From Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to?Changing the World: A Millennial's 13-Year Transformation

Millennials will make up 75% of the workforce by 2025. My generation was the first to be comfortable on the internet, despite spending most of our childhood without it. I’m proud to be part of the generation that grew up on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Big League Chew.

Imagine my excitement when LinkedIn told me that I celebrated 13 years on LinkedIn this year! I’ve connected with 323 professionals, and my content received 22,745 views. I just celebrated my birthday, so I want to gift my network 13 things I’ve learned in 13 years on LinkedIn. Here they are.

1. The only time I truly fail is when I fail to learn why I failed.
2. I’ve never succeeded chasing money, but I’ve always attained it when I chased success.
3. What I do doesn’t define who I am, but who I am should dictate what I do.
4. I’ve surpassed every manager and colleague who said I wouldn’t make it. That doesn’t mean I’m better than them; it means my desire to win was greater than their desire to see me lose.
5. The height of the mountain I climbed means nothing if I don’t help someone else climb higher.
6. Impact is better than influence.
7. I’m sitting at tables and walking into rooms where there are not others that look like me. Shame on me if I don’t get others in the room and teach them to build their own tables.
8. “Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life-this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past.” - Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 NLT
9. “Don’t be in a rush. Hurry up and take your time.” - Bishop Michael Ingram
10. “Jealous employers may be able to take your job, but they can never take what you’ve stored in your heart and mind.” - Grandaddy
11. If it’s worth doing, it’s worth documenting. If it’s worth documenting, it’s worth automating.
12. Anyone willing to gossip to you will happily gossip about you.
13. Employers will review resumes to replace you before the obituary is printed about you. Enjoy your life and don’t mentally stay in the office when you’re physically at home.

I hope these lessons bless you as they’ve blessed me. Thank you for being part of this journey. If you want me to elaborate on any lessons in a future article, let me know.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from everyone’s favorite bald, bearded Karsten.