This is my note card.
It’s been over a year since I graduated from grad school. The worst thing about the real world: not being able to say that you are a student.
I found extremely important people more than giving when I’d reach out and introduce myself as a student wanting to pick their brain. Two titans on Wall Street gave me advice which changed the way that I am approaching my early career.
The cream always rises to the top.
I was absolutely blown away that this person read my emails, let alone set aside a half hour to call some kid! He is a young, successful finance professional who is very clearly a giving person. I asked his advice on how to approach the early years on my career and how he rose so quickly. His response, “The cream always rises to the top. Be a good person and do well at your job. Eventually people will notice.”.
Of course that was easy for him to say. After seeing this occur first hand, I know that it is true.
My note card is my note card. No one else’s.
Another extremely generous person spent an hour grabbing coffee with me in his office’s cafe. I was very proud to have already taken his advice before he gave it.
He told me that when he was younger in his career he wrote 5 goals on a note card for his life. Not for his career, but for his life. He set the note card in his bedside table and looks at it ever morning. He’s gotten to cross a few off. A few are still left, and who knows if he’ll cross them all off. But looking at the list ever morning is motivating. The goals left uncrossed are sobering, but the accomplishments already crossed off give him the push needed.
I’ve got a note card with quite a few goals left.
–J
Originally published at www.itsjamesmurray.com on August 27, 2017.
