One thing I love about my job is getting to meet with so many different leaders. I always ask: “How did you get your start?” I am blown away by the stories I hear. Very rarely does a person have a clear and obvious path. Most times it’s more a zigzag through a foggy landscape than a straight, well-lighted road. That describes my own path.
What does this mean for Class of 2025 graduates staring down an uncertain job market, a tricky economy, and a hurricane of swirling change? My message is, “Don’t sweat it too much. Do as much right as you can, and it will all work out in the end.”
I can only share what I’ve found to be true in my life and from watching others
A few items to think about:
Don’t let the gloom and doom discourage you. The world has always faced challenges and always will. Change and chaos bring opportunity with them. Keep your eyes and mind open for it. Don’t be afraid to take a risk.
The timeline might not be what you expect. Don’t be too rigid with milestones and expectations. Lots of great people hit their stride a little later in life: Ray Kroc (McDonald’s), Sam Walton, Julia Child, Samuel L. Jackson, and the list goes on and on.
Keep moving forward. It’s easy to let the distractions life throws at you stop your progress. It’s okay to rest from time to time, but don’t get mired in the mediocre for too long.
Make time for gratitude. There is always something to be grateful for, even in hard situations. What we focus on has a funny way of expanding.
Be promotable. My friend Bert Thornton, president/COO-vice chairman emeritus of Waffle House, Inc., says if you want to get promoted, be the obvious choice. Care about the job and the people. Work hard. Be all in. Stick around long enough to learn what you need to know.
Be flexible. Have a plan with some measurable outcomes in place but know when to adjust your course.
Check in regularly to make sure you’re on the right path. Are you doing meaningful work? Are you using your strengths and talents? Are you learning every day? If not, it’s okay to change direction—in fact, you owe it to yourself.
Get better every chance you get. Read, go to conferences, listen to experts, immerse yourself in learning…and stay curious. Be a good generalist, a student of history, and be aware of where the puck is going…and try to go there.
Surround yourself with good friends, coworkers, and mentors who are willing to tell you when you have spinach in your teeth. These should be people who will invest the time to get to know you, who have enough experience to give sage advice, and who aren’t afraid to tell you the truth and hold you accountable.
Bet on relationships. Be easy to work with, helpful, authentic, and kind. Don’t let people down. Manage your ego; give credit to others. Say thank you and mean it. When you invest in relationships (at work and in life), there will always be a payoff. Make generosity the cornerstone of your brand.
All this may not sound like much of a blueprint. It’s not. In statistical terms, you are an N of 1. An individual. Your career, your future, and your life belong only to you. I wish you the best on your zigzag journey.
