Sit right down and write your 21-year-old self a letter
Today, as I prepare to teach this fall, I have an unusual assignment for you. Here is the assignment:
Compose a letter to your 21-year-old self with the advice about how to manage his/her career.
You might wonder why I am suggesting this assignment. Here is my rationale.
This fall I will once again teach an upper level course for the University of Michigan’s Ross Business School. The purpose of the class is to help the 21-year-old students plan effectively for their future careers. The curriculum is designed to help students develop positive relationships and improve their emotional intelligence competencies.
A major component of the class is to have the students interview a class guest, who is a business professional who has been out of school anywhere from five to thirty years. The interviews focus on learning how the guests have navigated personal relationships to enhance their careers.
Though this assignment was created for my students, in the past, our guests have mentioned to me that they have thoroughly enjoyed reflecting on their own career paths, and have benefited personally from sharing their insights with the students. This interesting feedback has led me to suggest the following exercise for you, my loyal readers.
Your Assignment: Compose a letter to your 21-year-old self with the advice about how to manage his/her career.
Here are some questions to guide you:
Knowing what you know today, what advice would you give yourself when you were 21?
What advice do you wish you had received at 21 about managing professional relationships in your own career?
What advice do you wish you had received from more experienced people about how to plan and prepare for your career?
Regarding planning for your future, what advice do you wish you had received when you were 21 years old?
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
What is your advice to your 21-year-old self about managing a career during the first few years out of college?
I’m looking forward to your letter and will be publishing those who give me permission in a future Dr. Rob blog.
I also want to remind you to be an active mentor to the youngest people in your organization. No matter your age, I am certain that you have wisdom that will be helpful to younger people within your reach.
Please feel free to reply to the thread on this blog, or email rpasick@gmail.com
Dr. Rob