My commencement message: a business plan for your career

A few weeks ago, I had the wonderful privilege of giving the commencement address at the University of Connecticut School of Business graduation to over 700 undergraduates who are about to begin their professional careers.

As a Husky alum myself (I went to the Law School), I was thrilled to give the talk. And like so many others before me, I wanted to use those short 10 minutes to attempt to give the business graduates something relevant and useful as they embark on their careers.

After some soul searching…as well as a very helpful conversation with my nephew who was graduating from a different business school…I decided to provide the graduates with something that would hopefully connect – a business plan! Now this is a different type of business plan. It’s one built for THEM, covering five strategies that future leaders can look to for success in their lives and careers.  

Here’s a summarized version of what I told them:

First, every business needs a clear mission and purpose, and the most successful businesses pursue that mission with tremendous passion. What’s your mission and purpose? Enduring companies with long-term success don’t focus simply on making money…and neither should you. Of course, money is important. It’s required to live, and it helps fuel your dreams. But it’s not your purpose.  

Now I understand – you’re just starting out, you probably have student loans, and you need a job. What’s important is that whenever you have choice – choose to do something that fuels a passion. Don’t simply go after the job that pays more.

When I graduated from law school I was offered a prestigious job at a Wall Street firm for a lot of money. I turned it down for a corporate legal job in Hartford at nearly half the pay. Why, you might be asking (as my parents certainly did)? Because it allowed me to experience more interesting work and greater responsibility earlier in my career at a company I truly respected, and I never regretted it.

As you build your career, continue to keep a clear eye on this key element of “purpose and passion.” Most of us want to be part of something bigger than ourselves, where we make a contribution to others.  

I feel very lucky that I can do that in my job. The mission of our business at Fidelity is to inspire better futures for the millions of people in this country who count on us to help them with something very important and personal – their financial futures. We view this as a privilege and it’s something we take very seriously. Think about what fuels your passion and purpose and where you can have an impact beyond yourself.

The second element focuses on how you spend your time. Your decisions about how you spend your time will define the trajectory and shape of your career. It’s the governor of your success and largely determines the fullness of your life. Have clear priorities about how to spend your truly precious time. And then, however you choose to spend your time on earth (the purpose and passion we spoke of) – make sure you pursue it with absolute excellence. Make your efforts deserving of your time.

You have such a powerful example right here at UConn with the Husky women’s basketball team. Coach Auriemma demands excellence every single day. Channel your inner Geno and know, as he does, that excellence also demands hard work. Nothing is more fulfilling or rewarding than giving everything you have to achieve something extraordinary. Continue to embrace the grind that it takes to succeed.  

Risk – an important consideration in any business – is the third element of our plan. And since YOU are the subject of this plan – simply put, go for it! Don’t settle. Don’t get comfortable and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. The biggest regrets in business and in life are often the risks not taken…of hesitating because of fear of failure or self-doubt. Everyone will fail at something. It’s part of personal growth. Don’t let a lack of self-confidence narrow your world and have you miss out on trying new things. If it doesn’t challenge you, it will not change you.

With the velocity of change in the world around us, it’s such an incredible time for business graduates to take calculated risks, to disrupt traditional approaches, and to help re-imagine the future of business. More change will happen in the next decade than in the last 50 years. The opportunity is that big. Push yourself – you’re worth the risk.

To put another very real perspective on this: A dear friend and colleague of mine learned shortly after his 49th birthday that he had stage four lung and brain cancer. He waged a valiant fight against cancer but succumbed less than a year later. As he lay in his hospital bed, he and I talked about the meaning of a life well lived and the difference between the years in one’s life versus the life in one’s years. Fortunately, he was a person who embraced adventure, took risks and crammed a whole lot of life into his years. His time here was well spent. YOU want to look back without regret and without apology.

Fourth, brand. Brand is a critical component of any business venture. And your personal brand, like any business brand, is not about advertising or optics. Your brand is built every day by how you conduct yourself. Are you honest? Do you treat people well? Do you cut corners? Are you a person of rock solid integrity and honor? The rules for your personal life are no different than your career. You can’t hide from your brand – it follows you everywhere. It’s you. 

I remember one of my law school professors always saying “It’s a long life in a small state.” He was underscoring the point a long time ago that you can’t outrun your reputation in the relatively small state of Connecticut. But since then, the whole world has gotten very small in this digital age. As you well know, it’s hard to hide from anything today. Be proud of your brand and make sure it’s consistent with your core values.

OK, with most of the essential elements of your plan in place, there’s one last ingredient we cannot miss – the fifth and final factor is Fun. 

Make sure you laugh a lot along the way of life’s journey and have fun. Find the joy and humor in life and stay positive. Be a force of positive energy. And don’t take yourself too seriously... because no one else will. I know this to be true because I live it every day with my 15-year-old son and the thousands of people I work with. Trust me – they routinely bring me right down to earth! A healthy dose of joy, humor and fun is essential in a busy life.

OK my time today is up...and your time is just beginning. The world awaits you. Your opportunity to build and shape the future is literally unprecedented. It’s exciting, it’s energizing and it’s exhilarating.

My hope for each of you is that you, too, put a heck of a lot of life in YOUR years. Push yourself to achieve excellence and spend your time achieving more than you ever thought possible. Live the life of your dreams. You deserve it… and the world needs it.

Thank you. Huskies Forever!

#FidelityAssociate

Views expressed are as of June 7, 2018. Unless otherwise noted, the opinions provided are those of the author and not necessarily those of Fidelity Investments.

Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, Member NYSE, SIPC

848252.1.0