The McConnell Center had the privilege of welcoming Ms. Gretchen Morgenson, financial columnist of the NY Times today for a Q&A luncheon. She started off the luncheon by giving a little background on her life--going from a secretary at Vogue magazine, to Wall Street, and eventually to the New York Times. As she reflected on the details on her life story, she shared the wisdom she gained from each step in the process. This wisdom was not specific to a certain age, gender, social class, etc., but what I felt was universal wisdom touching on topics that people of all ages and classes deal with. Specifically, I was impressed by the relevance it had to my own life and that of my college-aged peers that seem to have the somewhat consistent question in our minds of, "What will I be when I grow up?"
My mother, now nearly 50 years old has told me throughout my life that she still has not figured out what she's going to be when she grows up. That's not to say that with over 20 years of experience in the medical field and taking a company from local office to regional mega power that she has not done anything, but rather that life is not about boxing yourself into one career or one goal...and that was a key point Ms. Morgenson also reflected on today. Morgenson shared her climb from the bottom of the journalism sector (as a secretary for apparently unpleasant people) to her booming success and Pulitzer Prize in her current position. Her secret to success: learning to roll with the punches of life. She explained that if you only picture yourself in one position or trap your potential into one path, you are less versatile and may see less success or happiness.
Another key that Morgenson spoke toward was finding a person that could teach you the most and soaking up every opportunity to learn from them--something frequently emphasized in Dr. Gregg's Political Leadership class. Professor are great, textbooks-important, but often the greatest teachers and the greatest ways to learn are those people who have life experience, and who have been where you are and where you want to be/are going. Morgenson found such a mentor while she was at Forbes. While often the people with the most wisdom are bombarded on all sides with important things to do, Morgenson explained that if you are really eager to learn, people will make the time. A large percentage of people in the workforce have the desire to get by, but not necessarily go above and beyond or to learn and thrive. Thus, when/if you distinguish yourself as someone who has more than the desire to get by, you should not face too much competition in learning...so seek to learn!
Most of all, it seemed that this extremely successful woman, in reflecting on her life and history, was focusing in on opportunities and that it does not matter so much that we know what we will be 'when we grow up' as it does that we seek to get the most we can out of life. As young leaders and learners, we need not pass up the opportunity to do something other than what is on our agenda if someday 20 years later, we can look back and say, 'yes, that was worth it.' ...and perhaps, in seizing such an opportunity, 20 years down the road we'll be having lunch with 20 young scholars sharing our wisdom just as Ms. Morgenson did today.
Thanks to Ms. Gretchen Morgenson for a phenomenal luncheon, a spectacular glimpse into her life and wisdom, and an inspiration for our todays and tomorrows and all they have the potential to hold.
Turn your 'carpe diem' (seize the day) into 'carpe vitam' (seize the life).
Chelsey Hall