Prep Career Day -- Going Home Again

This week, I returned to St. Peter's Prep in Jersey City to give a keynote speech for Career Day, and I tried to inspire and entertain 800 students with a few pearls of wisdom from my life and career. No easy task.  

My career certainly certainly doesn't feel extraordinary, but I hope my messages were relatable, memorable and meaningful for the students. I shared a Facebook post about the student who told me my remarks were "fire" -- Wow! -- and got a few requests for the speech, so here it is as prepared for delivery. Let me know what you think of my three lessons:

PREP CAREER DAY -- Dec. 8, 2023

Welcome

Thank you, Mike, for the introduction, and for inviting me today. It’s an honor to be back home at Prep and have the chance speak with you all.

As Mike mentioned, I work in Corporate Communications. That has been my career. I have been an executive at Zoetis, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Lucent Technologies and AT&T over the course of my career.

I have spent my days preparing executives for media interviews on CNBC … running Investor Meetings and bell-ringings at the New York Stock Exchange … putting out fires with The Wall Street Journal when reporters call about rumors and lawsuits … launching new companies and strategizing how we can build those companies into trusted and admired brands.

It’s been a diverse, fun and wonderful career.

But, I will tell you I am most often the speechwriter, not the speaker, so this kind of spotlight is not my typical sweet spot … and it can be a bit intimidating.

I ask you to be patient with me today. And for those of you whose fathers may have been my classmates – that’s you Blunda, Tuohy, Giglio, Cutola and Briamonte -- tell them all I did a great job – no matter how this goes!!

Career Day

So let’s start ... Career Day!  Career can be such a daunting word. 

It sounds so Adult (My mother or my grandfather has a career).  It sounds so Permanent (it’s not just a job… it’s a career). It sounds so loaded with heavy expectations.  Expectations from our teachers, … from our parents, … and from ourselves.  You’ve been hearing it your whole life – what are going to be when you grow up?

This morning, I’d like to share three quick lessons to help lighten that heavy load as you think about your future and your career … and as we kickoff some great discussions with other alumni today. 

Do what you love – and where you shine

First, when I was growing up I loved playing basketball. I grew up in Jersey City, … playing ball with Bobby and Danny Hurley down in Country Village – guys whom many of you may know as amazing college basketball players at Duke and Seton Hall and coaches today at Arizona State and UConn.

And, when I came to Prep, I played basketball. Right there (pointing) was where I got my clock cleaned on a blindside pick by my best friend Mark Usarzewicz. Over there (pointing), was where I missed the switch on a screen in a game with Hudson Catholic, which cost us the game. Something my teammate and classmate Billy Deakyne never lets me forget to this day.

I loved playing basketball … and the summer before my junior year I was working hard to make varsity. I worked on my left hand all summer, … I lifted weights to bulk up, … I played in Jersey City summer leagues every week to get better.

But before tryouts started in the late fall that year, the coach met me in his office – somewhere here in the English building – and told me I wasn’t going to make the team. He loved my passion, … had watched me work all summer and knew I was trying hard, … but it was really competitive to win a spot on varsity.

So I kept playing basketball for fun and in intramurals, … but, I also discovered something else I loved while I was at Prep.  Writing.

Whether it was an English paper on Hamlet or Paradise Lost … an article for the Petroc  … or creative stories for the literary magazine, … Writing was something I loved to do … and perhaps more importantly it was something I was really good at. As time passed, I discovered it was something I could be great at.

Writing was something people appreciated about me … an ability and talent where I excelled … and a career that people would someday pay me to do for their companies and executives.

So why do I tell this story? Because the trendy thingy to say on Career Days is “Do Something You Love” … and I think that can be true, but a bit misleading.

Look, I loved basketball, but there was no amount of practice or passion that was going to get me to the NBA.

Writing was different … I loved it … and with practice and hard work I would get better and better and better. And actually make it the foundation of my career.

My point is you should definitely find a career doing something you love. That’s great. But, also pick something at which you are exceptional…. Where you shine.

When you combine a passion … with your special talent (and each of you has one) … that is when others will see your greatness, your gifts and your value.  That will be the real secret to building yourself a great career. 

Don’t be frozen by failure

Changing gears now … when I was student at Saint Peter’s University, I had a part-time job at a law firm up at Journal Square. I spent my afternoons reading legal briefs in a conference room, … taking notes, … filing, … and I was miserable. I hated it.

I remember getting the flu and actually preferring being home sick to going into the law office. That was when I knew it was not for me, so I quit, but I felt a bit like a failure.

A few years later, when I graduated from College with my degree in English – remember I loved writing – I could not find a job. It was a bit embarrassing … I graduated top of my class and I had no real prospects. 

I wound up interviewing to work in one of the big banks. Just to have a job. It was not work I was passionate about … and it was not something I thought I could excel at. I worked with words, not numbers. So, instead, I decided to try graduate school – almost a way to put off feeling like a failure at starting my career.

I went on to get a master’s degree in Communications at Fordham University, which turned out to be an amazing and formative year for my writing and career. I eventually got my first job in Public Relations at AT&T and spent a great 14 years there and at Lucent Technologies learning about Communications and growing in my skills.

I would eventually shift gears take a new job in Manhattan doing corporate communications with Pfizer. But after 3 months, it was a disaster and I knew I needed to leave.  Lots of reasons, but it was not the right fit.  Another career failure, I thought.

But, were these failures? What did I learn from these moments?

I learned not to be frozen by what you may perceive as failures. These were all important, but difficult, moments in my life.

 

I learned something each time about myself, …  about what I wanted to do, … and in some cases, more importantly, about what I did not want to do. I learned where I could shine and what made me happy. I kept moving forward.

Build relationships, not just resumes

Finally, I would tell you that great careers are built on great relationships, … not just degrees and dollars. 

And I have been fortunate to have many important relationships shape my career – many with their roots in Prep.

Jim Horan today is Prep’s Vice President of Major Gifts and Planning, and back in my day he was a Journalism teacher and administrator of External Affairs. Jim encouraged me as a Prep student to pursue writing and communications. And, he is still a writer and communicator I admire today. One of the best.

Prep alumnus Frank D’Amelio was someone I got to know in my early days at Lucent and he most recently retired from an amazing career at Pfizer. Frank became a colleague, friend and mentor over the years. Whenever I made big career decisions about leaving a job at Lucent, … or joining a new company like Zoetis, … Frank was there to offer his connections … his counsel … and his Hoboken style of encouragement.

And, whenever, I have had career choices to make … it was my closest friends from Prep whom I reached out to for support and advice.

So look around…

That guy at your lunch table who copies your homework today … may be the lawyer you are calling in 20 years for advice.

The friend on your train who has to borrow money for a Coke and is struggling with Calculus … may actually become your financial advisor in 10 or 15 years.     

And the teammate in your soccer, football or lacrosse team … may be the close friend you call when you come to a crossroads in your life or career and need someone to listen. 

Your relationships at Prep will matter, gentlemen  -- today and always.  As Dr.  Gomez has been saying this year, you are in Good Company. Never forget it.

Close

So, to wrap up …. as you spend today – and future days – thinking about your careers, I hope you will remember these lessons:

First. Do what you love … and grow where you shine.

Second. Don’t be frozen by failure. Be positive, learn and move forward.

And third. Build relationships, not just your resume.  Those will make all the difference in your life and your career.

Thank you for your time and attention. Go Prep!  Have a great day!

# # #

How CPR Saved My Life and Shaped My Career

Photo by Joshua Chehov on Unsplash

Okay, now that I have your attention, I should say that I did not have a heart attack. Let me explain.

About 25 years ago, I was early in my career doing corporate communications for a spinoff company called Lucent Technologies. It was the first of a few dream jobs for me. I had become the junior member of the new corporate media relations team that had just helped launched this company and brand with much fanfare and success (it didn’t last, but that’s another story). It was fun, exciting, and I was learning a ton from some amazing public relations pros that had grown up in AT&T.

One of those pros was Jane, the head of media relations. She was my boss, and we had a great connection, sharing youthful roots in Hudson County and affiliations with Saint Peter’s College. For me, Jane was part wise teacher, part tough coach and part big sister. She taught me about tight writing, reading reporters and dealing with crises. She also kept me laughing and gave me dating advice (Lose the turtlenecks!) – usually at the same time.

One typical work day, we were wrapping up and I was heading home. I said good night to Jane as she was packing up and heading off to a family thing. We would be the last ones out, which was pretty usual for a weeknight of late deadlines.

The next morning came and I arrived at the office for my usual routine, working the morning media report with one of my colleagues, when one of our directors called everyone into his office. He had the unenviable and heartbreaking task of telling us all that Jane had died unexpectedly and tragically the night before. Boom! There would be no more hearty laughter echoing from her office … no more rants about corporate stupidity or bad reporting … no more voicemails saying, “Do me a favor, Bill.” 

As you might expect. it hit everyone incredibly hard in our organization, and I was deeply impacted by the events and the way our team reacted individually and collectively. For me, this part of my career – my life – would leave a lasting imprint on how I wanted to work with people, and eventually lead teams, in my corporate career. It laid the foundation for several beliefs – what I coined as my own CPR -- that I have tried to live by over the years. 

Reflecting on Work and Leadership

Not long after Jane’s passing, I was given the opportunity to participate in one of those Ivy League Executive Education programs.  You go away for a few weeks, get your mini-MBA and reflect on your leadership style with like-minded aspiring executives. I was a bit on the young side in my cohort, and one of the final exercises was to think about your leadership story. I thought a lot about our Lucent team, the amazing work we did, and the way we worked through difficult times like Jane’s passing.

On the last day, a few people volunteered to tell their stories to the group in an auditorium. I didn’t think I could do it. While I am a “communicator,” presenting in front of crowds was not my sweet spot. But, I stood up there, told the story about Jane, what I learned and how it shaped me.

What I spoke about then was the C and P of my leadership beliefs (R would come later).

Community

When I think about what I enjoy about work -- and picking a place and team where I can do my best work -- it begins with Community.

We all spend lots of hours with our co-workers (In the Lucent days and since I have probably spent too many hours at work, but that’s another story). In the days and months after Jane’s passing, our entire organization mourned together. We realized we may have come together initially as co-workers, but in the end our bonds, concern and support for each other ran much deeper, especially at a time like this. That sense of community would remain evident even as the years passed.

As job arrangements change and you join new companies, you find that certain people remain in your life. In some cases, if you are lucky, those “work friends” become “just friends.” You continue to connect. Conversations become more about life and less about the latest career achievement or corporate gossip.

My lasting insight was that I wanted to know about my team’s families, their hobbies, their passions, their back stories. I wanted to share jokes, dinners, complaints, peeves and personal moments, not just be all business and transactional.

Most people would tell you I can be very serious and intense when I am working, and I may not always seem like the “warm and fuzzy” type at the office, but that sense of community matters to me. I have always been genuinely curious and interested in building those connections with people, and when you don’t have that, the workplace can feel hollow and cold.

Perspective

The next insight I have taken to heart is Perspective.

Going through the death of a loved one or a close co-worker can often provide the jolt you need to re-set your mind and keep work’s trivial problems and oversized expectations in perspective.

In the aftermath of Jane’s passing, I got a new boss Paula who was the most even-keeled person I ever worked for. She taught me that on most days, the world was not going to end for a typo or a missed call. We would figure it out and correct course together. The reality is if you aren’t making some mistakes then you aren’t trying new things and learning. My counsel to my teams has been: We will make mistakes. It happens. Let’s just not make the same one twice.

Over the years, this was probably the hardest lesson to learn, but it is one that has meant the most to me. In the corporate world, too often, there can be unrealistic expectations of perfection in everything. If you aren’t maximizing every opportunity and sweating every little detail, then you are made to feel like a slacker and the ulcers and anxiety can become constant companions.

I often find myself coaching my teams to know the difference between the “critical path” work that needs perfection – those where we all need to rally together – versus other work that needs to be “done” so we have more time and focus for the critical path assignments. When everything is urgent and requires a “gold-plated” approach, there is a cost in morale, engagement and satisfaction. If someone spots that off-kilter graphic on slide 39, or the missing Oxford comma on paragraph 5, congratulate them for finding the “Easter egg” you left. Correct it and move on.  

Knowing the difference between critical and nice-to-have helps you keep work life and personal wellness in the right perspective.  

Professionalism

Community and Perspective are wonderful, but at the end of the day I can get that from my family, my friends, or a pick-up basketball game. In my career, I want to work with people who take great pride in delivering high-quality, impactful work. Great results matter. Achieving goals matter. Setting high standards matter.  Professionalism matters.

On the day we found out about Jane’s passing, one of my colleagues demonstrated that professionalism for me in a profound way. One of my older co-workers, John, grew up working in newsrooms. He had “ink under his fingernails” as they used to say, and he also knew the newsroom never stopped. Shortly after the initial shock and tears about Jane, he grabbed me and took me to his office, and he said we have a job to do. We sat down at his computer and wrote Jane’s obituary in perfect AP style.

Whether it has been prepping for CEO interviews … quelling crises … announcing acquisitions … reporting earnings and running Annual Meetings … executing investor days or NYSE bell-ringings … rolling out new company strategies and introducing new leaders, John and many others over the years would instill in me a strong sense of work ethic, accountability, professionalism and pride in delivering great communications. It’s why we do what we do.

Respect and Recognition

Later in my career, I added the Rs to my leadership beliefs – Respect and Recognition.

You learn great lessons in your career from the leaders you want to emulate, but you can earn equally great lessons from the leaders you don’t want to be.

You will always encounter difficult situations in the workplace. Job assignments that don’t work out. Work styles that don’t mesh. Different philosophies or views on strategy and goals. Conflict is natural, necessary and sometimes even productive. Whatever the conflict or situation, though, dealing with people respectfully and honestly is a standard I hope I can always keep.

There’s no need to rehash some of these stories. While they felt very negative at the time, in the end they put me in a much better place and taught me very positive lessons about the leader I want to be. 

Recognizing people’s value and contributions is the final piece and the most rewarding. I have had leaders over the years who always seized the opportunity to thank people in the moment and to make it a priority. No event was ended or project finished until people were thanked. Recognition is something best served “warm” and “warmly.” It’s not always about the grand gesture, big celebration and award (although those are nice, too). It’s about your sincerity … letting people know that you see them, appreciate them, and understand what they contributed to achieving this goal. That handshake, hug, text or note says everything to the recipient – and says volumes about the leader.

Wrapping Up

A couple of decades later, I was the guy calling everyone into his office to tell them sad news about a colleague who had passed away after an illness.  I was the one shutting his door to write the tribute for Elinore and run the communications of this news to others. And, I found comfort in knowing I was in a place and with colleagues and friends who shared many of those same beliefs -- Community, Perspective, Professionalism, Respect and Recognition.

And, that’s it, CPR may not have “saved” my life, but it has definitely made my work life a whole lot more meaningful, fun and effective.