What do you wish you knew at 22? LinkedIn recently posed this question to key influencers. It’s a fun question that I thought would be an interesting blog topic.
It made me think about how I would respond, and perhaps be a point of motivation for some of the twenty somethings out there today. So I wanted to share my thoughts and also some from a few key leaders at Marco – along with photos of us in our younger days.
By 22, I had completed my service in the U.S. Air Force, married my wife of now 37 years and started fast-tracking my college education at the University of North Dakota. Three years later, I graduated and joined Marco.
What I wish I knew at 22…
- Be a part of the solution rather than complaining about the problem. This is the path to success and promotions and really will make you stand out.
- Take more risks. I probably would have started a business. I didn’t realize I had the skills to do it, but maybe I did. I guess I’ll never know.
- The sooner you can see the big picture, the better. I was a sales guy focused on my next sale. However, I found more opportunity when I started to learn the broader perspective of business management.
- Align yourself with the right people. You are who you hang with.
- Take more math and accounting classes. Nobody ever says “I wish I didn’t know the numbers so well.”
Here’s what others had to say (and I agree with these, too):
To be more serious about my money and how it can work for me. (I should have invested in Microsoft or Apple).
Gary Weckwerth
Regional Sales Director, Sioux Falls
Finding good mentors, particularly those that possess skills that you don’t, is important to future success.
Jennifer Mrozek
Chief Financial Officer
We can do most anything if we just take the first step. Take on the challenge and run with it - you may just surprise yourself. As Jerry Garcia said, “Someone has to do something, and it’s just incredibly pathetic that it has to be us.”
Barry Opatz
Vice President of Marketing
When I was 22, I didn’t understand the importance of work-life balance. Today, I understand how important this is to my team and how it contributes to creating a good workplace culture.
Scott Roeder
Vice President of Operations
Don’t wait to be asked to take the lead – take the initiative instead of waiting for someone to assign it to you. The more you can take off the plate of your manager, the more valuable you become.
Patty Funk
Marketing Manager
I wish I would have known that if I didn’t have the answer to a question, I should go find it rather than make something up. That got me in trouble many times.
Greg Gau
Technology Advisor
I was fortunate to figure out a lot in my 20s, and I think I made pretty good choices relative to my career path. Although I have few regrets, there are some things I wouldn’t mind trying again.
So what do you wish you knew at twenty-something that would have helped you today? Share your thoughts with us below or on our Marco Facebook page.
