I hope everyone is finding a way to stay cool!!! It was a little surprising to see the temperature gauge in my car yesterday.
Yes, I am in Chicago, not Texas, and yes, it says 104°😳😳. If that wasn’t crazy enough, I am heading down to see the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field as soon as I finish writing this.😎
In this post I will summarize a few points from my last two Forbes articles and include the full articles below in case you don’t subscribe to Forbes.
For the article, “Why It Will Take Strong Character to Address the Alarming U.S. Deficit,” I had the opportunity to speak with Art Collins, a good friend and former Chair and CEO of Medtronic on the subject of character. Art shared with me a fantastic list that I will use in my values-based leadership classes:
- Possessing unwavering integrity, high values, a sound moral compass, and the ability to distinguish right from wrong.
- Courageous and willing to do the right thing, even when it means bucking the odds, standing alone, or putting the organization’s (or country’s) best interests ahead of any personal gain.
- Honest, truthful, and transparent in both words and deeds.
- Balanced, fair, impartial, and equitable.
- Reliable and trustworthy in the best and worst of times.
- Confident without being arrogant, aloof, or egotistical.
- Empathetic, caring, and sincere; never cruel or vindictive.
- Passionate and enthusiastic while maintaining unflappable composure under fire.
- Willing to admit mistakes, apologize when wrong, and then adapt and make amends.
- Loyal, but not to a fault.
And here is Art’s LinkedIn article: In Assessing Leaders, Character Matters!
For the article, “Surprisingly uplifting advice for 2025 graduates in an uncertain world,” I shared some advice for 2025 graduates that may be helpful in finding jobs in a difficult environment:
- Make self reflection your foundation
- Develop true self-confidence
- Build and expand your network
- Significantly expand your job search
- Recognize the importance of getting in the door
Here’s a copy of the full article:
Surprisingly Uplifting Advice For 2025 Graduates In An Uncertain World
Too often people send graduates out into the world with platitudes and lofty thoughts. While I certainly don’t want to diminish any aspirations for the future, my best advice for 2025 graduates is grounded in a somber reality compounded by both economic uncertainty and continued political division.
The economic climate is troubling, with constantly gyrating tariffs, increasing levels of government debt, inflation heading higher, and the likelihood that interest rates will rise further and U.S. companies will cut investment spending and hiring. Many companies are laying off people, while those that are hiring are often delaying start dates, for example from July until December 2025. All of this adds up to a difficult job market for graduates.
This is hardly the kind of news anyone wants to deliver to new entrants into the workforce. But there is a silver lining here: life lessons on dealing with uncertainty that will help graduates eliminate much of the worry, fear, pressure, anxiety, and stress they’re feeling right now—and in the future.
Based on my own life experience, including 45 years in business, here is my advice to 2025 graduates (which also applies to the rest of us, at any age or stage of life).
1. Make Self-Reflection Your Foundation. No doubt, graduates have a lot on their minds right now—college debt, finding a good job, struggling to get interviews and facing rejections, figuring out their personal lives. As these concerns pile up, the temptation is to go faster and faster to resolve everything as quickly as possible. My recommendation? Stop! Turn off the noise and distractions and engage in self-reflection. The more you self-reflect about your goals, priorities, and values, the more you can guard against becoming overwhelmed. Check in with yourself, ideally for a few minutes every day, about your feelings, what you’re doing (or not doing), and how you treat yourself and others. No matter what is happening in the world, the one thing you can control is how you act and interact with others. As entertainer Steve Carell told the 2025 graduating class at Northwestern University, “My topic today is kindness,” calling it “something we need more of in the world.” In humorous speech interrupted with laughter, Carell delivered some pearls of wisdom: “It is no more difficult to be kind than it is to be mean.”
3. Build And Expand Your Network. After the race to the finish line known as graduation day, networking may feel like something that will be “nice to do” later. However, nothing can be more important for you right now than building your network. That means connecting with people you went to high school and college with, as well as with people who share your interests such as sports and recreation, volunteer work, or your faith community. Find out what they’re doing and where they are working; ask if they will take the time to talk about their jobs, their companies, and their industries. They may know of an opportunity for you or may want to introduce you to someone. That’s how you build and grow your network. But remember, networking is reciprocal. You’re not just receiving help but also looking for what you can give to others.
4. Significantly Expand Your Job Search. Many of my students tell me they’ve applied to four or five companies and now they’re waiting to hear back. That’s hardly sufficient—especially today. You need to apply to at least 30 or 40 companies. No matter what your field of interest or specialization, you cannot have too many lines in the water. Knowing that it will likely take more time and more effort to land your first job, you can’t afford to passively wait for your top-choice employers to get back to you. Expand your search, especially as you network about potential opportunities.
5. Recognize The Importance Of Getting In The Door. This advice may make the biggest impact of all. It’s easy to focus only on a specific industry and a specific company—or even a particular role in one department. Now, more than ever, it’s important to concentrate on “getting in” a company, no matter which door opens for you. Once you’re in the company then, assuming you are good at what you do, you’ll be able to build your internal network by connecting with people on other teams and in other departments—such as by volunteering for task forces, interdepartmental projects, and cross-functional teams. As you do, you’ll find out about other opportunities, including in the departments that most interest you.
One final thought, your next job is obviously a big priority for you right now, but it’s only the beginning. Far more important is who you are as a person—your values, priorities, and how you aspire to make a difference. In other words, your values-based leadership in every aspect of your life. As Grant Hill, one of the greatest college basketball players of all time, told members of the graduating class of Duke University, his alma mater, “Don’t just list your values, live them… The world doesn’t need more promises, it needs people who keep them.”
This is the journey that is unfolding for you as a new graduate, which will continue throughout your life. Now is the time to lead by example and show the world how you live your values.
Have a great week, and try to stay cool😎
Harry, great stuff and timely. I listened to Grant Hill’s speech a few days ago – you have a knack for connecting important reinforcing messages from multiple sources. Thank you for sharing this with your “tribe!”