July 10, 2008Reader Discussion Question ~ Looking for encouraging words
A reader asks:
I need some encouraging words to say to high school graduates who will be attending college.
Suggestions?
Thanks.
2 Comments »
RSS feed for comments on this post.
| TrackBack URI
You can also bookmark
this on del.icio.us or check the cosmos
In today’s fast-paced business world, no one’s going to give you permission to engage in continuous learning — a strategy that is essential to your future success. You must take the initiative yourself.
This thought is not foreign, but is far from the norm. Most people’s attitudes are “I got my degree (or diploma), and now I don’t have to learn any more.” Not only is this attitude out of step with successful living, these days it may be downright dangerous! Accelerating change in nearly every area of human endeavor is making current knowledge obsolete at a faster pace than ever before. Gone are the days where one could learn a craft and utilize it for a lifetime, with little or no change. In short, the only constant these days is change itself.
To grow in our jobs we need to keep growing and learning, long after our formal schooling is done. The more we’re able to know and the more skills we acquire, the more value we can offer to our employers. That places us in an upward spiral of a growing income. To become the very best at what you do you must continue to learn and hone your skills and capabilities to the point where they become highly regarded and sought after by your coworkers and professional peers.
People who engage in continuous learning naturally tend to outgrow their jobs over a period of time, often resulting in promotions or better job offers. Most often, people are promoted because they have outgrown their current position, not because they have repeated the same level of experience year after year.
Continuous learning means we’re keeping the brain freshly stocked, which enables us to come up with more and better ideas, streamlined procedures, and better problem solving skills — which every business needs today. New ideas and solutions are a primary way you can add value to your job, and therefore increase your success.
I’d also recommend reading everything you can get your hands on regarding your industry. Continuous learning can be a key ingredient in your success. Knowledge becomes obsolete at a faster and faster rate, keeping your personal knowledge base up-to-date is quickly becoming a matter of survival!
I use this speech on my home page for my Chapter website. I am currently the President of the Southeastern PA Chapter of the American Payroll Association. Feel free to use it.
Comment by Raeann Hofkin — July 15, 2008 @ 1:33 pm
I wrote the following “words of wisdom” to my daughter when she turned 18. Not all of it would apply to college graduates, but there are certainly some “life lessons” that are applicable. Please feel free to use anything.
Always believe in family; always believe in angels; always believe in God and always believe in yourself. Always look on the positive side; what’s in the glass is your choice. Always make sure you’ve “taken care” of the tampon string before you put on a bathing suit. Always have a spare tire; always say grace; always remember that me and dad were your first home and that will never change. Always know that you were a gift to me from God.
Never forget that your brothers have loved you enough to let there be “Ally days” with no complaints. Never pass up an opportunity on a road trip to go to the bathroom; never leave the house (unless it’s on fire) without brushing your teeth; never allow a man to come between friends; never paint your fingernails and go to bed; never think that you can’t climb that mountain – the view from the top is spectacular; never hit “send” while you’re mad; never forget that ear-splitting ride on the Power Tower with me and Dad; never believe what a car salesman tells you; never just give up…you’re better than that; never choose looks over substance and never, ever let me wear old lady shoes.
Remember the times that Dad spent in the pool with you and your brothers while we lived in Ohio. Remember to love Kennon and Kody as much as you did on the day they were born. Remember to be inspired by all the different places we have lived and the family we have made. Remember to hold near to your heart the memories we have created over the past 18 years. Remember how good and right it always felt when we held hands and said the blessing.
Learn to accept a compliment graciously; learn the power of a sincere compliment; learn to stop just short of perfection; learn how to talk yourself out of a ticket; learn to push yourself to the limit; learn to spread your wings and fly; learn when you’re not ready for the flight; learn how to tell when someone is really sick and when they’re just faking it; learn when “nothing’s wrong” really means “everything’s wrong”; learn how to change a flat tire; learn how to say “where’s the bathroom” in at least Spanish, French and (just to be on the safe side) sign language. Learn the difference between friends and acquaintances.
Sometimes eating the batter is better than what you’re baking; sometimes what you think is going to be great, isn’t and what you think isn’t, is; sometimes life seems to go by in slow motion; sometimes you don’t know where the time went…cherish all the moments. Sometimes friends are better than family. Sometimes family is better than friends. Sometimes preferring to be alone is okay. Sometimes taking a nap on Saturday afternoon is better than shopping. Sometimes just opening the bible and reading a verse is exactly what you need. Sometimes it’s okay to just enjoy the journey and not really know or care about the destination. Sometimes having a map is a good thing.
Take time to smell the roses, take time to sip the coffee, take time to grow up; take time for yourself….you can’t make anyone else happy, if you’re not; take time to balance your checkbook (trust me on this one); take time to really read the Bill of Rights; take time to honor the men and women who have served and died for you to have those rights.
Count your blessings, count the ten fingers and ten toes of your new born baby; count half a pound lost as a full pound; count to twenty before you say “I told you so”; count the money that comes out of the ATM machine; count obstacles as ways to get better; count on your family to love you no matter what.
True friends will stay with you when you are sick and throwing up; true love will wait; true crime is taking my People magazine before I’ve had a chance to read it; true happiness is what you have given me for the past 18 years; true contentment is found in people and relationships, not money and things.
At least one time in your life you should dye your hair a different color; go on a mission trip; hold a friend’s hand and give comfort; hold a stranger’s hand and give comfort; visit the Vietnam wall; write a letter to the editor; have a cause; fight for that cause; ride the subway in New York; visit the Grand Canyon; walk down the aisle as a flower girl, walk down the aisle as a bridesmaid; walk down the aisle on your daddy’s arm.
Don’t let your bible have dust on it; don’t be afraid to voice your opinion; don’t forget your manners and your “raisings”; don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know”; don’t confuse an open mind with a pliable mind and don’t go to bed with gum in your mouth.
Know that not speaking up when you should is as bad as speaking up when you shouldn’t; know that the true measure of beauty is when a blind person thinks you are beautiful; know that you are what made me and Dad a family; know that God gave us mountains so we can learn to climb, not just so we can enjoy the view when we get there; know that you are unconditionally loved; know that there are some things that are good to buy on sale and some things that should never be bought on sale; know that you may leave our house, but it will always be your home; know that you learn more when everything’s going wrong, rather than when everything’s going right.
May you find a special man who will cherish you the way dad has me; may you discover your purpose in life so you will know that you are doing what God wants you to do; may you have a daughter that loves you as unconditionally as you have loved me; may your home give you comfort and peace and your job enjoyment and satisfaction; may you discover your own strength; may small things bring you great joy; may the best times of your life be ahead of you; may the God of your childhood be the God of your adulthood. And may the words of this letter convey just a fraction of how much you are loved.
Comment by Kathy — July 16, 2008 @ 9:31 am