I Graduated - Now What?

June 6, 2022

Dear Leaders,

You just graduated, sheepskin in hand, ready to go out and conquer the world, and then the obvious question hits you:?What do I do now??

In commencement speeches you heard about pursuing your dreams, be your best self, not letting anyone define you, never giving up, etc., all well and good, and I’m not here to tell you don’t do it.?I am here to give you a dose of reality with it:?It won’t come easy.?

Life is a series of mountains to climb.?You get to the top of one, only to find a taller one in front of you, and you can’t just leap across, you will have to go down and start at the bottom again.?Ugh!?

As a leader, you need to not only lead yourself through the mountains of life, but also others through peaks and valleys.?Some will be pleasant, others hazardous, and all will have surprises and pitfalls along the way.?Many of you will start by following to show that you’re willing to be part of a team and an organization, but you will lead by asking up front not “What’s my job?” but instead “What is our mission?”, and then set out to accomplish that mission with a fresh perspective and a dedication to making it happen.?Don’t be afraid to speak up if you have a new idea and sell it as part of the team.?You won’t need a leadership position to be a leader.?As you lead, others will naturally follow you, and it is then you will begin to “be your best self” when you start rising from the rank and file to distinguish yourself.????

Above all else, don’t be Sisyphus, forever pushing the stone up the hill, only to watch it roll back down.?You are cursed forever only if you do not plan for and enact solutions to keeping the stones at the top.?As you become a better leader, the day will come when you stand on that pile of stones you rolled up those many hills, and the view of your success indeed be magnificent – the sum of your dreams.??

Now, get out there and lead!?

Sincerely,

Tim