Mentorship Matters: This Wisdom Will Help Fast Track Your Career

Wish Someone Had Shared This With Me

A few weeks ago, I posted about my son, Zac, as he started his career journey. The response blew me away. So many of you reached out with introductions, guidance, and support. I can’t thank you enough for your generosity.

Two amazing people, Hilton Barbour and Mark Jordan, went above and beyond. Both come from impressive marketing backgrounds and offered their time and wisdom. Zac recently met with Hilton, who gave him what can only be described as a masterclass in starting a career. Hilton shared insights on where to focus, how to avoid the herd mentality and the importance of amplifying your strengths.

After their meeting, Hilton followed up with an email. He cc’d me on it, and I’ll be honest, it stopped me in my tracks. The advice he shared was pure gold. It was the kind of wisdom I wish someone had shared with me when I was starting out. With Hilton’s blessing, I’m sharing that email below because I think it’s something we can all learn from.

It’s also a reminder of how much of an impact your experience and perspective can have. There are so many young people out there who could benefit from what you’ve learned along the way. Sharing your wisdom might feel small, but it has the power to shape future leaders in ways you can’t imagine. Take the time. You might change someone’s life.

Enjoy Hilton’s wisdom.

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Zac,

Good to meet you. Your quiet demeanour & composure conveys a reflective, introspective, measured and confident personality - all good things.

Sadly there are 300 hurdles before someone is likely to invest in meeting you.

However you do have skills and passions that can make them WANT TO meet you. That stuff is in YOUR hands...getting interviews is NOT I'm sad to say.

Here goes...

• Start writing. That's a rare gift and being a good, clear communicator is even rarer. Lean in.

• Writing becomes an artefact that shows how you think, what you care about, how you articulate yourself, what you have an opinion on...all things that will attract the right people...and dispel the wrong ones.

• Have an opinion - at your age it doesn't have to be steeped in industry knowledge but taking a position is another differentiator...too few people have the bravery to do this.

• Deliver, deploy, ship, show up, DO DO DO...don't get caught in your head about how good or crisp your writing is...WHO CARES...in truth no-one cares (besides your Dad) about your stuff until you make them care, sit up and pay attention. Don't self sabotage.

• Wanna be a marketer? Think like a marketer, write like a marketer, write about stuff that marketers will care about - a brand, a product, an industry, a piece of advertising, a promotion, an event, a customer segment....SHOW that you're "one of them"...you may write great poems & haikus but unless there is a CMO of Poetry who cares. 

• Write and publish to keep your brain active and not atrophying like your peers. 

• Remember 30% of your class has a job...now do the math and ask how many folks in GTA, Ontario, Canada, the World you're competing with...lean into your unique gifts.

• Double down on STRENGTHS and ignore your weaknesses...unless terrible hygiene and showering is a weakness, then deal with that. Amplify what makes you special without trying (within reason) to address stuff that you're never gonna get hired for anyway.

• Check out the 6 Genius Test by Patrick Lencionni...something cheap but hugely insightful. 

You asked about my mistakes.

My cliched answer - I WAS TOO SCARED & FEARFUL 

I did NOT step into my skills, I listened to my fears and I stayed (broadly) inside a smaller box than I should've. I do have some incredible skills and a huge contribution to make to Canada/the World but I was too scared and didn't grab it.

DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE!!!

As I said, you owe it to your family - your sister!!! - to take all your energy, your ambition, your skill, your opinion and light up the world.

After all, its not what you know, its not who you know...its who knows you...and what they know about you.

Show us you!!!

Last point - you owe me a piece of published writing AND an updated LinkedIn profile...you have 2 weeks.

Get on it.

HB 

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Hilton Barbour

Strategy : Culture : Change

+1 (647) 922-9300 (m)

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Thank you, Hilton Barbour, for making a difference. That is what leadership does……they lead!