Walking through the hallways of a High School

Wednesday I was honored to be a guest at Career Day at a Brooklyn High School.  It's been a while since I'd had the opportunity to be with students.  Nothing tests your self confidence like speaking in front of seemingly disengaged 9th graders.  If I didn't know better I would have thought that they really were sleeping.  Fortunately Mr. L taught me long ago that the high school attitude is usually covering a true intent listening student.  So I launched in...

We played "Four Truths and A Lie" : Of the below five statements which one is the lie?  (It's okay to play along, I know you want to)

1.  I met Miss S. [the high school guidance & college counselor] when I was five years old.

2.  My college major was musical theatre.

3.  In the past eight years my office has grown from 17 to 1700 employees.

4.  I'm active in two professional organizations.

5.  Every year I get a 3% salary increase.

So which one is a lie?  And why on earth did I choose these five as statements to share with impressionable (albeit seemingly disinterested) youths?

1.  I met Miss S. when I was five years old.

TRUE.  We met in kindergarten ~ and I'm proud to call her a friend to this day.  "You are building your circle and your network even today in the cafeteria, whether you know it or not."

 

2.  My college major was musical theatre.

TRUE.  Up to a point, it doesn't matter what your major is, and it's possible to have more than one career.

3.  In the past eight years my office has grown from 17 to 1700 employees.

TRUE.  I work for a remarkable company and wouldn't be anywhere else.  That's not to say that there aren't hard days and lots of work to be done.

4.  I'm active in two professional organizations.

TRUE.  At a point in my role, I grew from a job to a career and needed help from folks who had been at this a bit longer than I had. "... in abundance of counselors there is victory." ~Proverbs 24:6

5.  Every year I get a 3% salary increase.

FALSE.  Some years there is nothing and some years there is far more than 3%.  The point is that in a decently run organiztion there is recognition and reward for hard work.  Even if sometimes you do the work *first* and you get rewarded for it later!

Having prepared these things, while somewhat interesting, probably didn't get the most important point across.  The best career advice is summed up in a couple of ancient Proverbs:

Do you see a man who excels in his work? 

He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men. (Proverbs 22:29)

and

A fool vents all his feelings,
      But a wise man holds them back.  (Proverbs 29:11)

and

He who walks with wise men will be wise,
         But the companion of fools will suffer harm. (Proverbs 13:20)

At the end of the day, there is wisdom in working hard, earning a good name, and being ready and willing to learn.  If I think on it, nearly every job I've gotten has been because of the previous job.  Maybe I'll prepare a bit differently for the next Career Day.  Advice welcome  :-)