Roy's Blog

November 2, 2015

Why a great education isn’t enough to make you successful


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Why a great education isn’t enough to make you successful.

Success is more than what you know; what you learn at school.

So many people when asked what they want to do after they graduate say something like “I would like a job in marketing where I can apply what I learned in school.”

It is natural to want to make use of the knowledge gained in your area of expertise. You spend many years learning many subjects that cover your chosen academic path and want to try them out in the real world.

I’ve said it before and it bears repeating:

What you learn at school is merely the table stakes for a successful career; it guarantees nothing.

That said, without some type of formal learning background and you are unlikely to be able to enter the race.

There are many highly educated people out there who can’t get a job in the profession or company they desire (I ran into a woman serving in the Marriott Copenhagen lounge who had both a Law and Masters of International Affairs degree; not uncommon.)

To be successful you can’t rely on your academic pedigree; you have to do more than simply ‘apply your knowledge’.

You have to leverage what you know to position yourself for career opportunities.

So If you have an MBA you will want to position yourself not as an academic MBA’er but as someone who is able to help take the organization where it needs to go.
Your academic credentials allow you to have insights on business problems. You are a business problem solver first; MBA degree-holder second.

Lead with what unique stuff you can deliver to an organization; not with what you’ve achieved at school - your pedigree.

Learn what your organization needs to meet its strategic goals; work on objectives and tactics that line up with the desired future and give 110% of yourself to execution every day you show up.

In answer to the question on what someone wants to do after they graduate, I would like to hear:

“After I graduate I intend to be the only marketing manager in the company I choose to work for that is viewed by others as a senior employee within 24 months.”

Declare your end game.

Pledge to be unique.

Trust that what you know will help get you there but won’t guarantee it.

Cheers,
Roy
Check out my BE DiFFERENT or be dead Book Series

  • Posted 11.2.15 at 04:56 am by Roy Osing
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