Today I address a question I have been getting from my community. I am asked what advice I can give college graduates as they transition into the “real world.” Whether you are graduating college and entering the “real world” or crafting your “best normal” following a long quarantine, I share six tips to help along the way.
[1:38] What DOESN’T MATTER: Your degree! Now stay with me here. Don’t let your degree (your major, your minor) define where you are supposed to be. You have changed and grown so much since you declared your major years ago.
[5:02] What MATTERS: Your attitude! Have a smile on your face when you walk into a workplace or office. In our businesses, when you make that environment better, we are the people that you want in our world. Being growth-minded, being willing to learn and searching for ways to learn more are also significant.
[7:06] Another thing that MATTERS: Your confidence balanced with humility. I encourage those on my team to always remember they have a voice. I also don’t want anyone to take for granted what it has taken for our team/business to get where it is. Respect the people that have come before you. A good way to accomplish this is to, for the first few weeks, listen far more than you talk – listen 80% of the time. Better understand how can I add value to these people and this team.
[8:55] A third thing that MATTERS: Social maturity. Add value in the sense that you are a person that others want to be around. Observe. Be socially aware of how much work is being accomplished or how much banter is happening throughout the day. I discuss the importance of limiting gossip.
[11:52] Learn about yourself. Perhaps take a personality profile. Learn about what you like, what you are good at, what you don’t like and what things challenge you.]
[14:16] Try new things! When you try new things you are learning more about yourself. If you are feeling like you got a certain degree and should be at a certain level when you enter the workforce, you are going to set yourself up for failure. Get rid of that ego! Network, volunteer, intern, listen to podcasts, read books. Learn skills! There are a TON of careers out there and you can make an income in a unique way by getting creative.
[18:00] Seek mentors. This can be formal or informal. Get insight into someone’s world. That insight can guide how you want to live your life. It is helpful when you find someone who will pull back the curtain and show you everything, not just the highlight reels of their lives. Get an idea of where they started, what is their history? Where has this path taken them? Is this the life you want to live, too?
[23:09] Get ready to fail. You are going to fail! I share an example of a conversation I had with my father when I wanted to enter the real estate market back in 2010. When you fail, get back up. You will be stronger for it. Don’t forget your non-negotiables. Learn about what is important to you. These could be your health, your relationships, your faith, etc. When you are about to fail, lose what you can afford to. Don’t get too far away from the things that really matter to you.
Whether you are graduating and entering the real world or putting together your best normal, I hope these steps can serve is a blessing to you.
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