Life After College: Navigating the Road Ahead

You spent four or more years learning, studying, writing papers, taking tests, and achieving grades high enough to earn a college degree. Congratulations! But your journey is not over. In fact, now is when it really begins. After having professors motivate, encourage, and mentor you, now your fate is in your own hands. Next up is to navigate the world of careers, tackle interviews, and find the right job, the right boss, and the right purpose so that you may thrive. It’s a journey that you will likely never forget, and one that will undoubtedly evolve over time, so buckle up for the ride, aim high, and as the next chapter unfolds, keep the following principles in mind:

• Do not let anyone bash your ideas or dreams. Every great innovation – new and old – started with someone or some group of people who had an idea. Consider Facebook, Uber, Netflix, Amazon, Patagonia, Airbnb, SpaceX, and so on. Innovators are those amongst us who are up for the long and winding road that it takes for an idea to become a reality. They embrace hard work, see failure as an obstacle versus a dead end, and ask a lot of questions of a lot of people. They are not afraid of the twists and turns, and trust in hard work, persistence, and discipline. They evolve their ideas over time, based on input and the changing nature of society. They get the work done and believe in the possibility of their vision so much, that for them, it is reality.
• Work hard. There is no short cut to hard work. Put in the time, energy, and effort it requires to do your best. Do not get lazy, do not seek the easy way, and do not settle for mediocre. You will always be remembered for your work ethic. Ask questions, seek more efficient ways of accomplishing tasks, and take pride and ownership in your achievements, while giving credit when appropriate to your teammates. Remember that you are your own unique brand with your own unique style; let all that you do be worthy of your imprint.
• Be kind and take the high road, always. Never forget that you are in this world with others, and that there is a lot that others may teach you. While it’s easy to get irritated at those who challenge us or disagree with our views, it’s often more helpful to pause and consider their intentions and motivations. Aim to be kind versus coarse and treat others with respect. Don’t be petty or false; be the version of you that suits you best, while also bringing out the best in others.
• Focus on skills and keep learning and growing. To borrow Ernest Hemingway’s quote, “We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.” There is so much to learn well beyond the walls of a classroom. Treat life and all your experiences as teachers. Soak everything in that you can. Do not underestimate the value of skills – whether it’s a certification, online courses, or serving as an apprentice. Fine-tune your skills regularly in this evolving and dynamic world; do not get left behind when it comes to technology or knowledge. Stay relevant, stay focused, and keep learning.
• Read a lot. Fiction, nonfiction, business books, sports books. Diversify your reading selections. Now that you are not in classrooms and writing papers and taking assessments, use the time to grow in new and different ways. Books allow us to explore how other people think and view the world; they enable us to see things in new ways, and to learn about various ideas, approaches, and the world of the imagination. Make time to read daily – and remember that audio books enable you to read on the go!
• Remember that the way you do anything is the way you do everything. The details matter: make your bed each morning, keep things neat and organized at home and in your office, hold the door for others, and smile at people you pass in the street, and do all you do deliberately and with positive intentions. Take it all in – the trees, the birds, the seasons, and do the same with your career. Do not miss one step along the way because you are so focused on the future. Today, take stock in today; tomorrow, take stock in tomorrow. Live the days as they unfold.
• Seek your purpose. Take time outs, look around, don’t feel stuck – finding your purpose isn’t always one-stop shopping. Sometimes it takes a few different jobs, roles, companies, and pauses to unravel what it is that inspires you. In fact, sometimes our purpose comes to us during a volunteer trip, or a vacation, or during a conversation with a stranger on an airplane. The key is to stay open, and to listen – not just to others, but to what your gut and heart tell you. Finding one’s purpose is not always a clear route, but once you find it, your path starts to click into place.
• Know that you will fail sometimes, and that’s okay. Don’t quit – keep going. Find a way. Doubting yourself is part of being human. It will help you to uncover and trust your inner voice. The more you grow and develop in your career, the more likely you will be able to listen to that inner voice and to empower it to help you find your way versus listening to others and pursuing a path that is not authentic or fulfilling for you.
• Don’t lose yourself along the way to achieve your goals and dreams. Sleep, eat, exercise, and laugh! Make time for friends and family. Make time to have fun – go out to dinner, watch movies, go to a concert. Walk the dog, play with the cat. Don’t plan that down the road you will get to do all that you love when you have more time. You will not have more time. Other things – spouses, children, aging parents – will come up along the way. Undoubtedly, you will get more hectic as your career progresses, making it invaluable to find time for the people and activities that matter most to you now, so that later, they are part of your daily life versus items to slot in.
• Do not confuse reality with social media. Do not get sidetracked with the social media version of others. Living is what happens in between Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat posts. Our daily challenges are often what we don’t want the world to see and “like” or comment on. Do not compare the social media high moments of others to the struggle and strife you may encounter as you transition in your life and career. Know that wherever you are at on any given day is okay, and that it’s just a passing stop along the many chapters of your life.
• Be great. Do not settle; always strive to be a better version of who you are today. When others are amazing, rise to their challenge. When others are mediocre, endeavor to rise them up with you. Do not be less than who and what you are to make others feel better. Keep being great and if and when you surpass others, allow your example of hard work, persistence, and commitment to inspire them to rise alongside you.
• Success is not measured by a paycheck. While a paycheck is nice – and necessary for most us to survive – if that’s all you are taking home at the end of each week, or year, there’s only so long you will be able to thrive. Titles are nice, as are the proverbial corner offices, but the further away we get from our purpose and passion, the less things seem to matter. We do our best when we are invested, driven, and when we care about what we are doing and how the outcome impacts others. We do our best when we understand the stakes – when we accept and acknowledge that our careers are vessels that enable us to help others – as well as ourselves – in some meaningful way.