10 things to do, or understand professionally, before you're 30

Yesterday, Forbes dropped their annual 30 Under 30 list. While 600 young professionals adorned the list, representing 20 different industries, I had the same series of thoughts I do every year: "What I wouldn't give in order to land on that list... How can I be doing things differently? Where have I gone wrong? How can I get better? What have they done that I can learn from and apply to my daily routine? Holy hell I'm almost 30... Will any of them connect with me on LinkedIn? Low key let me get a follow back on Twitter..."

That being said, I feel as if I have positioned myself for at least a shot at Ingram's 40 Under Forty. With that one, the pool is smaller and I have 14 more years to work toward it. ?????♂? All jokes aside, here are a handful of things I've done or learned over the last few years that might help someone else better themselves so that they too, can position themselves better both professionally and personally. The following list, in no particular order, includes actions taken both in the office and outside of the office within one's own life. Consume this with a grain of salt -- I won't begin to act like I have everything under control. Shit still happens when you least expect it and there are a significant amount of things left to learn but I'd love to hear your commentary post-list in the comments below.

1) Help someone else succeed. Even if it means they land the gig and you do not.

As Young Professional Membership Director of Ad 2 KC, I've fostered a hobby and passion of mine: helping others. The role required me to send an email introduction to everyone who joined the club but I tweaked my approach - I offered a coffee or adult beverage to anyone who wanted to sit down and meet in person. While digital communication continues to become more prevalent, it's hard to replace the same intimacy and openness typically shared during an in-person conversation.

This habit has led to another tactic of mine - unless someone from 15 years ago who used to bully me in high school hits me up to try and work for a new employer of mine, I never decline when others ask if I can help them. A friend gets laid off? I immediately go to work in my network to find leads for them. A new grad wants me to review their resume and connect them with recruiters? Done. A colleague wants me to practice interviews to shake the rust off as they seek alternative employment? Sign me up. You never know when things will swing back the other direction and you need to be asking others for help instead of vice versa. Be a good human.

2) Keep a little black book of wins.

I originally began this activity to document all of the cool stuff I was doing at Barkley. The experience I gathered under the Rocket checked so many different boxes: new skills, extraordinary results, partnerships, activations, speaking engagements, press, accolades and case studies for days. I kept it in the Notes app on my MacBook and updated it any time I accomplished something new, a team won an award or our work was mentioned in a new publication. This made both the creation of a personal website and a new resume stupidly easy when I started to evaluate other options career-wise. It also allows you to reference something with numbers and true impact during phone interviews.

In this next chapter with Rally House, I've already made note of little victories during my first 6 weeks. I promise you that it doesn't take a lot of time but the return is massive. Btw, it's a great mental health supplement when you're feeling down or you get hit with particularly heavy criticism.

3) Get fired. Or quit a job you know is keeping you complacent.

This one is easily miscommunicated. Don't actually get yourself fired. It sucks. Been there, done that. Twice, technically. However, the manner in which you gather yourself and move on is a real learning moment. Do you wallow in shame and anger for weeks? Or do you immediately put your nose to the grind stone and make phone calls? How do you frame the termination? Was it mutual or did you really get broken up with?

Getting fired can both alert you of an incorrect career path and teach you valuable skills that will allow you to become a stronger candidate, employee and person.

On the other side of that coin, if you are going to work and leaving feeling unfulfilled? Bounce. Give it the ol' college try, but if a relationship simply isn't working... move on. Don't be brash. Don't burn bridges. Don't be arrogant or boastful. Don't be toxic. If you invest enough of yourself into an opportunity (think 6 months to a year, not a month or two) and you remain negative or lost, find greener pastures. Don't make this a habit but again, getting this exercise out of the way in your 20s is a lot easier and less regressive than when you have made it into middle-management or beyond.

4) Be proactive, present and purposeful.

Don't be the person who goes to meetings and types the entire time. We know you aren't taking notes because you never look up from your screen. Put the phone away. If it's important, they'll leave a voicemail. Keep your Apple Watch out of your face. Ask questions. Answer questions. Make every moment that you are in a meeting worth something. Share your ideas. Raise your hand when they ask who wants to try and "tackle this one."

Continue to find ways to put yourself in the right place at the right time but not simply to say the right things and fade into oblivion... only to resurface as a spokesperson. Walk the walk and talk the talk. Produce. Roll up your sleeves and do. Go above and beyond and merchandise the extra effort that you put into projects.

5) Develop a vision statement or elevator pitch for yourself.

Know who you are, what you've done and what you want to become. When you are able to clearly articulate those three things, networking and goal-setting will become significantly easier.

6) Become an expert.

Being a "jack of all trades" can do as much damage as being a jack of no trades. Find a niche and burrow yourself into it. Become "the X person." When you can adequately become the sole source for questions and answers regarding a certain topic, program or philosophy, you have elevated job security. Knowledge is power.

7) Immerse yourself in something unfamiliar. Keep learning.

Do all you can to avoid pigeonholing yourself. Keep your mind right and acknowledge the point above but always continue learning. Are you a social media professional? Dive into paid search and display. Explore email marketing and full funnel tactics. Know enough to contribute to conversations and strategy.

As an example, over the last 6 months I've dug into cannabis marketing. As someone who has never been a regular recreational marijuana user, it's entirely foreign but insanely intriguing from a business perspective. Talk about an industry needing creative solutions!

8) Shoot your shot with someone you feel is completely out of reach.

Let someone know that you admire them. Whether it's a tweet, email or LinkedIn message, tell someone you look up to what makes them so great. Ask the burning question. Tell them how they have impacted you personally or professionally. Offer your services or put your portfolio in front of them. You never know what can come about from this and at the very least, they'll read your message and know that what they are doing is making a difference.

9) Own your image online.

One look at my profile and you can gather that I place emphasis on social. It's not blind faith or self-expression that keeps me active across the web - all 3 of the internships I had in college, as well as a wealth of freelance opportunities and side projects, have come from conversations on either Twitter or LinkedIn. Barkley called me while I was working the contract at Trozzolo because of something they saw on my LinkedIn profile - I hadn't even applied for the Community Manager role. Time and time again, I have seen firsthand what social media can provide to a young professional. If harnessed correctly, it's an infinitely powerful tool.

With this in mind, make sure that your profiles are all spic and span. Carry yourself with confidence without wading into arrogant waters; provide insightful thoughts about relevant happenings in your industry, BE HUMAN -- the employers and recruiters that look at your social epidermis want to see who you truly are.

While social allows you to connect and engage with friends and family, it also adds a third-dimension to the resume.

10) Never feel safe, entitled or "due." Make things happen for yourself.

Lastly, do not place your future in the hands of others. There will be times when the closest relationships you have will be tested or dissolved entirely in the blink of an eye. Being blindsided is just a part of working for The Man. Continue to do what is best for you professionally. Loyalty and tenure can and should be highlighted but there will be times when it doesn't matter. Keep your heart and mind guarded but pour yourself into whatever it is that you do. Don't just collect a paycheck. Passion is as important as process in the professional world. Especially when working in industries where you spend more time with coworkers than you do with friends, family or your pillow.

With that being said, continue to keep an eye open. Politics are bullshit but they are alive and well in every industry. It's just a part of working among a group of people. Do not let one person be representative of a company or a team as a whole. We all know bad apples or nay-sayers. Make the best of every situation and stick your nose in everything. Make it your business because if it's not your business it could be used against you. Inversely, what you know can always be used in your best interest.

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My favorite professional mantra: "Work hard and be nice to people."

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While we ended on a more pessimistic note than I anticipated when I began the article, it's all warranted. Like what you read? Have different opinions? Questions, concerns, happy thoughts? Feel free to message me or drop a note below.