A Message To Our Youth
Several dear friends have asked me
to craft A Message To Our Youth.
I’ve had the honor of speaking with
hundreds of young people and have been a contributing force behind several
community initiatives at GE and Frito-Lay.
In my opinion, there are Three ”A’s”
for young leaders to always consider as they forge their path to success – Attitude,
Aptitude, and Action.
- Attitude
– As a young leader, you might feel alone, unsure, and
misunderstood. These feelings are natural. Regardless, don’t
let them prevent you from making your positive mark on the world.
Realize that there are many others who have felt the same way and have risen
above the negative emotions to achieve tremendous results. Also,
realize that that you are NEVER alone. There are many
people who want you to succeed and are willing to help – Family, Friends,
and Community Leaders who truly care. Don’t let pride or fear
prevent you from asking for the support. I often hear “I did not
want to bother you” or “I did know how to ask you”. These
are incorrect thoughts that limit your success. In fact, most
people are very interested in sharing their experiences.
They will often see themselves in you. Honor them with your
respect and you will receive wisdom beyond your imagination.
However, I do acknowledge that Life will likely throw obstacles in
your path. See these roadblocks as an opportunity to grow, a chance
to learn. Your WILL to succeed WILL overcome your
circumstances. Please have the strength to remain positive
and/or count on other’s to be strong for you. Don’t forget that you
will always have people that believe in you – often more than you believe
in yourself. Winston Churchill once said “A pessimist
sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity
in every difficulty”. Powerful words from an amazing
leader. It is a message about your frame of reference – how YOU
see the world. If you see things in a Optimistc
light, you will attract Optimistic results. Also,
you will feel better mentally, physically and spiritually about your life
– your present and future. Tal-Ben Shahar’s book “Happier”
is a terrific study on the effects of a positive outlook on life. I
highly recommend it. Finally, you should take the approach
that you will improve EVERYTHING that you touch and leave a positive mark
on others. You will quickly develop a reputation of someone with a
bright future and be admired by your classmates, friends, and
family. You will begin to form the foundation of your Legacy,
the road map to your greatness. You will grow into the leader
that you are destined to become.
- Aptitude - Webster’s
Dictionary describes Aptitude as “capability; ability; innate
or acquired capacity for something; talent; readiness or quickness in
learning; intelligence”. Please pay special note to the “innate
or acquired capacity for something” comment. Sure, some
people seem to just be born for things. This is often referred
to as a person’s innate gift. However, there are many
skills and gifts that are developed by a relentless focus on
improving your skills, on improving your knowledge, on improving your
Aptitude. I have seen many talented young people squander
their innate gifts thru a lack of focus. I have seen them passed up
by “los que tienen mas ganas de aprender” – the young people who simply
want to learn more. To increase your Aptitude, I suggest
that you focus on several key areas; your Formal Education, your
Writing Skills, your Communication Skills, and your Frame of
Reference. Your Formal Education is first and foremost.
Surround yourself with friends who share your same drive and who will push
you to be better. Don’t worry if you are not “popular” or feel out
of place. The students who focus on their Aptitude will eventually
grow into the most successful people in their communities and in the
World. Put the time into developing good study habits, becoming
accustomed to taking tests, and engaging with your
teachers. Your grades will speak to for you as you look to
secure support for College and beyond. Secondly, your Writing Skills
are incredibly important. There are many ways to improve these
skills. Most notable is to fully embrace the rules of Grammar –
don’t just gloss over them in class. Learn them and apply
them. Additionally, I highly suggest that you commit
to reading 10+ books a year in an effort to expand
your vocabulary, study different writing styles, and increase your
writing skills. Also, you will develop a true love for literature
that will last a lifetime. Thirdly, strong communication
skills can be a huge asset for you as you effectively convey your message to
others. A common roadblock faced by young people is that
“Little Voice” that I have referenced in previous blogs. That
voice asks “Am I saying things right?”, “What is he or she thinking
about me?”, and “Do they know that I don’t understand?” Silence
that “Little Voice” by speaking with confidence, staying focused on the
person you are speaking with, and being an active participant in the
conversation by asking good questions. In addition, if
you get an opportunity to speak in public, strongly consider taking
it. Speaking in front of groups takes a lot of practice as you build
your confidence and technique. To this day, after hundreds of public
speaking opportunities, I still get nervous. However,
my technique and my confidence augment my resolve. Strong
Presentation Skills will take you many years to develop and you
should start early. If you have any questions on how to build
these skills, please reach out to me. Finally, please expand
your Frame of Reference. Life goes way beyond your neighborhood,
school, and circle of friends. The past has many, many
lessons. Learn about your family history. There are many
people who came before you and paved the way for your
success. Your family stories will give you context and
strength. Also, become comfortable with current
events, learn about people from different backgrounds, explore
other parts of the world, and make friends from around the world.
Technology has enabled a glorious age of connectivity. Leverage it
to increase your Frame of Reference.
- Action
– “Analysis Paralysis” applies to situations where people think
about things so much that they wind up not doing anything at
all. We all know people that are always in the “Well, I was
going to do that but I thought that …” mode. To avoid this
trap, young leaders need to develop a plan for success complete with
yearly goals, evaluate those goals, and take meaningful
action. Without action, the days turn into months, the months
turn into years, and you are left with a lack of growth. In
developing your plan, think BIG. George Bernard Shaw once
said “Some people see things that are and ask WHY, I dream things that
never were and ask WHY NOT?” Give yourself the license to dream
and hold yourself accountable for achievement. Ask yourself
”Why Not Me?”. If you identify a legitimate gap, then develop
an action plan to secure the support that you need. Remember,
Success build upon itself and is contagious. Once you get the taste
of it, you want it more for yourself and others. Be certain to share
the positive results of your actions with others. A close friend and
spiritual advisor once told me “there is nothing wrong with abundant
success. The only thing wrong is not sharing it.” Great planning,
goal setting, and meaningful action will reap positive results for you and
all those in your life.
Well, that’s all for now. I
hope that this reflection resonates with you and enables your growth.
Thank you so much for your support.
All the best
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