A Young Clevelander’s Guide to Success
Birol's Business
By Andy Birol, President, Birol Growth Consulting

from Cool Cleveland columnist Andy Birol http://www.AndyBirol.com

A few months ago, in an article entitled Let Our Children Go, I made the case for young folks to move away, sow their wild oats in more progressive regions, and then move home to the Cleveland area with their teeth cut and their minds primed to stir up our stagnant economy. Now it’s time to turn the tables.

Having just turned 46, I am among the region’s “elders” (although some who know me may insist I’ve never really grown up). I’m not young anymore, and any attempts to be hip enough to relate to 20-somethings make me look ever more foolish. (Is “hip” still hip? Will someone under 30 please enlighten me?) But I do live in the real business world, and in a region where everyone needs to step up. So, at the risk of sounding like an aging contrarian who can’t quit spouting off, I challenge the young to make a larger contribution to their own futures and to our region’s recovery.

Too many young workers don’t seem to grasp the obvious, which is that we all survive by exchanging our value for someone else’s money. Unions, laws, scarcity, egos, blind faith, and idealism can’t change this; hey, the flower children of the ‘60s are AARP lobbyists today. Why, then, do I see so many young people who expect to re-create the marketplace in their own image? From arranging a job interview for a starving artist who neither shows up nor calls … to being admonished by a young restaurant manager for not tipping her staff’s terrible service … to seeing a rookie worker resent being trained to do his job well, I have seen too much entitlement and too little excellence. Look, you are the engine of your own destiny. If you idle around waiting for someone to figure out how much horsepower you have under the hood, sooner or later you will run out of gas. Instead of blaming the idiots who just don’t understand, you can put your life and your career on a fast track. Here are a few simple suggestions to get you started:

1. Show up on time. Woody Allen (the M. Night Shyamalan of my generation) said, “Half of success in America is just showing up.” Doing so on time gives you an edge over all those snooze-button addicts.

2. Only make promises you will keep. Unless you’re Dick Goddard, you don’t get paid for what you say. You are responsible for following through, so if you really don’t care or don’t respect something, don’t try to fake it. Agree to do only what you know you can and will do. Then see #1.

3. Learn or leave. Nothing kills innovation like the status quo. Honor your great gift of youth by working for a company willing to invest in your mistakes, and work your ass off. Commitment and passion are remembered long after the problems you faced along the way.

4. Work hard, play hard, and expect to succeed. It makes life bearable and often thrilling. Do what you love. Seek out new experiences, broaden your skill set, and do a lot of rock climbing before you turn 45.

5. Follow the easy rules so you can break the stupid ones. It helps people take you seriously, and if you focus on achieving results, few people will question your methods as long as they fall within ethical and legal bounds.

6. Know and grow thyself. Your strengths are easier to develop than your weaknesses.

Having held eight full time and dozens of part time jobs, many of which I did not like or keep, I was no conformist. But I did build experience, expertise, a track record, and, ultimately, confidence and a reputation. As one who encourages entrepreneurism, I still believe a background in working for the man is great training. Along the way, hold on to these lessons:

•Presentation may triumph over substance, but history catches up with you.

•Your highs aren’t that high and your lows aren’t as low as they feel.

•If you are not drowning, you must be swimming.

•Be secure in your insecurity.

•Since age and treachery beats youth and energy, don’t get taken in the same way twice.

I believe everyone has their own Best and Highest Use, namely what they like doing, are good at doing, and are valued for doing. Know what makes you unique, and then find your niche in the marketplace. Use your 20s to discover your BHU; your 30s to develop it; your 40s to sell it; your 50s to project it; and your 60s to give it away by building a legacy. This will allow you to live your life in the happiness that comes from doing what you love as well as you possibly can. Take responsibility for your successes and your failures, and may God bless you with more luck than brains!

from Cool Cleveland contributor Andy Birol abirol@andybirol.com

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