Here’s a story of a 46 year old man with experience and a 22 year old sharp as a tack young guy learning his way. It’s a good one. Well, you’ll be the judge but I think it’s pretty good.
My young friend here is a high achiever. Yeah he shoots for the stars. Graduated U of M, Ross Business School…. all A student…..tutors other kids…..your classic young bad ass……..etc. etc. You get it. He’s on his way to big things.
He is on the job hunt and he’s having his emotions tossed around with interviews, denials, and all the rest. Now because I’m OLDER, and he’s YOUNGER, there was a certain piece of advice I gave him that he ended up needing. And in the end it gave me a lesson as well.
It all began when he was upset over an email of denial he had received. He called me about it. They didn’t want him at ABC Big Shot Firm in New York/Chicago wherever…………My immediate reaction: “I need you to go print that email right now. And we need to frame it.”
My man replied, “Why? What do you mean print it? Are you nuts?”
He knows that I am, so what a dumb question………but I continued…”Dude, we are going to frame that thing for two reasons-
1) In 20 years we need to call that guy and tell him how much ass you are kicking
2) Tell me a bigger motivation you could wake up to if you are a real over-achiever”.
And the ONLY REASON I gave him that advice: He is going to be great and I can see it much clearer today than he can. I am so confident he is going to be great, I want him to put his “set backs” front and center. That got me thinking……why don’t we all get someone to watch out for us in this way?!
So many things that “get us down” or seem like steps backwards…..are really steps towards where we are going. We just need someone who is older and wiser to show us that.
Moral this week……….young over-achievers don’t need to know that much about how to do the job or how to think about the job. They need way more INSPIRATION and BELIEF.
Think about that with the people you care about and believe in. Inspiration and belief are way more important than any gift you can give someone else.
Have a great week!
D.Hall