How to Succeed

This is an email excerpt regarding a note that I sent to a young person concerned about his future.

1) The very ordinary job you have now is a means to support yourself while you continue to grow and understand better what it is that you want to do next. But it is also a way to train yourself about excellence.  Be excellent in all things.

2) You have time now to think, research, plan, and get out there to meet people, ask questions, get involved and learn new skills.  So do it.

3) You should think both in long range objectives and short range goals. Seriously, do a five and ten year plan that is not very specific. Break up your plan, if you can, into manageable small bites. Have only simple steps that you can do.  Work backwards from your ten year plan to figure out what to do now.

4) Get your foot in the door by volunteering, interning, and asking for informational interviews in organizations that resonate with you.  Talk to your friends, teachers, people you don't know.  Be part of the world you live in and the world that you want to live in.

5) Don't worry about the money. That is the last step, the very last step.

6) Have fun. Guilt-free fun. You are young - there is no rush. If you don’t have fun, you won't have the energy to do the work to realize your goals.

7) Foster good habits. Habits force you through the rough patches and the doldrums - the stuff that is difficult, topics that you are shy about, the questions you don't want to ask, the favors you will need.

8) Don't let yourself get stuck. Something is bound to happen if you act, so think of what is next as your destiny. Every day do something positive for yourself and your destiny. When you have done that something on that day, have fun.

9) It has been said that luck favors the prepared. Have your eyes open in life, think about what that pivotal moment might be like and what will your reaction be. You will not hesitate to do the right thing if you pre-visualize your response to the event that will change your life's course.

10) Believe in yourself. Be calm. Be ready. Just be. Each and every day.