You’ve Graduated! Now What?!?
My 21-year old daughter and her friends call me Sue. It started when she was a summer intern at the same company that I work for. In the office, it would have been awkward for her to call me “Mom”. This daughter is about to graduate from college and begin her career 350 miles from home. I am so incredibly proud of my “girl” – she has graduated with Latin honors, held leadership positions, worked multiple jobs while going to school, and not only survived a semester abroad, she thrived! My heart is full knowing that she took advantage of everything an undergraduate experience can offer. To some, my work as a parent is done. I made it! Whew. The hard work, sleepless nights, anxious texts and phone calls are over, right? Not so fast. Although she may be off the payroll, she will forever be my child and I will still need to “mother” her. But what she needs from me is about to change. Change can be a very scary thing. To quote Jimmy Buffett, “Changes in attitudes, changes in latitudes. Nothing remains quite the same.” I feel like her commencement is an optimal time to provide words of wisdom, gained through years of experience, mistakes and victories. Those of you who have followed me over the past year know that I love music. A great song tells a story. Join me as I frame my advice with some of our favorite songs. I have called it “Mom’s Awesome Mix Tape: vol. 2” as a nod to our mutual affection for the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. The balance of this article will be written directly to her, but you’re welcome to follow along – especially if you’re looking for inspiration for a graduation playlist of your own. Bob Seger: “Roll Me Away” In a few short days, you’re going to roll out of Oxford, leaving behind friends and memories of the past 4 years. Suddenly, the song that we have been singing to on road trips takes on a whole new meaning. You could have gone anywhere to start your career – you could have gone east, you could have gone west; it was up to you to decide. And you chose west. The weather will turn cold in the Windy City and you will miss your home. But be patient (and wear a warm coat!) – your soul will begin to rise and your heart will be singing! Sara Bareilles: “Brave” You are one of the bravest people that I know. You meet challenges head on (think mastering “the perfect week”) and have an adventurous spirit (skydiving in the Alps!) You are about to leave the comfort of the known and venture into a new life, in a new city. The fact that you even want to do that makes you very brave in my eyes. I think this quote sums up how I feel about your next big adventure. Being brave means to know something is scary, difficult, and dangerous, and doing it anyway, because the possibility of winning the fight is worth the chance of losing it.” Emilie Autumn But wait – there’s more! Taking the bold step to move to Chicago is only the beginning of your brave. I’d like to challenge you to be vulnerable and open to the many people you will meet. Brene Brown speaks to this better than I can: “Tell the story of who you are with your whole heart. Let go of who you think you should be to be who you are. Embrace vulnerability. Believe that what makes you vulnerable makes you beautiful. It’s not comfortable – but it’s necessary. Be willing to do something where there are no guarantees. Be willing to put yourself out there. Invest in relationships that may or may not work out.” Uncertainty is uncomfortable. Predictability and familiarity can seem like the better path. Choose brave. Show me how big your brave is. Zac Brown: “Roots” It’s fitting that our last concert before you leave will be Zac Brown at Blossom. Since our first sing-along of “Toes” in St. Thomas, Zac Brown has written the soundtrack of our summers. I am looking forward to hearing the song, “Roots” live. The lyrics speak to something that I believe is very important. You grew roots in Ohio, and everything that led you to this moment and shaped who you have become, will keep you grounded and remind you of where you’re from. Even when you’re 350 miles away from your roots, you’re “home.” Your roots have made you the woman you are today. But now you have wings so that you can fly and make your dreams come true. And when you can find your way home, there will always be a place for you at our “family table.” There will be tears in my eyes as you walk away to your new life on July 1st. When things get tough, stay brave and persevere. Remember what Zac Brown says, “Don’t give up hold on a little longer, what don’t kill you only makes you stronger.” Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper: “Shallow” “Tell me something girl…” Just like Ally, you’re a star just waiting to be born. You’re about to take the plunge into a new chapter in your life. Dive in and see how it goes – preferably at the deep end! And, well, Bradley Cooper. Queen: “Bohemian Rhapsody” Mom’s Weekend was a just a prelude to the drama of the drop-off in Chicago. I anticipate it will have the emotion and theatrics of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” – a potent combination of tragedy and comedy, tears and laughter. I anticipate the departure will be the hug heard round the world – or at least the North Shore. Meg: “Mamma Mia let me go” Me: “Bismisllah No! I will not let you go! No, No, No, No, NO!” Jimmy Buffet: Multiple Titles I don’t care who you are – everyone has some days that are better than others. And that will be true whether you are in CLE or CHI. So, on the days when you are feeling down, remember the words of the great Jimmy Buffet, “Come Monday, it will be alright.” And if that fails, “change your attitude and change your latitude – nothing remains quite the same.” And remember how much I love “my brown-eyed girl”. Kenny Chesney: “The Good Stuff” You will undoubtedly be successful in business. Your leadership within DSIG and Farmer, along with successful internships at Sherwin-Williams and Nielsen have demonstrated that. As you embark on your career, remember that money and power aren’t what’s truly important in life. Remember “the good stuff” – your friends, the future love of your life, your family, and your children. It’s the people and the relationships you have with others that will define how successful you are in life. Black-Eyed Peas, featuring Will.i.am: “Own It” I feel the need to include an inspirational verse from one of our favorites – Will.i.am (or as you called him in NYC, Will I’m Not.) I love that this song is from an album called The Beginning. How profound. This moment is YOUR beginning. It’s a clean slate, a fresh start. You’ve been dreaming of this moment your whole life – now it’s your chance to own it! Chicago is happening. But don’t let that be the end of your goals. Make a new bucket list! Keep on reaching for your dreams! Thomas Rhett: “Life Changes” Isn’t it funny how life changes ? You wake up on July 1st and nothing’s the same. You can’t stop it! Just hop on the train! You never know what’s going to happen. Be open to possibilities. Find the good in every person and every situation. You know I am a planner, but life happens when we’re making plans. And some of those unexpected opportunities offer the greatest rewards. Taylor Swift: Multiple Titles I wish I could go back in time. If I could, I would keep you my sweet little curly-haired girl forever – with a toothless smile, a princess dress and ½ dozen American Girl dolls! When the only song you knew was Disney’s “Bippity boppity, BOOO!” But Taylor Swift is wise beyond her 30 years, and she knows that no matter how much you may “never want to grow up”, we all must eventually leave our childhoods behind and become adults. Remember all the “best days” we’ve shared together over the past 21 years – and how many more new adventures and exciting best days lay before us!” Be fearless. You’re the only one of you. And remember: you can’t spell Megan without “ME!” REO Speedwagon: “Time for Me to Fly” I always used to think that this song was only about me – and about my leaving. But I’ve been around for you, been up and down for you. I make you laugh and you’re making me cry. But the time has come and it’s time for YOU to fly. Set yourself free. I know it hurts to say goodbye, but it’s time for you to fly. But you don’t need to worry about me. I can “roll with the changes.” Boz Skaggs: “Lido Shuffle” “Next stop CHI town”! Singing this song with our fellow Parrot Heads in Wrigley Field last summer was so special. You had dipped your toe into the Chicago life, and I knew that it was going to be an important part of your future. The next stop literally is CHI town and I am so excited for you! Last but not least… Guardians of the Galaxy: vol. 2 soundtrack: “Lake Shore Drive” Before you know it, we’ll be heading west on Lake Shore Drive, heading in to town and toward your future. My final wish for you is that you enjoy this exciting time of your life! Walk and run along Lake Michigan. Spend lazy weekends exploring the city with old and new friends. Go after your analytics career the way you attacked your academic career. And remember that Lake Shore Drive also heads east, and back home to the ones who love you in the place you left. I keep telling myself I will be “fine” in this new phase. Megan working in Chicago won’t feel much different than her living in Oxford – at least not most days. And thankfully, Southwest Airlines has a great flight between CLE and CHI, so I am only a few hours away, when I need a Megan fix. And whether she calls me Mom or Sue, I will continue to greet her with open arms and give her a big “Mom Hug” and be by her side to help her navigate adulthood. And we’ll make new memories which will include adventures, music and laughter. Because if we didn’t laugh we’d all go insane. Thank you. Next!
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Originally published on LinkedIn - July, 2018
If you're a parrot head, you know how incredible it is to see Jimmy Buffett live in concert. I was lucky enough to see him twice this summer - once with my whole family at the beautiful Blossom Music Center and then again with friends and my daughter at Wrigley Field. But this isn't a story about music. Both times i was blown away by the impact that Jimmy and his Coral Reefer Band have had on so many peoples' lives over the 40 years they've been performing. They literally have made a living with "songs you know by heart." listening to 40,000+ people sing the words to "Margaritaville" or "Fins" was truly a goose bump experience! I couldn't help but think about what it must be like to be Jimmy Buffett, standing before thousands of people dressed in shark hats, parrot hats, margarita sunglasses, all singing words to songs that he wrote. Then Mac McAnally took center stage and introduced his song, "It's My Job." He spoke about how lucky he was to get to do what he loves as his day job. And he challenged us all to look at how we view what we do and figure out a way to do it better than the rest. That message really struck a chord with me. It got me to thinking about how people view their jobs. So much of satisfaction and fulfillment is about attitude and how we approach life. Employees in all jobs at all levels can either love or hate their job. Typically, the people who are the most engaged and fulfilled are the ones who know that what they do - as well as how they do it - makes a difference. When people ask you what your job is, what do you say? For most people, it's a brief synopsis of their job title or description. For example, Jimmy Buffett may be a singer/songwriter and an entrepreneur, but it doesn't begin to explain what he does and the impact that he continues to make. For myself, 90% of my time is spent creating PowerPoint presentations for other people to deliver. PowerPoint is merely the medium to deliver a message. It's my job to provide industry-leading tools for executives and salespeople to use to motivate teams, improve skills, inspire clients, and close sales. It's my job to be creative and fresh and constantly finding new and different ways to tell a story. It's my job to help other people be more successful. That's pretty cool. My stage may not be as large as Mac and Jimmy's, but my passion for my job and an ability to see the impact of my work is huge. What's your job? How can you make a difference with your co-workers and customers? Thoughts become actions, so if you think about how you dread going to work and how you can't wait until it's over, it will be a long and difficult day. It's exhausting to just go through the motions and watch the clock, waiting for quitting time. Your performance may also suffer as a result. So… my challenge to you is simple. Find the positive in whatever you do. Did you come up with a process that will improve productivity for your company? Did you craft the perfect coffee drink? Did you help a customer pick out a paint color that will transform their home? Keep those victories and your impact top of mind and your thoughts will literally translate to productive actions - and - greater job satisfaction. Everyone's job exists for a reason. I believe we can all be rock stars, no matter what our job is. Your audience will appreciate your performance! |