Once again, I would like to thank my friends for inspiration, because at some point they may stop going to dinner with me. That said, I had dinner with friends this weekend and one of them has the opportunity to live abroad for a year. She’s 23. I say that because some of the counter arguments (from herself and others) were that the opportunity might not be in alignment with her career path or her current job was fulfilling and didn’t know if she should leave it. We told her we’d pack her bags for her and drive her to airport that night.
Some people might say that it wasn’t our decision to make. They are right. And we didn’t make the decision but as her friend, we shared our opinions. For all those Millennials, and even those who are one or two generations removed, here is my unsolicited advice:
- Take smart risks. There will be enough time in your life for making conservative decisions. The key word is “smart”.
- See the world. I wasn’t exactly twenty-something (but close) when I made the decision to start to travel outside of the US (work and/or leisure)—inspired by Dad’s love of travel. Nothing compares to that experience and it will influence your life in a lot of great ways.
- You don’t need to figure it all out now. The path you think you want may not be the path you take. Take time to explore what you are passionate about, what inspires you, what drives you, challenges you—because on your worst days, those things will sustain you.
- Don’t accept mediocrity. BUT learn to deal with it and work around it.
- Your best job may not be the one that moves you up, it may move you over—and then move you up.
- Find people to learn from. Sometimes the worst examples will provide the best learning, so you’ll find it everywhere.
- Be introspective.
- Make mistakes and learn to live with them. It means you took risks and tried new things, or you just did something stupid. Unless you are planning the next Ponzi scheme, you will likely recover from your mistakes…just own them and move on.
- Build an “I’m outta here” fund. Save for a rainy day, a really rainy day, one that lasts six months or a year.
- You control your reputation and image. Take the “did I really do that?” photos off facebook. Just kidding…uh, not. Career aside, if your friends thought posting it was funny, it probably isn’t.
I would say that these might be simple things and that we’ve all done them but…I’ve met tenured executives with offshore responsibilities and a virgin passport. My goddaughter just got back from Croatia, singing in a choir. She’s fifteen. She had a great time, except “the plane ride could’ve been shorter”. I bet that trip will shape her decisions for years to come. At least I hope so.
