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Opinion

HOW TO SUCCEED: What Millennials — And Everyone Else — NEED To Know

A recent New York Times article provided some interesting information about so-called “millennials” (see here). I DON’T endorse the philosophy presented — on the other hand, it may enlighten readers about a certain segment of the millennial age-group of our day.

I notice a lot of young people emphasize the importance of being “happy” in their work. That of course is a highly desirable result – but not necessarily an overriding one. It seems to me the important characteristic is to not be” unhappy” in one’s work. It’s a fact of life that one must work for a living – so make sure you have a strong work ethic. Having a good job, with a quality company, with appropriate pay and growth opportunities, is the most important strategic objective for one’s professional and financial career.

And I don’t agree that shooting-off-one’s-mouth – just because you think something – is a good idea. It’s better to think things through, i.e., what effect will it have on others, on your company, and on your reputation and career prospects. My advice is: project a professional, mature, thoughtful, work-ethic in both word, grooming, dress, deed and effort.

I believe in OPE – Other People’s Experiences. Everyone knows something you don’t know. Ask questions and listen – two ears, one mouth.

Employ the KISS principle – “Keep it short and simple.”

And always remember – “It’s not who is right but what’s right” that should matter most. But if you must disagree, do so without being disagreeable.

If you want to get ahead, get to work before others – and be the last to leave.

This NYT article reminded me of a television interview of a father who had three outstanding, athletic and academic sons. He was asked how he managed to achieve that result. He said he taught them:

To get up early every day . . . to read a page from the Bible and/or from an inspirational book . . . to be clean, well groomed, an attentive listener, and well spoken . . . to choose their friends carefully . . . to get to work a half-hour early and to leave a half-hour late . . . to think, analyze, conclude, know what they know and don’t know . . . to always do the best they can . . . to treat people as they’d like to be treated . . . to ask, believe, and receive the Lord’s support with undoubting Faith . . . to understand that good things will eventually happen if you do these things.

There are also some good books to read, even if only a couple of pages each morning:
How to Win Friends and Influence People
Think and grow Rich
The Greatest Salesman in the World
(Not about selling.)
The Bible

So don’t be over influenced by the New York Times article. Simply be informed – and guard against being sucked into a losing philosophy.

photo credit: yourbestdigs Back massager being used in office via photopin (license)

Share if you think millennials — and everyone else — will benefit from these insights.

William Pauwels

William A. Pauwels, Sr. was born in Jackson Michigan to a Belgian, immigrant, entrepreneurial family. Bill is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and served in executive and/or leadership positions at Thomson Industries, Inc., Dow Corning, Loctite and Sherwin-Williams. He is currently CIO of Pauwels Private Investment Practice. He's been commenting on matters political/economic/philosophical since 1980.

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