Build a Vision for your Vocation

This month, like any other year, seniors are graduating from colleges and universities throughout the world, ready to embark on the next chapter of their lives. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, unemployment rates are skyrocketing globally. Here in the United States, the unemployment rate has soared to 14.7 percent, the worst since the Depression era, with 20.5 million Americans abruptly losing their jobs in April.

Graduating college seniors are entering a tight job market. Any initial plans to kick-off their careers and pursue their calling must be reconsidered.

In a recent survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), companies are hinting that jobs will bounce back once the country gets past the pandemic, with 61% of employers planning to recruit the classes of 2020 and 2021 at the same levels.

Many universities are live-streaming virtual celebrations of commencement ceremonies, some with musical celebrations. As usual, many prolific people have been selected to provide commencement addresses to the Class of COVID-19, as it is being coined. People such as Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, Malala Yousafzai, Barack Obama, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Megan Rapinoe, Tim Cook, LeBron James, former Secretary?of State Hillary Clinton, John Legend and Jimmy Fallon, and more.

The "red thread" through most of these speeches, is to not lose hope; to take this time to reflect; to be patient; to recognize that career paths are not forged in stone, and many evolve over time; to not fear and persevere through this pandemic; that the world is going to get better. Wise words from great leaders and influencers.

Reviewing a recent Forbes article on this year's commencement speeches, I reminisced of the graduate commencement speech I gave almost 20 years ago, celebrating my graduation from Webster University with my Master of Business Administration (MBA). While we were not in a pandemic, as you can imagine, several themes were similar to this year's message.

Provided below is that speech. I hope, pray and trust it may provide some comfort for those reading it—graduating seniors, recently unemployed, or those at a crossroads. This speech kicked off my career of an almost 20 year adjunct professorship.

Webster University Commencement Address, June 2, 2001

Build A Vision for Your Vocation, By Victor Clesceri

Thank you, Dr. Sawdon, for your generous introduction, and thank you, Monsignor Leuer (Father Tony), for your invocation over this ceremony. It is a blessing to graduate this morning with God’s mercy and grace.

It is a tremendous honor and privilege to represent my peers as this year’s graduand speaker. I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity.

However, it is a daunting task to be called upon to offer remarks at your own graduate school commencement. My wife always says I enjoy having the last word.

Now not having done this before, I sought advice from several mentors. Their suggestions were:

• Keep it short and simple
• Don’t over think it
• And, relax, nobody will remember it anyway

For those of you who know me, you're probably saying to yourself: “When does Vic ever keep things short and simple; and relax… Oh no, what are we in for?”

Hey, don’t worry! The administration has limited me to one hour, and I am too young to provide any sagely wisdom.

However, I do hope to supply twenty minutes of inspiration.

Commencement speeches should always include congratulatory remarks. Therefore, let us first express our wholehearted congratulations to Webster’s 2001 graduating class.

Today is a great day!

Graduate school is challenging, especially an executive program where students juggle the multiple demands of family, career, and education.

Each of my peers brought a diversity of experience, education, and skills into this program. Their contribution's fostered discussion and nurtured the learning experience. Together, we formed a crucible of entrepreneurial thought.

So, to my fellow graduates, congratulations and thank you for your input.

We all worked hard to achieve this goal—graduates through our dedication and hard work, and families through your encouragement and patience. Let us please extend thanks to the families for their inspiration and support.

Equally important, please offer a round of applause to our distinguished administration and esteemed faculty, especially for those who put their heart and soul into developing an exemplary business program.

I am honored to share the stage with some of the best educators I have experienced in my twenty years of schooling. Thank you.

In reflecting on this speech, it was difficult for me to focus on a single message. No surprise there! Yeah, I over thought it.

Stacks of research contributed to several rough drafts and my wife exhibited the patience of Job in reviewing my material.

However, on a recent business trip, I found the vision for this speech.

Thumbing through the pages of an in-flight magazine, I reached the horoscope section. Now, not having any remote interest in Astrology or New Age mysticism, I expected to turn the page immediately. But something inspired me to read my horoscope. I quote:

“The proverbial grass is always greener dilemma perhaps best describes your current classic Libra indecision.”

I was amazed of the message's timeliness and truthfulness. It provided me clarity regarding my topic, and helped me filter my research—you know, determine the facts, quotes, and ideas I planned to borrow and pawn off as my own.

So, what was the epiphany from my horoscope? Some refer to it as a “mid-career tune-up,” while others call it “the roadmap to avoid inner kill.”

I call it finding the courage and inspiration to trust your talents, ignite your passion, and be the person you are meant to be—to live a life of purpose.

So, how does graduate school fit in?

Well, what is the primary value of a graduate education? What skills and tools does graduate school provide its recipients to help them master their fears, exploit their talents, and make a difference for humanity?

As Academy Award Winner Russell Crowe stated in Gladiator: "What we do in life echoes in eternity!"

Let me share an amazing statistic I came across recently that will put into perspective the significance of a college education and validate the hard work each of us dedicated to graduate school.

While I have not had Dr. Mosard test the data for its internal validity, I am nevertheless sold on its factuality. Hey, if a politician could use it…

Please take a moment to meditate on this statistic. The fact is that only one percent of the people on earth posses a college degree. Think about that, only one percent of 6 billion people.

Additionally, people graduating with master’s degrees this year represent less than .2 percent of the U.S. population ages 18 and over. Think about that, less than 2/10th of a percent.

So, what is my point?

The point is that we represent an elite and privileged few. We have been blessed with the opportunity to attain graduate degrees.

Human rights leader Coretta Scott King stated: “education does not give us the right to be elitist.” Instead, “we need to be ashamed to die until we have won some victory for humanity.”

The key is not our educational attainment, but how each of us plans on using this knowledge to make a difference.

Some people are fortunate. They are working in vocations that are their true calling. They are happy, inspired, and have balance in their lives.

Others are not as fortunate. They are working in jobs that are not their passion. Their talents are untapped and their vocational spirit is buried deep inside them.

Individuals who are less fortunate are often unclear of their passion, do not know the difference between their talents and skills, and are plagued by fears.

Additionally, these individuals tend to allow extrinsic motivators—money, power, prestige, and title—to pacify their passions.

However, working in vocations that are not our calling will age us at geometric rate. On the other hand, working within our true vocation will provide sustenance to our souls.

I believe that each of us is born with a reason for being. Life is a journey to discover and live this purpose. This purpose is our calling.

Indian political and human rights activist, Mahatma Gandhi, once stated: “We must become the change we want to see.”

While the words of Gandhi have inspired me for most of my adult life, my actions do not validate my beliefs.

You see I believe the only way to become the change we want to see is by living our passion.

We all possess talents, skills, and knowledge and we all have passion. Yet many people continue to work in jobs where they are not inspired and are not using their God-giving gifts.

Aristotle believed that people are what they choose to be from the depths of their beings. To have courage and master their fears, he believed people needed to understand that they are free to determine their identity and purpose at any moment.

The nemesis of courage is fear. Fear chokes people of their talents and blinds them of their passion.

In his book, The Fearless Executive, Dr. Alan Downs identifies seven fears that all people face: rejection, inadequacy, the unknown, reality, authority, scarcity, and maturity.

Dr. Down’s research focuses on how some of the great executives of our time—Jack Welch, Bill Gates, and Richard Branson—overcame their fears and exploited their talents.

However, rather than regurgitating Dr. Down’s research and talking about the leaders he identifies, I would like to relate his research to the achievements of some of tomorrow’s leaders—Wendy Edwards, Rick Egan, Ellie Campbell, and Lori Salazar.

For those of you unfamiliar with these names, these individuals are fellow graduates of Webster’s class of 2001.

What decisions did our peers make to master their fears and pursue their dreams? How did their MBAs prepare them for the challenges that lay ahead?

Each of these leaders exemplifies the ‘fearless executive’. They have vision; they are passionate about vocation; and they want to make a difference.

These leaders found the courage to trust their talents and take risks with their careers.

Wendy Edwards and Rick Egan portrayed boldness. Both successful project managers in the healthcare industry, they dreamed of owning their own Internet business. They braved the storm of a turbulent e-commerce industry, driven by a vision to provide daycare solutions to parents via the Internet. Their fears of failure, inadequacy, and the unknown, a declining tech industry, and negative news on Wall Street regarding e-business did not sway them from their dream. The result, MyCareCorner.com.

Ellie Campbell ventured bravely into entrepreneurism. A successful project manager in the engineering industry, Ellie identified client relations and strategic planning as her talents and enjoyed a tremendous amount of success teaching project management skills. Midway through her MBA, Ellie got pregnant. Recognizing that she wanted to spend time at home with her children, Ellie decided that full-time employment was not an option. Risking job and financial security, Ellie set new priorities, mastered her fears, and opened her own part-time consulting company.

Lori Salazar, yet another successful project manager, took a huge leap of faith. Lori worked in the flight entertainment industry and was actively recruited for months by competitors and innovative technology companies. Lori's ambition was pacified by her job, but she desired a career where she could pioneer new technologies and be a catalyst for change. Facing similar challenges as her peers, Lori decided to leave the security of her position and join a small entrepreneurial company. She is now working with clients across the globe, developing high-tech resources and tools for business travelers through a variety of mediums.

And these are only four individuals in this year’s graduating class that I am aware of who had a vision, identified their talents, and took a risk.

I am confident that there are others of us debating whether to accept a promotion, lead a business, or assume responsibilities in a cross-functional area unrelated to our skills and experience.

And still others who have visions of opening a business, becoming a consultant, or changing vocations all together.

I'm one! I struggle daily with weaning myself from the corporate breast to live my passion—a career as an educator.

We all have dreams of climbing the career ladder, but doesn't it make sense to have your ladder against the right wall?

You see it’s natural to question our visions and opportunities. It is also natural to have fears. Yet fear is a breach of trust in ourselves when it causes us to envision the “dire traumas that may occur from our decisions,” or if it keeps us “continually doubting our abilities.”

How did our peers graduate school experiences prepare them for the challenges and struggles they faced in launching their new careers? How did their MBAs help them deal with their fears?

What tools and resources did they learn that aided them in identifying the right time to take a prudent risk?

The most important of the many skills each of us developed in graduate school was our ability to think critically.

Remember the words spoken by Professor John Bonosoro on the first day of his Marketing Theory and Practice Course? “You need to change your paradigm of how you think and learn.”

A common principle in Dr. Robert Trodella's Organizational Behavior and Professor Ed Smith's Operations Management courses as well.

In these courses, we learned the importance of Socratic questioning—to question our every assumption and bias; to ask open-ended questions; to see the big picture prior to decision-making and problem solving. To quote a graduate:

“The most important of the many skills I learned in my MBA was the capability to think critically. Decision making in any setting is made up of a blend of analysis, intuition, and positioning. The best way to increase my odds for success is to critically evaluate information with a skeptical eye.”

The best decisions for any setting are always made by critically challenging our assumptions.

Another benefit of critical thinking is the ability to test decision-making in the classroom by applying theoretical concepts to real life business situations and case studies, and then analyzing the results.

A school environment provides a safe laboratory to test and sharpen our strategic planning and problem-solving skills.

Bottom-line, critical thinking allows for reasoned judgment.

A component of critical thinking is its communication skills. In graduate school, we learned to improve our overall communication skills—writing, speaking, and listening. To quote a graduate:

"I learned to be more concise in communicating, and the knowledge and experience gained from making and delivering presentations has helped me with my presenting to customers and other companies.”

In graduate school, we learned the importance of team-based thinking, planning, and problem solving. Each of us will work in a team-based environment at some point in our careers. To quote a graduate:

“This program has allowed me to become more open. I am not as introverted as when I came in. This program has a unique environment that fosters one-on-one relationships with professors and students that greatly enhance learning.”

To improve critical thinking skills, we were trained to have intellectual empathy—the skill of thinking something through from another person’s position. Intellectual empathy in conjunction with collaborative problem solving allows for multi-dimensional thinking.

This was extremely beneficial due to Webster’s diverse student population. In any given class, students would have the benefits of East/West thinking, with global representation from the United States, China, Taiwan, Japan, Turkey, Croatia, and several European countries.

Evaluating business issues from a global perspective improves problem solving and critical thinking.

Interpersonal skills were developed as we studied communication techniques via the knowledge gained regarding theories of motivation, personality, and emotional intelligence.

Values such as independent thinking, empathy, humility, courage, integrity, perseverance, civility, curiosity, imagination, responsibility, and self-esteem are critical to improve the quality of our communication and critical thinking.

Several of these values are also important to inspire confidence in our decision-making and in mastering our fears.

• Responsibility—to be self-motivated when examining data and decisions
• Perseverance—to maintain commitment and explore new ideas
• Self-esteem—to know that your thinking is important to the bigger picture
• Independent thinking—to come to your own conclusions without coercion
• Courage—the ability to trust your own judgment when making decisions

Another prerequisite of critical thinking, is business acumen or cross-functional skills. Webster’s curriculum provided students with knowledge along the supply chain—operations, finance, marketing, human resources, and information systems.

We enjoyed professional training from a polytechnic faculty that included past and present presidents, CFOs, COOs, CPAs, consultants, and other well-established and successful business professionals.

In his Financial Management course, Professor Robert Carlisto ensured that each of us was grounded in advanced financial analysis, asset and liability management, and budgeting and forecasting.

Today each of us graduates with a solid understanding of the synergies between finance, operations, and marketing, and the impact that any decision we make has on the overall operations of a business, especially cash flow management.

Having breadth of knowledge along the supply chain allows for divergent thinking. To quote a graduate:

“I learned from marketing not to focus on the lowest price, but to focus on what the market will bear. This has developed my negotiation skills. Also, the ability to read and interpret financial statements has helped me with analyzing other companies for partnerships, as well as helps me strengthen my business plans.”

Business acumen is critical to the success of any business. Furthermore, portraying competency in cross-functional skills gains credibility with customers, potential investors, and your self.

When in an academic environment, people tend to take good education for granted. There is tremendous value in an education. Believe in your knowledge; believe in your skills; believe in yourselves.

Our graduate work has provided us with a knowledge base, tools, and networking relationships to help us meet today and tomorrow’s business challenges.

Each of our peers exhibited the same behaviors in pursuing very different goals.

The first step, identifying vision, is to simply know what is in your heart. What inspires you? How do you want to win some victory for humanity and become the change you wish to see?

Graduate school helps you with steps two and three—trusting talents and silencing fears. The critical thinking, interpersonal, business acumen, and leadership skills gained in graduate school provide us with the resources necessary to effectively lead.

True learning develops competency, commitment, and character. True learning is taking knowledge and making it actionable in the real world. True learning is our ability to take the models and theories we have learned and test our visions; question our business plans; and challenge our assumptions to improve performance and ensure success.

Dr. Downs states, “when you are no longer controlled by your fears, you live by your values—no matter what the cost. You stand up for your beliefs. Life matters to you.”

Rather than allowing our education to lay passive as a line item on our resumes, as an abbreviation on our business cards, or as an idle competency in our toolbox of skills, each of us is responsible for using this knowledge to influence change.

We are all accountable for making a difference for humanity in our families, businesses, and communities.

For each of us, Webster has been a place of possibilities; a place where we have “sharpened the saw” of our talents and skills; a place where we have developed our potential and prepared for our futures.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt once stated: “There is nothing to fear but fear itself.”

The time has come for us to test the limits of our knowledge and master our fears. The time has arrived for us to identify our talents and put in the hard work, sacrifice, and dedication necessary to transform the possibilities of our futures by “becoming the change we want to see.”

Let me close my twenty minutes of inspiration by quoting an anonymous professor of business:

“Just remember: No horse gets anywhere till he is harnessed. No steam engine drives anything until it is confined. No Niagara is ever turned into light and power until it is tunneled. And no life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated, and disciplined. Stop the waste, and start the worth.”

To the 2001 graduating class of Webster University, congratulations and may each of us live a life of purpose. May we win some victory for humanity and make the world a better place for our children and our children’s children. “May the wind be at our backs.”

Thank you and God bless you.