Do you have anyone in your life who, in a 5 minute conversation, influenced you through your whole career? I do!
During the final year of my Psychology degree at Wilfrid Laurier University, I was going through one of those challenging years. I read that there would be 10,000 more graduates in my field than there was jobs available. Hmm! My marks were positive but not excelling. We were broke students with our first child on the way and I had recently been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. I was sharing a few doubts about my health and my future with my mentor friend Reg. He was a couple of years older and a successful Christian in Business. My good friend gave me a phenomenal and probably the shortest item of advice I’d ever heard. I’ve held it, taught it, shared it and followed it my whole career.
He told me he was thankful for our friendship and he would continue to pray for me. His phenomenal but simple advice was:
“You will graduate and get work. Keep striving, every day. Read for ½ hour a day in your chosen field. Always arrive for work early and leave late. If you are paid for eight hours, put in nine quality hours. Do 110% in everything you do. Put Christ first in all your decisions and pray a 3 second prayer every time your phone rings. You will stay ahead of the crowd. No one will stand in your way.” (Reg)
I’m very thankful for this fascinating advice, I’ve carried throughout my career.
What can you share with a younger associate that will impact their lives forever?
Laurie D. Kennedy
Author of Leadership is Devotions for Servant Leaders (Amazon)