I’m have no doubt that you’ve all be desperately awaiting my tidbits of post college wisdom. I feel bad to have held out for so long. Now you know what the girls I date feel like.

For those of you still in college, and I’m hoping that some of you are so that this post is not completely devoid of value, here is my sage wisdom… some of which can be found in my Senior Spotlight in the UVU Review.

• Don’t sit in the same chair every day. We are creatures of habit. We do what’s comfortable to us. Instead of sitting in the same chair every day, take the chance to move around as the semester rolls along. I met some of my best college friends this way. Plus, if you creep someone out sitting next to them one day, or a new hottie adds the class late,  it won’t look suspicious if you move seats…
• High five your professors. Professors like ambitious students who are nice to them… at least the professors who are worth knowing. When you are friends with your professors, doors of opportunity will open for you both during and after school. I’ve only been graduated for a month, and I’ve already seen it… I mean, I passed my classes, didn’t I?
• Don’t take classes early in the morning. That’s just a foolish thing to do. You’ll fail your early classes because you won’t want to wake up in the mornings. You don’t think you will at the beginning of the semester, but trust me, thing change. Friends are made. Parties are attended. Sometimes you get lost in Walmart or Ikea while playing hide and seek. Crazy stuff happens. And trust me, after a night of hiding behind a Hemnes for 3 hours, 8:00 doesn’t seem so good anymore.
• Never buy text books... especially for upper division classes. (Science and Math are the exceptions.) You won’t read them anyway. Spend the money on something cool, like gum.
• Work for free. Find someone in your field, preferably someone more prominent, and help them. Bend over backwards to do free stuff for them… as long as that stuff doesn’t involve a goat, a dwarf and a jar of peanut butter.  When you graduate, their referral will go a long ways.
• Build your own personal brand. I’m not talking about your own “musk,” I’m talking about making sure that people can find you if they look for you.  Make sure you write things worth reading so that people can find you on the Googles. Trust me, it pays off to have a Twitter account that links to a blog that has a contact page that connects with your email address… just in case someone wants to offer you a job that way… which has happened.
• Be different. Lots of people want to be the same in college. They all want to get A’s. They want to suck up to professors. They want to graduate with jobs… and most of the time they fake it the whole way, expecting it to pay off. Just be you. Be nice. Be thoughtful. Work hard. Smile a lot. Then, things will work out.

I can’t tell you how good it feels to be done with school. I currently have my dream job. I have my fair share of autonomy, I’m allowed to master the things I’m passionate about, and I have purpose as a huge contributor.  I plan to make an impact here, just as I left an impact at UVU. I can’t help it…

This week Amber Rae wrote up a post that demonstrates exactly why I think she’s so radical. Not only did this post resonate with me (as most of the content she produces and/or shares does), but it was exactly what I needed to hear, when I needed to hear it. Here’s a sampling of her goodness and insight:

if you are dissatisfied with what someone else is doing — whether at work, in a friendship or in bed — this dissatisfaction is likely rooted in your inability to communicate clearly with that person.

we all have different expectations and styles. when we don’t express what we expect or want, we don’t get it.

similarly, if you feel anxious while collaborating with someone — whether at work, in a friendship or in bed — this anxiety is likely rooted in not knowing what the other person wants or likes.

how do you find out what the other person likes? you, very simply: 1) ask them what they like, 2) give it to them, 3) ask if they liked it, 4) if yes, repeat. if no, ask for feedback and try again.

seems very simple, yes?

it’s much easier to call out what someone else isn’t doing well enough by your standards. it’s far more difficult to put aside personal biases and set ways of doing things to discover how you might please the other person.

If you like connecting with inspiring, driven and exciting people, she is a great place to start. Follow her on the Twitters, check out her blog and watch for her upcoming book to be published! I know I’ll be reserving my copy as soon as I can.

Because… of Tom.

I mean, not many people have been hailed on Martha Stewart’s blog as “enthusiastic, charming and very organized.”

Although her resume is impressive, it’s not her past work experience that makes Rachel so incredible in my eyes. Sure, she’s pretty, young, and ambitious. Lots of women (especially in New York) are.  The thing that really astounded me about Rachel was her kindness and her surprising outlook on life.

What really stuck with me from the one hour I got to sit down with Rachel is that you can go anywhere in life if you work hard, be nice and watch for opportunities to present themselves in your life.

Rachel has a “Buck Stops Here” attitude. She shared multiple stories that demonstrate her incredible ability to take ownership of a problems when it could have been easy for her to flow her hands in the air and say, “This isn’t in my job description, someone else can take care of it.”

Your success in business doesn’t come from a ruthless and competitive mentality. Real success comes from helping others, going the extra mile, and taking ownership.

In a nutshell, work hard and be nice. Success will follow.

What we seek determines what we think and do.

What we think and do determines who we are—and who we will become.”

-Uchtdorf

Sometimes becoming a good person isn’t about giving things up, or weeding the bad out of our lives. More often than not it’s about what we refuse to give up.

The world frequently tells us we need to give up things to be become better. Rarely do we realize that it’s the things we should never give up that sets us apart from everyone else. It’s the deep-seeded values, entrenched in our hearts that make us who we really are.

The things that you hold dear determine what you become.

I’m not a big fan of gifts or attention, but I figured I get one day a year where it’s 100% justified that I steal the show, I might as well take advantage of it.

If you consider yourself my friend, I want you to get me a gift… only not that type of gift. Sometime in the next week, reach out and do something for someone. Lend a hand. Do a favor. Pay it forward. Do some good on my behalf to someone in need and  then let me know what you did in the comments section. I’d really like that.

Thanks for humoring me! Happy Birthday to me!

I’ve heard you talking. You’re scared.

You hate my generation.

You look around at us, and all you see is a group of semi-literate, Ritalin addicts who can’t put down their phones long enough to participate in a face to face conversation consisting of anything more than 140 characters. We possess no work ethic, and we get all of our news from Comedy Central. Our overwhelming sense of entitlement drives you insane, and our credit scores make you shake your head in shame.

You’ve talked it over on the golf green with your overpaid, corporate executive friends. You’ve all decided that a future of Facebook addicted, text messaging hipsters whose video gaming has all but obliterated their social skills  is bleak and far from promising.

You laugh at our ideas.

You laugh at our lifestyle.

You hate our music.

You hate our clothes.

You refuse see our worth.

The future you see us creating is anything but ideal.

Now, let’s be honest. The future you’re so scared we’re going to ruin… it’s really not you’re future, is it? You won’t be around to live it, will you?

I will.

And I’m here to tell you that your hope-deprived and faithless views of the iPod generation is wrong. We are strong. We are open minded. We are creators, artists and geniuses.

We have the courage to look at the traditional 40 hour work week, the educational system, Social Security and fossil fuels and admit that we’re doing it wrong. We have the capacity to demand change and to make a difference. We aren’t afraid to negotiate and compromise to make a better world for each other.

We are adapters. We are fixers. We are inventors. We are risk takers.

I look at the old world you cling to so desperately and I see what it can become if you would just open your eyes and trust my vision of the future. Our youth does not equate to stupidity. Our inexperience does not imply a monopoly of good ideas – or right ideas for that matter – on your part.

We are the movers and shakers. We are the generation who is going to save the world you have left in ruins. Remember (if you can) your early twenties. For you to get where you are today, somebody had to give you a chance. Somebody had to see potential in this poor, disenchanted, wannabe-world-changer from the upcoming rebel generation. They saw something in you, and they gave you a shot. Without them, you wouldn’t be where you are today…

Now look at me.

I’m not going to sit around and wait for you to hand me my chance. If you don’t have the vision to see the incredible tapestry we’re weaving, then get out of the picture, or we’ll cut you out.

I am not weak. I am not stupid. And I’m going to take over your company, your industry and your world whether you like it or not. Pick a side… but pick wisely.

Sincerely yours,

Generation Next

It’s been coming up in classes, books, presentations and conversations. I can’t escape it. It’s following me.

Last week I was able to attend a UVU Networking night, hosted by the Alumni Association of my alma mater. Bruce Jackson, Director of the Center for the Advancement of Leadership presented.

He pointed out that our country is in the middle of yet another crisis, aside from health care, the economy and global warming. This crisis is that of trust in their leaders. We don’t trust politicians, Wall Street and we certainly don’t trust the news. It’s a truly scary world when you really can’t trust anyone to just tell it to you straight.  It seems like the only time people are honest is when they’re caught in the act of being dishonest.

But then, if these people aren’t behaving with integrity, they’re really not leaders, are they?

Our society has a skewed perception of leadership. People aspire to titles of leadership with the false idea that the title makes the man. They strive to become managers and directors and presidents.  The title, however, is empty without the character to back it up.

Managers Leaders

Managers < Leaders

The true leaders, I’ve found, are those without the title. They influence change with strong moral character, hard work and determination. They have integrity. They generously give others credit where credit is due, and inspire others to reach their best potential.

Managers, on the other hand, don’t always have these qualities. All too often they have their position because of seniority, not their capacity to lead. They often rule by fear, using negative extrinsic and intrinsic motivators. They are close minded. They obsess over procedures and rules, and care about the team’s success only because it reflects on their personal image.

• Are you a leader or a manager?  Here are 10 questions from Dr. Jackson to help you find out.
• Do you have the desire to influence/lead?
• Do you see leadership as a choice or a position?
• Do you have a compelling mission/vision that others are willing to follow?
• Can you translate your mission/vision into a clear and workable plan?
• Do you know how to tap into the core motives, values and life purposes of those whom you work with and lead?
• Does your leadership style (autocratic/democratic/facilitative) match your environment?
• Consider your interpersonal skills… where are you excelling? Lacking?
• Do you emulate the leadership you expect in others? What is your personal and/or leadership ethos?
• Do you seek constant feedback as a leader? Are you a life-long learner?
• Would you follow you? What would you need to do differently?

Remember, anyone can be a leader. Anyone can be an influence for change. What are you willing to do outside of your job description to help others? What value and ideas are you supporting both through your actions and your interactions with others?

Those of you who follow this blog have probably already noticed that the tone has changed a bit over the past few weeks. I think it’s time to open yet another chapter for the Big Bags blog. I have decided to feature stories and experiences I’m having (and have had) with the inspiring people I come in contact with in my life.

I hope you can glean something meaningful from the experiences that are helping to shape me into who I am. Thanks for reading. Really.

Now, go be great.