Things They Should Have Told You At Your College Graduation

I recently went on a business trip to Miami. I was sitting on the plane on the way back to Chicago and I started thinking about writing this post. I wanted to make a play off of the popular book "All I need to know I learned in Kindergarten". I started thinking about this as the two 6 year olds behind me would not stop crying, yelling at their mom because their ears were popping and kicking the back of my seat. (Insert Trojan Condom commercial here) I know that this book teaches all those little things that you are supposed to do. Treat others like you want to be treated, don't steal your neighbors crayon, and every work day should include a good nap. But I think that there are a lot of little things that college grads should be told before being released into real life. I wish that one of my professors or the Dean would have stood at the podium and told me a few key insights into my future. Here are some of the things I wish they would have told me and the reasons why.

"Chivalry is not Dead. Common Courtesy is Dead."
I try to be as courteous as possible to those around me most of the time. It is different if I am at a bar or another situation that I am probably drunk. If someone sneezes, I say bless you. If someone drops something, I will pick it up for them. I will hold a door, carry something heavy or say thank you if someone goes out of their way for me. I do not think this is contagious in any way. The prime example was the women that was trying to tame those brats sitting behind me. As we waited for everyone to slowly exit the plane, she stood right behind me. She was breathing on my neck which I am not a big fan of unless we are in another situation and popping her gum in my ear. I did the polite half turn to let her know that I was not happy with the situation but she continued and I prayed to not go off in the plane. I slowly counted the number of people it would take to get this horrid women away from me. If she is reading this right now. You deserve those kids. I hope they get worse by the day. If I had my way I would find out where you live and drop off a ton of candy and sugar for them just so they would bounce off the walls and you would have to deal with it.

"Your flight has been delayed. But we will offer you a warm Sierra Mist and a $3 cookie when you get on board."
I wish someone would have warned me that there is nothing exciting about business trips if your company does not spring for business class. The experience of flying today is nothing like it was 15 years ago. Flying used to be a luxury and a pleasure. Now it is annoying and the bare minimum. They should include in the safety announcement that the guy next to you has the flu and the baby in front of you will not stop crying the entire flight. I just wish I could have enjoyed flying in the days when it mattered to the airlines how people felt.

"Its not what you Know, its Who you Know"
Something that my university never really highlighted was the networking aspect of business. They made it seem as if you needed to memorize your book and get an A on a test to get a job. When really, it is all about having that piece of paper to show companies that you can learn. It took me 344 pages in "what color is your parachute" to learn that the single most important business skill is to be able to be social. You need to be a people person. Critical thinking is extremely important, but if you can't communicate your results, then you have nothing.

"The Age of Job Security is Gone"
It is said that my generation will switch careers at least eight times before retirement. It is funny to read stories about people who worked with the same company for 25 years and steadily moved up the ladder. This is something that my generation will not see. To be perfectly honest, retirement is something that my generation might not see. They should have told us, "Work your ass off every day at your job. Your employer needs to know how much you care. But never be irreplaceable. If you are irreplaceable then how could you ever get that promotion".

"Thanks for staying in Michigan for your undergraduate studies. Now, its time to leave."
No matter how bad the market was they always tried to veer us in the direction of working with a MI company. They never explored the potential of leaving MI in search of better things. Thanks God I did not wait for someone to tell me and i figured it out myself.

"You need a balance between work and the rest of your life. But never be afraid of a side project, you never know when that new project could give you the time to enjoy life even more"
Anything dealing with entrepreneur was something that was lacking from my education. The programs dealt more with working in a corporation, efficiently moving everything from your in box to your out box and leaving at 5. I wish they would have dealt more with having an addition to just the work you do everyday 9 to 5. This is something else that I will need to learn on my own, even if it is the hard way.

"You can re-take a Class, but Screw Up at your Job and your in Deep Shit"
Personally, i have not had any problems in this area, but I have some friends that have had to deal with this. it is the instant maturing process of realizing that it is time to get down to business. Make-up exams and skipped classes do not count any more. Go or No go. It is your choice succeed or fail. I think that a lot of people stay in school for longer periods of time to be able to not have to face this fact.

"Congrats. You are now an Adult and You have Complete Control of your Life"
In school you always have a direction you have to take. A set of classes that you have to take. An internship that you have to complete. A term paper that has to be done on a certain date. But in real life you have more choices. You can take whatever job you want, if it is offered to you. You can work at Jimmy Johns or you can work at Morgan Stanley depending on your drive and goals. If you want to just sit on the couch all day and collect welfare, that is your choice. You are no longer limited to the goals of others. You can do anything you want. Start a small business, create a new newsletter of magazine that you are interested in, or work part-time as a video game tester. It is your life, live it the way that you want.

"If you don't Remember anything that you have Learned here, Remember that there is No Sex in the Champagne Room"
I think that this is the equivalent to the age old motivation quote "There is no such thing as a free lunch". I just think that the champagne room quote resonates better with my generation.

Please feel free to add more things that you wish they would have told you in the comments section.