Jeans with holes: Basic Truth in Youth
October 24, 2009I am honored to serve on Scholastic’s Alliance for Young Artists & Writer board. (www.artandwriting.org.) As such, I serve with an exceptional collection of executives, artists, entrepreneurs, lawyers and educators. In review of all the good that both Scholastic and the Alliance have done for the world (since the 20’s), I am also reminded of the significance our younger days have on our adult lives. The Alliance finds and recognizes talented young people (whom we might have never known otherwise), some named Capote, Warhol, Avedon, Plathe, Oates and others who merely found lower-key inspiration. For the rest of us, we live our lives being “ordinary” and learning some lessons along the way.
Ask yourself these questions: who was I when I was young, and am I still that person? Importantly, is the grown up that I have become facing the planet with integrity? How does this tie to communications and reputation? In the play book of the thing called your life, there are only so many choices. While we may each be originals, we are certainly not unique. As advanced as our society has become — Maslow’s pyramid still rules. By the time we grow up (and so sadly we do), we are a result of our experiences and those choices, which net our reputation and our ability to navigate.
Think of this entry as you + your experience + your behavior = your reputation and your ability to prevail over time and circumstance. We each choose people with whom to cohabit, many raise children and almost all determine a way to pay our bills. It is each human’s hope that this pursuit of work is meaningful and has some resemblance to the dream that we had when we were young. In middle age, some of us ask ourselves if the person whom we are resembles our 16 year old self and if our work matters? We take stock.
Over lunch (yesterday) with one of the brilliant men whom I know, he reminded me that ultimately our reputation is all that we have. Simply, without it, that high priced education, lofty experiences and carefully selected wardrobe are a farce. My psychological and communications advice are two fold. As an adult continually scrutinize your own choices. Ask tough questions. Remember whom you were when you were young — you are still that person. While humans may modify our behavior to adapt, our core remains the same. Ensure that you have chosen work that matters. Evaluate your reputation. Is it all that it can and should be? Can you repair damage? The short answer, is that, yes, humans give each other second chances. And those who are able to repent and overcome sometimes become icons (think Martha Stewart).
Start your weekend with an honest approach towards your existence. Remember as folk hero Neil Young sings “your dreams that you’re having won’t let you down.” Consider your own approach and your own reputation….understand that your friends and neighbors have also made mistakes — and focus on what is meaningful to you.
In jeans with holes with boots,
Jennifer
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