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No More Ramen

Real World Reality Checks for 20-somethings

Dealing with the harsh realities of life post graduation can immobilize even the most driven student or young professional. Work, new responsibilities and the search for happiness offer daunting challenges that typically are not learned in the classroom nor part of the orientation program at your first job. Nicholas Aretakis spent the better part of a year traveling to university towns and talking to recent graduates, students and young adults new to the workplace about their fears, issues, dreams and passions. He calls them his co-authors and here are some of their cries for help and Aretakis’ straight talk answers. More can be found in his new book, No More Ramen: the 20-something’s real world survival guide™ available in bookstores now and on NoMoreRamenOnline.com, the first interactive website community geared to 20-somethings making the transition from the classroom to the workplace.

Entitlement

Cry for help. One west coast 20-something shared a common concern of today's 20-somethings. She was "coming out with a graduate degree and didn't want to start at entry level."

Reality Check. They've come of age during the dot-com era. Many parents could provide their children with a comfortable head-start as a reward for graduation, whether it was a fully loaded automobile, college loans paid in full, a down payment on a residence; immediate rewards are part of today's young adult fiber. You need to have ambition and believe in your own potential but remember - success is a marathon not a sprint. You still need to work for the prize; the results may not always be immediate or evident. Lose the expectation of entitlement…it is a detriment to your success.

Fear of failure

Cry for help. Soon-to-be-grads, graduate students and even young people in the workforce don't want to fail…period. A very bright student cornered me and shared his personal dilemma. He said, "I don't ever remember learning that failure is okay in college. I know that we all make mistakes during college but they are so inconsequential."

Reality Check. Failure is part of the game. In the workplace, you won't always get a formal training regimen. You learn by trial and error or conducting independent research, especially early in your career. You will learn at an accelerated path by trying and requesting feedback and assistance when available. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, do the opposite, challenge yourself to the point of failure, then recover quickly and demonstrate ambition to learn more. If the task is an important one, don't be remiss in requesting direction from your manager or peers.

Frozen in fear

Cry for help. Fear can be immobilizing and it's happening out there in secondary schools as well as in the workplace. One 20-something told us, " people that I know got their bachelor's (degree), joined the workforce, hated it, and in an effort to avoid it even longer, then went to get their master's (degree)."

Reality Check. Running away from responsibilities or assignments that make you uncomfortable or you disdain is a bad start as you enter the business world. You need to overcome fears and obstacles, which often requires confronting your fears head-on. You will learn valuable lessons in mental fortitude and perseverance, making future challenges less formidable.

Another cry for help. One guy said it best. He said, "I'm really afraid of becoming something that I'm not, like becoming a robot."

Reality Check. That's chilling. That's the kind of outlook that immobilizes people and leaves them floundering to find the answers. You may need to conduct a self-evaluation, ensuring that the path you have chosen represents the proper direction to build a foundation for your future. If you need to overcome some short-term obstacles, meet them with both enthusiasm and commitment. Remember that you always will have choices, whether it is to change directions or employers, and the general business experience you glean early in your career will be beneficial as you confront emerging challenges.

Happiness

Cry for help. 20-somethings want it all…just like the rest of us. Many look toward the future with anxiety. "The thing that I worry about is being worried so much throughout my life that I don't leave myself open to just enjoying it and going through the journey. "Another said, "my time does not reflect my core values."

Reality Check. A career doesn't have to come at the expense of having a life. All my research and experience point to freedom, accomplishment, money and enjoyment as essentials for happiness. Set goals for health, relationships and fun the same way you set career goals. Commit to these goals. The key is balance. Balance involves prioritizing and sacrifice.