Being in my mid-late thirties I’ve learned a lot about working and building my career, especially to appreciate the value of my “beginner jobs” and the tough financial struggles I had through my late teens and early twenties. As I’ve grown into my career, gotten older, meeting more and younger professionals plus now dating a girl in her early twenties I’ve noticed there’s new vibe for people breaking into theor profession life and not wanting that “beginner job”. They no longer get that the established employees and upper management positions are usually filled by those who have struggled, learned and possibly sacrificed to get there they are. It seems that with the viewed success of those one in a million young entrepreneurs and Silicon Valley success stories too many people don’t realize they still need to work hard and sacrifice until, and if, that success story ever happens to them. Too many young adults appear to see the success of their parents and feel that that is the level at which they too should begin their journey as if they have the right to begin their career at, or close to the level of their parents. They don’t see to be taking into account their parents have had their years of struggle to get where they are now.
I can remember thinking and saying the same things I hear many young people say now like: my parents just don’t get it, they don’t understand, etc. Well one day they too will learn that they do and way more than they know. They struggled, pushed through and successfully raised kids while finishing school and beginning their careers, they knew more than we thought. I’ve grown into a career that pays me very well, I travel the world and buy investment real estate.
If there is anything I can take out of the last twenty years of working, struggling and living on my own and would like young adults to learn quickly and listen to: take advice from your parents when it comes to your career, sometime you have to take a step back to get ahead, respect those beginner jobs they’ll build character, don’t expect anything from anybody or companies because they don’t owes you anything and they know it and finally don’t be afraid to take that big leap for your career whether it’s changing jobs, changing careers, moving cause it may be the best decision of your life and most importantly accept and acknowledge those beginner jobs and struggling years that help build your personal and professional character.