The 3 Secrets of Highly Successful Graduates

Today's graduates don't feel ready for the new world of work. I share three things that successful professionals eventually figure out about their careers. http://www.startupofyou.com

Published in: Career, Technology, Business

The 3 Secrets of Highly Successful Graduates from Reid Hoffman

Transcript

• 1. 3by Reid HoffmanTHE 3 SECRETS OFHIGHLY SUCCESSFULG R A D U A T E S
• 2. My name isReid Hoffmanand I’m anentrepreneurand investor.Hi!
• 3. I cofounded LinkedIn in 2003 withthe mission of connecting the world’sprofessionals to make them morePRODUCTIVE and SUCCESSFUL.
• 4. I’ve heard the CAREER CONCERNSof students around the world...
• 5. ...from the millions of STUDENTS on LinkedIn...
• 6. ...to the super youngENTREPRENEURSIve invested in...BRIAN CHESKY
• 7. ...to the student leaders who readmy book THE START-UP OF YOU.
• 8. And I’ve noticed a COMMON career concern...
• 9. THEY DON’T FEEL READY.
• 10. College is supposed to prepare youfor SURVIVING and THRIVINGin the world of work.
• 11. But the world of work has CHANGED.
• 12. Stable career paths are DISAPPEARING.
• 13. COMPETITION can come from anywhere.
• 14. And the worldcontinues toCHANGE at arelentless pace.
• 15. If you are graduating, you may feel ANXIOUS.
• 16. I want you to know THAT’S OKAY.
• 17. That UNCERTAINTY you feel right nowabout your future—it won’t ever go away.
• 18. In an ever-changing world, managingyour career is a LIFELONG PROCESS.
• 19. When I graduated from undergrad...ME
• 20. I thought I knew what I wanted to do.
• 21. I was WRONG.
• 22. I could NOThave predictedmy career path.
• 23. It even took me 15 YEARS to realizewhat I was doing had a name...
• 24. E N T R E P R E N E U R S H I P
• 25. Along the way, Ive developed an eyefor the patterns of SUCCESS and FAILURE.
• 26. And there are at least THREE THINGSthat successful professionals eventuallyfigure out about their careers.
• 27. You WON’T find themin any of your textbooks.
• 28. And your school DOESN’T teach them.
• 29. And I’m sure you’d rather NOTwait 15 years to discover them.
• 30. I want to share them with you today.
• 31. 31. Competition2. Networks3. Risk
• 32. "How do I bring my DIFFERENTINTERESTS together into a career?"
• 33. "What should I do ifI DON’T KNOW what I like?"
• 34. "How do I choose betweenso many DIFFERENT PASSIONS?"
• 35. All of these are variations ofthe CLASSIC CAREER QUESTION...
• 36. "What should I DOwith my life?"
• 37. But these are theWRONGquestions to ask.
• 38. Among other things,these questionsfocus the attention onYOUinstead of the most important factor...
• 39. E V E R Y O N E E L S E
• 40. Many people WANT your dream job.
• 41. For anything desirable, theres COMPETITION.
• 42. To beat the competition,you need to develop aCOMPETITIVEADVANTAGE
• 43. But what is amade of?COMPETITIVEADVANTAGE
• 44. ASSETSASPIRATIONSMARKET REALITIES
• 45. Your ASSETS are what youhave going for you now.
• 46. Your ASPIRATIONS are where youmight like to go in the future.
• 47. And theMARKET REALITIESare what people willactually pay you for.
• 48. The best career has you pursuingworthy ASPIRATIONS, using your ASSETS,while navigating the MARKET REALITIES.
• 49. Another CLASSIC QUESTIONyou may struggle with...
• 50. "How do I make aPOSITIVE DIFFERENCEin the world?"
• 51. You may think that you,as a RECENT GRADUATE withLIMITED WORK EXPERIENCE,don’t have much to offer.
• 52. In fact, yourEXISTING ASSETShave value, too.
• 53. You’ll be surprisedhow valuable yourexisting skills andconnections areto those whoDON’T HAVE THEM.
• 54. Just ask others: “HOW CAN I HELP?”
• 55. Youll learn to understandwhat OTHER PEOPLE’S NEEDS are.
• 56. Fulfill needs. Solve problems.And you CHANGE THE WORLD.
• 57. 31. Competition2. Networks3. Risk
• 58. In college, you had dorms,student organizations,classes...
• 59. Building relationships was EASY.
• 60. But in the real world, you have to learnto PROACTIVELY build your network.
• 61. Relationships matter because every jobboils down to interacting with PEOPLE.
• 62. PEOPLE controlresources, opportunities, and information.
• 63. Opportunities do DO NOT FLOAT like clouds in the sky.
• 64. Theyre attached to PEOPLE.
• 65. If youre looking for anOPPORTUNITY, youre reallylooking for a PERSON.
• 66. The people you spend time with shapeWHO YOU ARE and WHO YOU BECOME.
• 67. The fastest way to change yourselfis to hang out with people who areALREADY THE WAY YOU WANT TO BE.
• 68. The best way to meet new people isvia THE PEOPLE YOU ALREADY KNOW.
• 69. You may not think you know THE RIGHT PEOPLE.
• 70. Your existing network isBIGGERthan you think.
• 71. If you’re connected to a couplehundred people on LinkedIn,you’re actually at the center of a networkMORE THAN 2 MILLION PEOPLE STRONG.
• 72. In other words,it’s likely thatSOMEONE YOUALREADY KNOWknows someonewho could help you.
• 73. This is thePOWERof the extended network.
• 74. 31. Competition2. Networks3. Risk
• 75. Our education system penalizesstudents for MAKING MISTAKES.
• 76. But in the real world, you dont knowwhat the best plan is until you
• 77. And making mistakesis part of thatLEARNING PROCESS.
• 78. Learn by DOING.
• 79. Not sure if you can break into thepharmaceutical industry?
• 80. Spend six months interningat Pfizer making connectionsand SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
• 81. Curious whetherMARKETING or PRODUCT DEVELOPMENTis a better fit thanwhat you currently do?
• 82. If you work in a company where thosefunctions exist, offer to HELP OUT for free.
• 83. That’s exactly WHAT I DID at Apple,my first job after grad school.
• 84. Whatever the situation,ACTIONS, not plans,generate useful lessons.
• 85. ACTIONS help youdiscover where youwant to go andhow to get there.
• 86. In college, the MOST SUCCESSFUL STUDENTSmake the FEWEST MISTAKES.
• 87. But the MOST SUCCESSFUL PROFESSIONALSlearn to take INTELLIGENT RISKS.
• 88. You may assume that youget career stability byMINIMIZING RISK.
• 89. Ironically, in a changing world,PLAYING IT SAFE is one of theriskiest things you can do.
• 90. Rather than avoid risk,TAKE INTELLIGENT RISKS.It will give you a competitive edge.
• 91. For example, do not dismissjobs that PAY LESS IN CASH butoffer TREMENDOUS LEARNING.
• 92. Prioritize plans that offer the best chanceat LEARNING about yourself and the world.
• 93. Do not dismiss a career pathjust because you keep hearingHOW RISKY IT IS.
• 94. It probably isn’t as risky as most believe,which means there’s LESS COMPETITIONfor landing the opportunity.
• 95. In these opportunities,the WORST-CASE SCENARIOtends to be survivable.
• 96. When the worst casemeans getting fired,losing a little bit oftime or money,or experiencingsome discomfort,IT IS A RISK YOU SHOULDBE WILLING TO TAKE.
• 97. If the worst-case scenario is the serioustarnishing of your reputation, loss of all youreconomic assets, or something otherwisecareer-ending, DON’T ACCEPT THAT RISK.
• 98. There will always beUNCERTAINTYabout careeropportunitiesand risks.
• 99. The best opportunities are frequently theones with the MOST QUESTION MARKS.
• 100. When it’s not clear how something will play out,many people AVOID IT ALTOGETHER.
• 101. Take intelligent risks and you will findTHE OPPORTUNITIES THAT OTHERS MISS.
• 102. So, CONGRATULATIONS on the hard workyou’ve put into your education thus far,but your learning has just begun.
• 103. Graduation is NOT the end of learning.
• 104. We are all WORKS-IN-PROGRESS.
• 105. Each day presents an opportunity toLEARN MORE, DO MORE, BE MOREin our lives and careers.
• 106. In the world of work,EVERY DAY IS EXAM DAY.
• 107. If you’re not GROWING,you’re CONTRACTING.
• 108. If you’re not moving FORWARD,you’re moving BACKWARD.
• 109. Develop yourCOMPETITIVEADVANTAGE.
• 110. Build yourNETWORK.
• 111. And takeINTELLIGENTRISKS.
• 112. If not now, when?
• 113. READTHE BOOKAND TRANSFORMYOUR CAREERClick HereTO LEARN MORE