It’s commencement time again, and so I asked some smart folks to share a bit of advice. If you’re graduating this spring — or even if you’re not — what follows is some sage advice that will help you navigate the difficult waters that are sure to come your way.
Special thanks to Chris Licht, Maria T. Cardona, Tammy Haddad, John Hawkins, Claire Berlinski, Robert Stacy McCain, and Daniel Pink for contributing!
Here’s hoping you find a few gold nuggets in these words of wisdom:
Know what you don’t know. Be humble. But one thing you always need to know is who you are. If you stay true to that and never compromise, the rest will take care of itself. – Chris Licht, CBS News
Be willing to pay your dues, work hard, get to your desk before your boss and don’t leave the office for the day til they do. Make sure your writing skills are top-notch. Knowing how to speak and write Twitter is great, but we are looking for grads that can speak and write in English. Always try to put yourself in your boss’s shoes and think one step ahead of her/him. Do research, be prepared. If your boss asks you something, don’t be afraid to say you don’t know BUT always follow up with an “but I’ll find out, or I’ll figure it out.” Network, network, network. – Maria T. Cardona, Principal, The Dewey Square Group and Founder, Latinovations
[F]ocus hard on what you don’t know and engage those who will teach you. You will accelerate your success and build a lifelong brain trust. – Tammy Haddad, President and CEO of Haddad Media
When it’s all said and done, the only things that really matter are your family, your friends, and the people you love. People being people, you’re going to screw up sometimes, they’re going to screw up sometimes, friendships are going end despite your best efforts, you’re going to hurt people without trying, and you’re going to get your heart broken. Just remember it comes with the territory. – John Hawkins, professional writer, RightWingNews.com
Just ignore all that windbag advice. The only person who knows what you want is you. You’ll figure it out on your own. Anyway, all the advice you’re about to get is going to sound ridiculous in twenty years. – Claire Berlinski, novelist and journalist
Nobody can force you to work or tell you what job to take. Therefore, keep in mind that your relationship with your employer is entirely voluntary. … Do not permit yourself to be unfairly exploited or abused, but neither should you allow your unhappiness to make you that wretched and despicable creature, the “disgruntled employee.” There are some situations in which the only right and honorable thing to do is to submit your resignation and seek employment elsewhere. – Robert Stacy McCain, The Other McCain
Practice, practice, practice. Doggedness is more important than talent. – Daniel Pink, author of “Drive” and “A Whole New Mind”