I started Docstoc in my 20’s,
made the cover of one of those
cliché “20 Under 20” lists, and
today I employ an amazing
group of 20-somethings. Call
me a curmudgeon, but at 34,
how I came up seems so
different from what this
millennial generation expects.
I made a lot of mistakes along
the way, and I see this
generation making their own.
In response, here are my 20
Things 20-Year-Olds Don’t Get.
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.
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. (Tip: read “ Talent is Overrated ”)
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.
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 .
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.
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.
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. (Watch : Millennials in the Workplace
Training Video )
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.
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.
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 .
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.
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 .
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.
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 .
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. (TIP:
Here is my Networking Advice )
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. (TIP: “ The Secret to Finding and Keeping Mentors ”)
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. (Shout out to
Tony Robbins for the tip)
Read More Books, Fewer 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.
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.
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.
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