If I Were 22: Remember That Mistakes Are Learning Opportunities

This post is part of a series in which Influencers share lessons from their youth. Read all the stories here.

You are 22, maybe you’ve graduated from college, secured a job, and you’re ready to take on the world. Congratulations! But do you know what to expect? Do you know the path you want to take? When I was 22, I was unclear on a life plan and goals for myself. Unclear of where I wanted to go exactly, I only knew that I was on my own financially – and that financial self reliance was my greatest motivator of all. At 22, the transition from a life of social interaction with friends and academic success was now replaced with the need to make career decisions and be fully financially independent.

I’m thankful for my life experiences and wouldn’t change anything about the decisions I made or the path I chose.I was also lucky to have great mentors who I reflect on today. I’m grateful for their guidance during the early, formative, stage of my professional life. They were demanding, motivational, direct, risk takers, and masters at employee development.

While the workforce of today is very different from where I began 35 years ago, some of the same guidance still applies. First and foremost, do what you love and the rest will fall into place, and here are some other lessons I learned along the way:

Take Risks and Be Innovative – Companies may look for those that will follow their proven success patterns, but personal and professional growth may only come from responsible innovation and risk taking. Addressing obstacles, opportunities, and challenges you may encounter in your career may be the elements that define your path to success. You were hired to solve these challenges and create opportunities to move your company successfully forward. Innovation and opportunity will likely come from testing new things and stepping out of your comfort zone.

Listen, Look, and Learn – As our mothers once told us, we have two ears, two eyes and one mouth. Read. Watch. Absorb. Information is knowledge. Keep up with company/organization news, stakeholder/member perspectives and your competition. Have a voracious appetite to learn more than your peers or your customers about your company, its products and its capabilities. One of the most important things I’ve learned is continuous learning on the job defines a lot of your value relative to others.

Rely on Your Mentors – Role models, those who can help you develop professionally are your greatest resources and will help you grow and succeed. They are your first go-to people in any challenging situation, and the ones to learn from along the way. Challenging issues will arise that may knock you off your base for a time, but remember that these challenges don’t necessarily constitute a crisis, but may instead provide a personal growth opportunity. Learn from your mentor how to handle the greatest challenges as they have been there before you.

Mistakes are Part of the Learning Process – It’s how you react to the mistake and learn from it that counts. Even if a mistake affects your job, keep in mind that this is a moment in time and an opportunity to grow. Whatever you do, don’t burn bridges.It should almost never be personal and how you manage a moment of adversity will reflect on you for the long term.Learn from it and move on. Remember, even Walt Disney lost his job as an aspiring newspaper cartoonist after his editor told him he “lacked imagination and had no good ideas.”

Work Smarter – Be efficient with your time and that of your supervisors.You have a limited amount of time, but plenty of energy, resources, and talent. Allocate time to those activities that yield the most tangible benefits. Opportunities may emerge from where you least expect them.

Work Hard. Play Hard – Just like learning to allocate your time and talent inside the office, learn to allocate it outside the office. When working, give it everything and reflect the behaviors that you expect of others around you. It is also important to maintain a work/life balance. Spending time with loved ones, enjoying your sports or hobbies, and maintaining your health are just as important. Don’t just work life…live life.

Stay True to Your Principles, Ethics and Beliefs – There will be times along your career path when this is tested. Being loyal to a company, organization or boss is noble, but giving up on what you know to be right or wrong is not. Follow your inner voice.

Save for the Future – Just starting out in the world at 22, many don’t consider retirement. Start thinking about it and saving for it now. No one else can plan for and secure your future but you. Maximize your 401k plan if you can. Set a budget and stick to your savings plan. This will make a world of difference when you suddenly wake up and you are in your fifties.

Steve Jobs once said, “Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The trouble-makers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently…they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.”

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