Discover.” – H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Notwithstanding my advice about making a practical start to your career, there will come times in your future that exciting but risky opportunities arise. This applies both to your career and to your investments. It simply means that you should be open to new opportunities, but the risks you take should be skewed to the upside, i.e., much greater potential for gain than risk of loss. Sounds easy enough, but in practice they can be hard to identify. Let’s use a stock investment as an example. To ensure asymmetric risk, you might enter a stop loss or buy a protective put option, or “buffer” your downside with a put spread. Or it might mean finding a good company that is either just getting started (with little required investment) or is already heavily beaten down by market conditions to an absurdly low valuation (i.e., the proverbial “baby thrown out with the bathwater”).

It can be easy to lose track of time. You keep your head down and your nose to the grindstone at work while dealing with life, health, friends, relationships, pets, and family, and then one day you look up and 5 or 10 years have gone by. So, you should write down your goals. Put them in a prominent place where you can see them on a daily basis. Schedule periodic moments to take stock of your situation, reassess, and revise as appropriate your personal plan and path toward your goals.

Some jobs today might not exist in the future, and positions available tomorrow may be inconceivable today. LinkedIn forecasts that those entering the workforce today will have twice as many jobs over the course of their careers as those who started out 15 years ago. According to Harv Eker, author of Secrets of the Millionaire Mind, most workers will go through 6 or 7 complete career changes in their lifetimes, with an average of about 5 years in each. For your career, as Kenny Rogers said in his song The Gambler, “You got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away, and know when to run…the secret to survivin’ is knowin’ what to throw away and knowin’ what to keep….”

But the reality is, it is hard to know anything for sure; instead, you just have to decide. And there are no hard-and-fast rules on this, although some people have come up with their own rules of thumb. For example, one successful serial entrepreneur I know gives any new venture four years to gain traction and then moves on if it doesn’t. However, I think the timeline can be more fluid—in some cases you will know quite soon when it’s time to throw in the towel, and in other cases you may want to give it more time, as you can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Once the realities of the world set in, things might not go as planned. You or your boss might quickly realize your incompatibility with the job, the company, or the culture. In such a case, you don’t want to stick it out for 10 years, be miserable the entire time and too burned out from the experience to energetically move on. Surely, you’ve heard stories of the young professional who takes a 2-year sabbatical to recharge and reset after an exhausting job experience. So, the ability, preparation, and willingness to pivot to a better opportunity is crucial. This is as true for corporate roles as it is for entrepreneurs.

In your résumé or “one-sheet,” besides listing your education, internships, and work experiences, identify your core competencies, versatility, resilience, and strengths that aren’t tied to certain jobs or industries. More than anything in today’s fast-evolving workplace and job market, you must be adaptable, and this will help employers identify a candidate’s potential for newly created jobs, including those that never existed before. 

In the sport of track & field, there are sprinters, middle-distance runners, long-distance runners, high jumpers, long jumpers, shot putters, pole vaulters, and hurdlers. In football, there are quarterbacks, running backs, linemen, receivers, and defensive backs. Each requires a unique approach to training, execution, and winning the direct competition. Similarly, in business or entrepreneurship, your personality, style, idiosyncrasies, desires, strengths, and weaknesses will lead you toward certain directions, ventures, and initiatives.

But as in sports, you are rewarded in the marketplace for the value you provide and what others are willing to pay you for it. This is the essence of capitalism, i.e., win-win deals between two willing parties—a buyer and a seller. Some people are able to fool others into thinking they are receiving something of great value when in fact it is a charade or scam, but those people are usually exposed as the frauds they are soon enough. But if you can truly offer something of value (whether goods or services)—and effectively spread the word about it (marketing)—you will be rewarded. And the more you can leverage and scale your value, the more wealth will come your way.

Be judicious when evaluating a new opportunity, especially with a startup. Although we often hear about the new venture that turns into a unicorn and makes everyone in the company a millionaire, you rarely hear about the majority of startups that fail. They can be hit-or-miss, and the enticing equity stakes you are offered may never produce the windfall promised or hoped.

You don’t want to be known as a job-hopper, but on the other hand, life is short, so you can’t wait too long. In addition, there is a balance between looking out for yourself and doing right by your colleagues and employees. Referring back to tip #1, take care not to burn bridges as you make these decisions!

12. Determine your own definition of success

“Those who follow the crowd usually get lost in it.” – Rick Warren

"Live by design, not be default." – Aaron Sansoni

“Above all, don't lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect, he ceases to love.” – Fyodor Dostoevsky

For most of us, our initial view of what career success looks like is shaped by our parents, friends, teachers, pastors, coaches, bosses, and co-workers. But ultimately, you may find that your own aspirations and desires lead you to a career path and definition of success that is far different from other people’s. Find and follow a path that works for you, not the path of least resistance, and don’t just “go along to get along.” 

Friends and colleagues of mine have found professional, financial, or personal success in various ways. Some stayed with the big corporation and rose up the ranks to the highest levels. Others ventured out on an entrepreneurial path and found a market niche that allowed them to have both the independence and financial rewards they sought. Still others became investors and advisors in the ventures of other dynamic individuals so that they could support and share in their successes. 

When my younger daughter was in college in New York, most of her peers were anxiously jockeying for hard-to-get on-campus interviews for prestigious internships and starting positions in management consulting, investment banking, or Silicon Valley. Of course, most of those jobs are located in big cities like New York, Boston, London, and San Francisco, and they are known for being demanding, competitive, prestigious, and yes, lucrative (the biggest draw). For some, the challenge, lifestyle, and prestige of these jobs are highly appealing. For others, however, they ultimately find the job to be a grind—long hours, stressful, and exhausting. 

Total immersion in a challenging, stimulating, high-paying, and all-consuming career is desirable to many new graduates. But for others, work/life balance and time for community service, raising children, or a sunny location are more important. Some thrive in a fast-paced office environment or enjoy being a road warrior, while others prefer a flexible schedule or to work commute-free from home. You only live once (YOLO), so you must decide what priorities are most important to you today balanced against what it will take today for you to achieve the future you envision. Just be cognizant that desires and priorities can change once you get a taste of something new, or if what you thought you wanted doesn’t measure up to expectation. My priorities changed radically once we started having children. 

My main point is, don’t let others tell you what path is best for you. Decide on your own terms what is right for you. Listen to your heart and gut for input, but ultimately your logical brain should decide. Seek to balance passion, practicality, and purpose rather than being driven solely by materialism. Stay open-minded and nimble to thoughtfully consider new opportunities. Even if it’s not what you or your parents always envisioned, there is a path for you out there.

Final thoughts

I suggest that you keep this list in a handy spot where you can come back to review and remind yourself of what you need to be doing. Again, when you are in the midst of the daily grind of life, it can be easy to lose track of time and diverge from your plan. At least annually, if not quarterly, you should make time to reflect and refocus.

Allow me to close with some additional inspirational and thought-provoking quotes: 

“There is no security on this earth; there is only opportunity.” – General Douglas MacArthur

 

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” – Neale Donald Walsch

 

“You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.” – Walt Disney

 

“Good things come to those who wait, but only what’s left by those who hustle.” – Unknown

 

“Without self-belief nothing can be accomplished. With it, nothing is impossible.” – Felix Dennis

 

“He who has a why can bear almost any how.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

 

“If you want to change the world…start each day with a task completed…start off by making your bed.” – Admiral William McRaven

 

“If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them.” – Bruce Lee

 

“The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” – Joseph Campbell

 

“Focusing on yourself is a path to depression and disillusionment. Instead, focus outside yourself. You bring yourself joy when you help others: your family, children, friends, neighbors, your company, customers.” – Matt Ober

 

“Expectations aren’t a burden, they’re a privilege.” – LeBron James

 

“Whether you think you can or think you can’t, either way you are right.” – Henry Ford

 

“Embracing uncertainty is a competitive advantage in any pursuit. It allows you to be present, perform, and think more clearly as the unexpected pops up.” – Eric Peters

 

“The days are long, but the years are short.” – Gretchen Rubin

 

“The secret to getting ahead is getting started.” – Mark Twain

 

“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.” – Vince Lombardi

 

“The worst thing that could ever happen in your life sometimes can turn out to be the best. You never know until you move forward.” – Ivan Chaban

 

“When the customer is sold, stop selling.” – Unknown

 

“You will never get what you want until you are thankful for what you have.” – Michael P. Watson

 

“All happy people are grateful, and ungrateful people cannot be happy. We tend to think that it is being unhappy that leads people to complain.” – Dennis Prager

 

“Every minute spent comparing your life to someone else’s is a minute spent wasting yours.” – Morgan Housel

 

“Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient.” – Steve Maraboli

 

"Don't count the days. Make the days count. " – Muhammad Ali

 

“Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” – Babe Ruth

 

“The future doesn't belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave.” – Ronald Reagan

 

“It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.” – Marcus Aurelius

 

“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” – Confucius 

Yes, life is really simple, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. In the words of poet Devon Brough, “Marriage is hard; divorce is hard. Choose your hard. Obesity is hard; being fit is hard. Choose your hard. Being in debt is hard; being financially disciplined is hard. Choose your hard. Communication is hard; not communicating is hard. Choose your hard. Life will never be easy; it will always be hard. But we can choose our hard. Pick wisely.”

Perhaps you aspire to success, status, or prosperity. Perhaps you aspire to change the world. Just know that there is not only one career path for you, and you can make adjustments along the way. But no matter what path(s) you take, I wish you not just success but also purpose and happiness.

 

Disclaimer: This newsletter is published solely for informational purposes and is not to be construed as advice or a recommendation to specific individuals. The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Sabrient Systems LLC.

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