Tips for New Beginning in Careers & Relationships

Sharpening the Saw: Spiritual, Social and Emotional

 

Posing with Culinary graduates after graduation.

On Friday, September 28 at ten in the morning, I attended a graduation ceremony at The Culinary Institute of America (CIA). I attended in support of two young ladies that have been visiting my church. I take pleasure in seeing young folks come to church without their parents in tow. When I was in my twenties, I wrestled with my church life, my spirituality, my career path, and my relationships. It was like a see-saw. One minute I was high on God and the next I was down in the dumps about what God was doing in my life. For weeks I was upbeat because I was making money and traveling places. For days I remained downcast because finances were low and friendships untrustworthy. I didn’t find balance until later in life. Therefore, encouraging the younger generation to grab hold of their identity and pursue their goals is one of my passions, which is why I enjoyed the commencement address at the graduation ceremony.

Additionally, young folks need advice from experienced people who have walked miles ahead of them, thus the proverb, “Listen to advice and accept instructions, that you may gain wisdom in the future” (Proverbs 19:20). And Marc A. Hoffman, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc., and 1977 CIA alum, offered sage advice to the 2018 class of baking and culinary graduates that applies to anyone marking the beginning of a new stage in their life—what to worry about and what not to worry about.

Marc A. Hoffman,  Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc., 

What not to worry about:

  • Will I be happy? Instead have human interactions, use money to buy experiences not stuff and live as many places—overseas—as possible
  • Trying to control people. Don’t. Instead cook more, eat more, commute less.
  • Will I get a good job? Hustle for it. Don’t worry about it. Lean into risk because 95% of people are glad they took the chance. Take a job you don’t think you can do.
  • Will I find passion? Passion will find you when you discover what life wants from you. Therefore, maintain good public and private morality.

What to worry about:

  • Marry or partnering well. It’s better to have a crappy career and a good marriage rather than an exceptional career and an unhappy relationship. Thus, one must find balance.
  • Will I develop my second Adam?
  • Adam 1: Majestic. Build a career, create, lead, shape influence of others, win the admiration of peers.
  • Adam 2: Love. Security. Humility. Your inner soul expects truth and respect in which you savor the cooking, believe and behave the right way with moral logic, not economic need. Seek wisdom for the Gospels, Quran, Torah, etc. You have to lose yourself to find yourself.
  • Will I enjoy every day? If you shed playing the games of life and live life otherwise everything becomes chaos.
  • Adam 1 should guide Adam 2 for balance.

In a nutshell, Mr. Hoffman offered wise advice about starting new beginnings seek balance, love people, not stuff, work hard, play well with others, don’t worry about things you cannot control, do your best.

I may not be twenty-something, but I am in a season of new beginnings.

 

What about you?

 

I pray God’s best for you!

Until Next time,

2 Comments

  1. There is so much wisdom in these words. After a long career in a job I was not passionate about, but it helped support our family, it was a blessing to come home to a family filled with love. In retirement, I discovered a job that I love. Life lessons learned late in life to share. A

Leave a Reply

(*) Required, Your email will not be published

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.