What I Wish Someone Told Me When I Was Young

I have the pleasure of meeting many aspiring pre-professionals as the exec sponsor of LinkedIn Coaches, our program to embrace members of our communities from disadvantaged backgrounds that are finding their path to economic opportunity. I shared the advice below at a recent event.

*****

There’s this beautifully simple advice that I wish someone would have told me when I was a young adult: You don’t exactly know how, but every moment of your life is going to set you up for what you’ll end up doing later. Your hobbies, struggles, relationships, classes, and life experiences are all preparation for capitalizing on future opportunity. It’s so simple, but hard to appreciate when you’re in the moment, especially when some days can feel like a struggle just trying to put one foot in front of the other. 

Just making your work schedule sync with your school schedule can feel impossible on some days. You’re taking a class that’s hard, or have a teacher that doesn’t get you. You’re doing a job you can't stand, or you're balancing child care with growing your career. Whatever it is, I can assure you that all of these moments are preparing you for something you can’t see yet.  

My best advice is to do two simple things. First, take comfort that the struggle is what prepares you, even if you can't yet visualize what it's preparing you for. 

Second, reach out to a mentor.  

What can help take the pressure off is thinking about those people in your world who you admire, who you think you could learn from and confide in. Consider taking a first step toward building a relationship with that person. Learning from others gives you perspective, sometimes really humbling but life-lasting feedback, and the confidence to help you shape your path.  I've had many mentors in my life... my dad, my managers, my coaches. Each has left an indelible mark on me and guided me through tough times and uncertain choices.

In fact, having a mentor is proven to work. Ultimately, mentoring connects a young person to personal growth and development, and social and economic opportunity, yet one in three young people will grow up without this critical role model. 

A recent study by our partners at MENTOR found that young adults who feel uncertain about the future create more opportunity in their lives once they find the right mentor: 

• 55% are more likely to enroll in college
• 78% are more likely to volunteer regularly 
• 90% are interested in becoming a mentor 
• They are 130% more likely to hold leadership positions 

While all of this is encouraging to read, remember the first step: take some deep breaths, then start putting one foot in front of the other to make that first call, text, email or LinkedIn connection, with the people you admire most to be a mentor. When they ask what they can do to help, because they often do, tell them that you’d love to focus on what you’re most passionate about. 

Three top resources to help get you in the right mindset as you start your mentor journey:  

·      LinkedIn Career Advice is a great way for you to network and have meaningful career conversations with professionals who share a common interest with you. 

·      Read "Three Pieces of Career Advice That Changed My Life" by Jeff Weiner.  

·      Read "A Guide to Finding the Job That Makes You Super Happy - #dreamjob" - if you love superheroes, you'll love this post. 

One last thought...for professionals wanting to become a mentor, it’s normal to have a few questions about how you can best prepare yourself to mentor someone and if that new relationship will be mutually beneficial. Here are some helpful resources.