An Open Letter to My Students

This post is an updated version of the original post from May 2018.

At the end of every semester at New York University, I devote a portion of one class to careers. I focus on where students can translate what they’ve learned in e-commerce or digital marketing into a job. But I don’t stop there.

I think back to when I was in college and the knowledge passed on to me by my professors. Most were focused on the subject we all registered for – nothing more, nothing less. Now, as a teacher myself, I’ve realized that there is more though.

To me, infusing lessons of leadership and career strategy comes along with taking one of my classes. It’s why I don’t mandate a textbook, but instead, offer up a list of 25 books that cost just as much and have profoundly impacted my career. These books range from guiding and inspirational (“Man Searching for Meaning” or “The Alchemist”) to product and marketing-focused (“The Conversion Code” or “Hooked”).

Being a specialist and knowing how to do one thing well can only carry you so far, no matter what industry. And, truthfully, some people are fine with complacency, which is okay. But, if you’re not, developing leadership skills and knowing how to navigate the world outside of 11 West 42nd St. — or wherever you’re reading this — are important attributes to achieving something greater.

I don’t pretend to know all the answers — I never will. Yet, what I have learned I believe can help serve as some small guidance to those who want to excel in their careers. Want can only happen to those who recognize a desire to become better.

I expect this list will grow and change over time. There’s also no order to it so those at the top are no more important than those at the bottom.

The last time I wrote an open letter, it resonated with many people. I hope this one does the same.

• Your first job should not be your last. Neither should your second or even your third. Change companies. Change roles.
• Have the foresight to recognize when the industry you’re interested in is changing. Put in the time to become an expert to get ahead of the crowd. Pivot.
• Don’t be limited by your 9-to-5. Use your outside working hours for what you’re passionate about. If the job you’re in today is not fulfilling, find a way to get experience in your off-hours to create a new opportunity.
• Your key responsibility when working for a company is to deliver value at a percentage higher than your salary. Figure out what that value is and make it your top priority to show how you’re accomplishing it.
• Learn how to write. You don’t have to make your writing public. But knowing how to craft well-written reports, emails and more is invaluable. (On an aside, this post alone has gotten me several job offers.)
• Learn how to speak in public. Being able to captivate an audience, speak well, and use stories to elicit emotion is powerful.
• Time is valuable. It’s your most valuable asset.
• Data is numbers, but it also represents people. Knowing how to measure and make decisions with data is powerful. Being able to tell stories with it is even more.
• Read. A lot. It doesn’t matter if it’s fiction or non-fiction; it all helps expand your mind.
• Network. You never know when and if the person you meet today will be useful down the road. I’ve gotten jobs from connections I’ve made years prior.
• Find ways to hack things. Use services like Zapier and IFTTT to add some automation to your life — or just ask ChatGPT how. Most of the time there’s an easier way.
• Become a teacher. I don’t mean standing in front of a classroom; it could be writing or mentoring. Find outlets to share your knowledge and experience.
• Develop an understanding of your cross-functional co-workers’ responsibilities and what success looks like to them; this will help you establish credibility.
• Learn new skills. Spanish, meditation, whatever outside of work. It’s good for your brain.
• Learn to code. The goal is not to become an engineer but to build a foundation of knowledge that will lead you to learn something creative and think about things differently and logically.
• Find a mentor. Get someone, or even some people, on your phone you can call when you need advice.
• Learn how to prioritize. Saying yes to one thing means saying no to something else.
• Show appreciation. “Thank You” are two of the most powerful words in business and life.
• Listen more than you speak. You don’t learn when you speak.
• Develop leadership skills and prioritize becoming good at it. The first sign of good leadership is having a desire to become a good leader — not just saying it but working at it.
• Give your direct reports your full attention. I make it a priority to always respond to their questions and avoid skipping our weeklies. I never want to be a roadblock in their attempts to move a project forward.
• When you’re facing a difficult time, professionally or personally, view the obstacle as a lesson. It might not make sense in the moment, but something greater will come of it.
• Don’t burn bridges. Leave jobs respectfully — never check out. You never know when that company or people you work with may come back on your radar.
• Take risks. Being safe is being complacent. When you take risks, you increase your odds of doing something amazing. Most people play it safe.
• Make time for your family and friends.
• Follow-up: a handwritten note, an email, a LinkedIn message, etc. A personal note goes a long way after someone gives you some of their time.
• Marketing is about three things: storytelling, psychology, and emotion. You’re convincing someone to take action by making them feel a certain way.
• You are a brand. Market yourself like one.
• Failure is a fact. It will happen.
• Nothing is certain.

In November 2024, I was invited to speak to students at the same high school (Delaware Velley High School) I graduated from in 2000. I gave a 90-minute talk about my career and the lessons I’ve learned since accepting my diploma. Here are some of the slides I shared, highlighting key takeaways for the students.

The key point here is that when I was initially asked to write for The Hunterdon Democrat newspaper, it was only for four articles. However, I didn’t see it as just a four-article stint. After completing those, I continued writing and submitting articles. Over time, I went on to write more than 500 articles in my career at this 30,000-circulation newspaper located in central New Jersey.

After graduating from Ramapo College, I wrote for various newspapers and online media outlets, covering professional sports. I also worked as a radio and television host, DJ, and reporter. If it involved talking about sports or music on TV, radio, or in print, I did it all — and used each opportunity to springboard to the next. These experiences gave me invaluable exposure and helped me better understand where I wanted to focus my career.

The communication skills I developed during the early phase of my career proved invaluable. I gained confidence in my ability to write and speak — skills that are essential and transferable across any industry. Not only did I sharpen these abilities, but I also built a deeper self-assurance in applying them effectively.

When I built LetterSlider, I dedicated my mornings, nights, and weekends to the project. Outside of my 9-to-5 role at Avis, I used my free time to learn about creating, developing, marketing, and monetizing mobile apps. Despite having no prior experience, I took action and built the game because I believed mobile apps were the future — especially as the mobile web was becoming increasingly significant in digital. Building LetterSlider paved the way for me to create Winery Passport and Brewery Passport, and it opened the door for me to lead mobile marketing and product strategy at Avis and later oversee mobile for The New York Times — all within about two years.

Using the example above: while most marketers and product leaders were still focused on desktop and, to some extent, mobile web, very few were prioritizing mobile apps. By recognizing the shifting digital landscape early and gaining skills and experience ahead of the curve, I positioned myself for incredible opportunities. Every industry evolves — or has the potential to — so always stay alert for ways to build expertise ahead of your peers.

This post was last updated on December 7, 2024

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