Here are 5 points from Reid Hoffman’s slideshow, ‘The 3 Secrets of Highly Successful Graduates’ from Business Insider’s recent article.
1) “Opportunities do not float like clouds in the sky. They’re attached to people. If you’re looking for an opportunity, you’re really looking for a person.”
This is one of the most important concepts of the entire slideshow. We often think of ‘a new job’ or ‘more money’ as abstract concepts. No! Every job comes through people. All money flows through people. Focus on connecting to people who are relevant to what you want to accomplish and you’ll find the opportunities you’re seeking.
2) “The people you spend time with shape who you are and who you become. The fastest way to change yourself is to hang out with people who are already the way you want to be.”
3) “Our education system penalizes students for making mistakes. But in the real world, you don’t know what the best plan is until you try. And making mistakes is part of that learning process.”
A willingness to make mistakes is a foundational tenet of successful entrepreneurship, and it’s a real paradigm shift from school. That said, not everyone is an entrepreneur.
4) “You may assume that you get career stability by minimizing risk. Ironically, in a changing world playing it safe is one of the riskiest things you can do.”
Again, consider the source of the advice here. Hoffman is the co-founder of a social media based start-up. Clearly, certain fields face a faster rate of change than others.
5) “When the worst case means getting fired, losing a bit of time or money, or experiencing some discomfort it is a risk you should be willing to take. If the worst-case scenario is the serious tarnishing of your reputation, loss of all your economic assets, or something otherwise career-ending, don’t accept that risk.”
I interpreted this as the distinction between taking an ethical risk vs. an unethical risk.
Leave a comment below noting what aspects of this slideshow resonated with you. I’ll admit that the first point on competition was a bit muddled, but otherwise there were some interesting points. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Hi Alison,
The second point was a “wow” to me. My husband and I live with my mother-in-law because the rent is lower than if we were to live on our own. But I have noticed that I am becoming like her and I don’t like it. She’s a nice person but not a clean one. I used to keep my own place really clean and now it seems like I don’t care much and that’s scaring me a bit. So I’ll keep in mind point #2. I just wish it was the other way around where she would become more like me.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts Patty! That’s a great example of how we can be influenced by the people around us. I’m glad that point #2 struck a cord with you.