Since there's just not enough articles with well-meaning advice for graduates floating around the universe at this time of year (not) - figure I might as well join the fray/flock/following, and add my two cents.
Heck, let's make it a nickels worth, as words are cheap and after all, since I didn't get to bore you with an actual commencement speech, Ill make it up by droning on here; seems fair.
Alright already.
If you’re graduating/graduated - then congratulations. On behalf of all parents, colleagues and employers - thanks for being a doer. Even better, thanks for being someone who gets things done.
Seriously, big kudos to you and your willpower and initiative to finish what you started, so that you can take the next step to enjoying success in business, work and life.
But wait: if it is not your destination, aspiration or motivation to now move forth and succeed personally and professionally, then feel free to drop out of this next phase and sit this one out (yeah, good luck with that). On the other hand, if you’re cool with doing the right thing, re: succeeding with your career and life - then cue the soundtrack, and let’s get this party started.
No doubt, you’ve inevitably heard the level-up expression as used in video gaming, right? (Personally, I’m kinda partial to old-school gems like Space Invaders, Galaga and Frogger.) Now, if you really think about it from a deeper, "whoa dude" perspective, the term level-up actually recognizes aspiration, inspiration and achievement; celebrating past accomplishments, current capabilities and future possibilities. (And you thought it was just about gaming.)
In other words, level-up can be more than just a term.
Much more.
Level-up can actually be a mantra/mission/philosophy (you get the picture) – to help you, take you, to the next levels of success: now and forever. And since you’re the kind of person who believes in having a level-up “manifesto” and therefore evidently, likes to continuously improve yourself (you do, don’t you?), I’m going to assume that you already have some of the attributes that are essential - post graduation - to succeed in business, work and life.
Attributes like compassion, accountability, determination, resiliency, a sense of humor and the multi-tasking wherewithal to juggle work, play, and relationships. Great stuff. Even better, and thanks to your experience and success in school, you are now more equipped to deal with the realities and surrealities that will most certainly and without a doubt, arise in everyday situations.
Put another way, time to "level-up" (now and forever).
But then again ....
Charlton Ogburn Jr., a crazily prolific writer and the author of a dozen or so books, wrote that “being unready and ill-equipped is what you have to expect in life.” He calls it our “universal predicament.” Granted, even with our schooling, we more often than not go unprepared into our adventures, and it’s a given that we can’t know what we don’t know.
Be that as it may, we should always do our best to be honest and forthright about what we actually do know, as opposed to what we think we can figure out once we get there. After all, being unprepared is difficult enough as it is, especially if we can help it. But being busted as a phony is worse.
We’ve all heard people say, “If I only knew then what I know now…” The problem with this kind of yearning is that it’s all about the past, not the future. And we can’t change the past. But what if we modify that concept and rearrange it to an achievable reality, like, “If I only knew now, what I’ll know then…” The phrase becomes hopeful, not wistful. It becomes meaningful and relevant.
That’s because we’re leveraging other people’s experiences and hindsight (aka teachings), which are passed on to us as insight. By extension, we get to use that insight, as our own foresight. If you think about it, that's what schooling is all about.
While there's lots to be said for "book smarts," learning “on the job,” the “school of hard knocks,” and even “baptism by fire,” it doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t continue to look for help, do our homework, and be prepared - even after we graduate. After all, a pat on the back for a (continuously) job well done, is a heck of a lot better than the proverbial kick in the butt for a job done poorly.
One of the biggest mistakes we make is assuming that we’ll get off to a great start with our new jobs; become invaluable employees from the very first day; enjoy loads of fun and lots of happiness, and be substantially rewarded for our work. Guess what? It’s probably not going to happen, even if we’re gutsy, or talented, and trained to do specific jobs.
In fact, it’s dangerous to overestimate ourselves, thinking that we can show up and hit the ground running. It doesn’t matter if you’re the new intern or the new mayor: you’re not going to completely know what you need to do, or what it’s all about, until you do it, and then do it some more. Even common sense (or Spidey senses), won’t help us out completely, because the fact is, common sense is not so common (and you’re not Spider-Man).
As Mark Twain said, “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know that just ain’t so.” How true. Or, take John Mayer, who sings about the bitter/sweet “train of life.” No, we can’t stop it. And sure, the train will be bumpy and discouraging sometimes, and we’ll have to travel with some unlikable passengers.
But there will be more times when the ride is smooth and encouraging, with lots of likable companions … especially if we have the right attitude, and the right support.
This means that you can’t just wait around for the world to change in your favor. (Sorry to disagree with you on that one Mr. Mayer. But I do like the song!) Frankly, waiting on the world to change is not realistic, and not all that smart. The fact is, your time is here, and you’re time is now (with a nod to another J.M. — John Mellencamp).
You’re the future and the present, so get on board and be a (studious and hard working) good passenger. Better yet, jump up in the front seat, buckle-up, and help drive. After all, nobody likes a backseat driver.
Nobody.
Indeed, the world needs you and your peers to be good, in and outside of work, because you’re the next generation of leaders (and yes, followers). Eventually and inevitably, your generation will be in charge of all of our businesses, governments, environments, planets and families. No pressure.
So once again, congrats.
Now, level-up, and get to work.
Work (and life long learning) is Good.
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