My two oldest children entered the workforce after college in 2024. As their start dates approached, it hit me just how many new things they were about to face, all at once. So I sat down and wrote out the things I wish someone had told me when I was in their shoes.

What follows isn’t only for new grads. Whether you’re a new hire starting on the ground floor, a young professional aiming to become a project manager, or a seasoned worker angling for your first leadership role, the same fundamentals apply. Here’s what I told them.

Start with the right attitude

Be an optimist, not a cynic. Almost everything good that happens in a career starts here.

Assume the people above you know more than you do. In most cases, they do. That doesn’t mean you agree with everything, but it does mean you lead with curiosity instead of judgment. Listen. Try to understand. Ask clarifying questions. If the mission, the strategy, and the direction are reasonable, buy in and cooperate.

And give your leaders some grace. Most poor leaders aren’t malicious. They’re often just overwhelmed, or were never taught how to lead well. Most of them wish they were better at it. They’re not out to get you.

One more thing on attitude, because it sits underneath all of it: I’ve never been around a successful person who didn’t outwork the people around them.

How you show up

Don’t get caught in the whirlwind of “yeah-yeah.” When someone starts complaining, it’s easy to join in, to pile on and gossip. Resist it. It does you no good. People don’t respect, and won’t follow, pessimistic whiners and perpetual victims.

Small signals carry a lot of weight, especially early on:

• Make eye contact. It shows interest, focus, and engagement.
• Keep your phone in your pocket, particularly during conversations and meetings.
• Always carry something to take handwritten notes with.
• Run on Lombardi Time: “If you’re five minutes early, you’re already ten minutes late.”
• Be present, mentally and physically.
• If there is an office, be in the office even when you’re not required to be. It’s what most of your leaders prefer, it sends a message, and it raises your exposure. At this stage of your career, you’re in hyper-learning mode. In person shortens the learning curve.

The theme underneath all of it: don’t be average. Average behavior and average effort get you average outcomes.

Stay in learning mode

Beyond how you carry yourself day to day, what compounds over time is staying in learning mode. Early in your career, that’s the whole game.

Charlie Munger said he never knew a wise person who didn’t read constantly. Long-form reading is what matters here. X, TikTok, and podcasts only get you so far.

Build habits, or rhythms, around it. For example, read a personal development book for 30 minutes every evening before bed. Bonus: being off your device will help you sleep better.

Learn to carry on a conversation about business news, too. Being able to talk intelligently with a leader or a customer about what’s happening in the market is a subtle but real credibility builder. Watch some CNBC instead of only ESPN or YouTube.

And be honest with yourself about priorities. At this stage of your career and life, getting off to a strong start should be number one. That doesn’t mean cutting everything else out. Hobbies and downtime are good for you. It just means they sit below the main thing for now.

Life outside of work

None of this happens in a vacuum. A few notes on everything outside the office, because it shapes what happens inside it.

On where and how you live:

• Roommates: enter cautiously. You have enough stress in your life, so choose wisely.
• Location matters more than you think. The number one complaint I hear is commute time. Be very clear on what your commute will actually look like before you sign. A short commute beats square footage and amenities almost every time.
• Watch who you surround yourself with. Immoral and unethical people will normalize bad behavior. It’s a bit like high school and college all over again: bad influences will find their way in.

On money, a few principles that will serve you for decades:

• Budget: be diligent and have a plan, but don’t become a prisoner to it, or a hoarder of it.
• Save and invest. A matching 401(k) is free money. Take it.
• Avoid debt within reason. It’s fine for a house or a car. Credit card debt is a huge, silent stressor.
• Don’t raise your standard of living every time your salary goes up. Each raise is a chance to save more and build a buffer that reduces stress, not an excuse to spend on a bigger apartment or a newer car.
  

A final word

As you head into this adventure, you’re probably nervous. That’s 100% natural.

Just don’t go it alone. Isolation makes everything harder, and lonelier. Lean on the people around you, ask for help, and stay in learning mode. You’ve got this!