Published on: Tuesday, January 17, 2012

When You’re Very Young

Posted By: Anthony Vlahos
Filed Under: leadership, anthony vlahos, engagement, brand

Comments (69)

When you're very young:

You wonder, "What exciting thing is going to happen today?"
You experiment.
You LOOK.
You imagine.
You learn.
You play.
You share.
You make friends.
You're curious.
You're joyous.
You change.
You grow.
You're a fanatic about your loves.
You're brimming with crazy energy.
The world hasn't shown you how to corral the thing and be normal.

When you're young to something:

You're burning to be great at it.
You have a vision that's beyond your station.
There is always a next thing you want to get great at.
You raise new questions and new possibilities.
You take on old problems from a new angle.
Nothing is "impossible" and it's never "too late."
You don't know exactly your future, but you want to be great at it and make a mark.
Your courage to fulfill your vision comes from passion, not position.
You chase after the beauty of the thing: The love of getting it beautiful is where it's at ... it's a personal devotion.

Leaders in a new role are this way. The best ones are, anyway. A brand that's new to the market and beginning to add meaning to people's lives is the same way, too.

You become old to something when you:

Say "Can't" a lot.
Hear "No."
Spend your day wondering "How little can I do?"
Spend your time telling it like it used to be.
Believe that tomorrow will be just like today.
No longer choose the cereal for the toy surprise in the box.
Lose the urge to throw the occasional curveball.
Convince yourself it's too late to learn.
Convince yourself you have nothing new to teach anyone.
Forget all the other ages you've been.

Staying old (to your craft, or position, or organization) when you know you shouldn't is the easy choice. And its only reward is that it's easy. Challenging your resistance to become young again is hard. It takes planning, persistence, sacrifice and courage. And love: love of the challenge, love of the work and the joyous possibility of becoming young to something once more.

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Anthony Vlahos's avatar Anthony Vlahos
Tony Vlahos is the Chief Marketing Officer at ExecuNet. You can follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/tonyvlahos.

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Posted by Pat Lanza
02/03 @ 09:26 AM

Couldn't agree more...it brings back the notion that "you are as young as you feel"...with constant change and the pace quickening, those that embrace change and its pace, will stay young and see how to lead into the future...those that don't will slow with age and become a passenger.

Posted by Olayiwola A. Alara
01/28 @ 08:44 PM

If age was necessary to qualify us for leadership then a lot of will not occupy the positions we are presently in. In my opinion, our experiences professionally and personally provides a sense of wisdom and values that determines how we handle various responsibilities. God bless.

Posted by Luann Linnebur
01/27 @ 06:53 PM

Love the attributes of being "young to" something. It struck me that this is always true for me in a new role and how critical it is to stay in this place over time. I have always found that when I start spending too much time talking about how it used to be, I need to go find a way or place to make it fun again - or as you would say, "young" again. Amazing things have happened in those fully "young to" moments - over and over again in the past many years for me. Thanks for putting it into such a concise list. I'll keep it in front of me as a reminder not to slip into old.

Posted by Denis Co
01/27 @ 10:14 AM

Excellent Cindy, I would love to work with or for you as well as let you lead me. Bravo.

Posted by Tim S
01/27 @ 07:00 AM

Anthony: I am just catching up with the discussion. This is a masterful post. Very wise and true lesson for all, that at any age one may find themselves old, meaning not up to the task before them unless we choose to remain young to it. As you rightly point out, easier said than done. Borrowing from your list now: think that you can, hear yes more than no, keep learning and continue to wonder and expect to be surprised plan for tomorrow and new things. Bravo. - Tim

Posted by Cindy French
01/26 @ 05:20 PM

I have been reading everyone comments and trying to figure out who was answering who-or just commenting. So I have read everything several times. What I am taking away is a wish that the younger people could "rise to the occasion" but they are not for the most part that is really true. We all see it as recruiters out there, so why would we be surprised about young people coming in as recruiters and not really being ready for leadership? Me--I am thrilled when I see someone young, out of the box, getting it, ambitious, understanding how to lead, to mentor. But I have to admit it's more the rare thing than the daily news. Look I got stuck with leadership at 27, way before I was ready or knew how to handle it. I read books and I used up my VP and My owner with all the teaching, telling, mentoring to me they could give. And then later being a part of a world wide organization and seeing what kind of training they have, WOW! I knew, I wasn't going to skate I had to learn and get good at managing people, caring for them, steering them in the right direction, sometimes just listening. I learned that in my 30's and here I am 60 and it hasn't left me. Even though we have a very tenured office currently, so there isn't anyone to teach or mentor, we all continue to work on those skills together. So we will be ready when we have new people in as is our plan this year.
Everyone of the "oldies" has said well I think Young, I act Young. No we don't. But what we do have is a little wisdom to share; experience to make the job or job growth easier. If what this is all about is to put together people who truly want to help one another then we should just do it.

Posted by Tony
01/26 @ 03:59 PM

"When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: 'If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right.' It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: 'If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?' And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something."

- Steve Jobs, Stanford University commencement speech, 2005

Posted by Denis Co
01/26 @ 03:01 PM

I do not know your opinion on this guy.
But I much preferred "Steve Jobs 2.0."
Granted Younger he was more attractive.
On the other hands his newer leading skills had improved by so much.

Anthony, you have not reply my question, which is the most important question of them all for a leader want to be.

I see many of you easily deceived by such a superficial, simplistic, cheap-shot analysis.
The sad news is if you are all managers and leaders this blog shows a very scary leaning of this world.

I think that if you split your bad and good in those terms, you indeed closing your mind.

BTW: Stubbornness and close minding is not a question of ages.

Posted by John Castagna
01/26 @ 01:01 PM

I've been around a while. I love it. On the other hand it says a lot about why my wife and myself seem constantly at odds. You've compiled a very nice and insight-filled list.

Posted by Alfred Porro
01/26 @ 07:16 AM

Anthony, I enjoyed and was enhanced by your insights Bravo. I'm an elder - have been a mentor/ coach and encourager of "young" people all my life. What a blessing - it comes directly from God to us to share with the young. An elder dream come true.

Always hold on to your youthful visions. I pray that you make one of them be a hearts desire to gain the life experiences of God's mentors He sends into your path. At least. always consult the "Master" elder - God Himself!

God Bless, Al, Coordinator of the FIU/BHSF Consortium on Mentoring Moral Conscience and Spirit in Professions, Business, and Careers, a Retired and Refired Professor of Law

Posted by Jean Caton
01/25 @ 05:01 PM

Great reminder age is about mindset.
My driver's license says an age most people would consider 'old.'

My mindset, physical, mental, spiritual, technology savvy, energy, body, clients, colleagues and all else about me says there must be a typo on my driver's licensespec!

Posted by Jim Vitali
01/25 @ 12:28 PM

I don't believe I've seen leadership viewed in this light before, but it's a great concept. Effective leadership has little to do with chronological age and more to do with the character of the leader. I can personally identify with several of the traits or attributes of the "very young" and "young to something" listed; not all, but some. Fortunately, I have yet to connect with any of the "old." I feel extremely fortunate to work for a great company and with a great Team. I believe I learn something new every day and that, while chronologically, I'm north of 50, my best days are still ahead of me!

Thanks for provoking such a great discussion.

Posted by Brian Fugere
01/25 @ 11:57 AM

Your timing is impeccable. We're interviewing for a new CTO in our organization and several of us just had a conversation about whether or not a candidate might be "young" enough to bond with, relate to, and ultimately lead a group of misfit software developers. The attributes you describe are all critical in any leadership position, but especially when you're leading a group that thinks and acts "young".

Posted by Asokan
01/25 @ 08:48 AM

We cannot generalize youngsters and oldies flatly with the above statements. I agree that there are few youngsters so excited and passionate, but major junk of today's youngsters are distracted from their responsibilities because of highly volatile social networking. On the other side, I have seen many old executives with younger mind set...having all the qualities of youngsters as mentioned above. Majority of them are making good leaders. The bottom line is, the enthusiasm doesn't always be died when you grow up. Summation of this survey needs much more detailed analysis than a crisp write up. Cheers!

Posted by Lawrence Agresto
01/25 @ 08:11 AM

Tony,
I believe the term "leadership" is used very loosely in corporate America today. Just because someone has the title of CEO or is responsible for running a group or organization within a company, it's often assumed that they are a leader. A true leader must earn the title and respect of "leadership!"
I've seen evidence time and again, that would dispel this belief. In my estimation, one of the prime components of a leader is integrity, a second, clear concise communication.
I've been at the receiving end twice in the last 5 years of my career, were both were sorely missing on behalf of a CEO, that I either reported directly or indirectly to as an executive and senior manager.
Often, the dynamics and behavior of leadership get lost in the day-to-day operations, fire fighting and just protecting the bottom line.
These negative attributes in my determination are based on the fears, insecurities & challenges that many executives face in this day of changing global competition.
Regards,
LA

Posted by rashid mahmood
01/25 @ 08:00 AM

feeling good to be the part of your team and i ll put best efforts to prove myself a leader

Posted by Paul Ristoja
01/25 @ 05:26 AM

This is an excellent reminder that one should definitely keep close at all times. If you're not careful, It's easy to fall into the "3rd stage".

Posted by Saimon Rashid Chowdhury
01/25 @ 04:31 AM

All mentioned points are very much important for life of human being.

Posted by Cagatay BABACAN
01/25 @ 04:26 AM

Being young is a spirit. If your spirit is young then you have the energy. That energy moves you. When you move, you push the others and all of a sudden a movement starts. It's this movement which is the start of everything. CB.

Posted by peris
01/25 @ 01:16 AM

leadership depends on perception of an individual and where a person wants to be. Does he/she want to lead or follow regardless of age.

Posted by Vijay Raut
01/24 @ 11:58 PM

It is not the question of age, but the ability to think, evaluate, analyse and take decisions. Second, the ability to sell and motivate both your superiors and juniors to your point of view and the courage to take responsibility for your decision or even for others actions is what makes a good leader. I always remember the saying of one of my mentors 'If you have to win a race you must have a good young horse and an experienced trainer'.

Posted by Kevin Kozuszek
01/24 @ 09:47 PM

It's not about being young, or even thinking young. In my opinion it's about staying relevant (to your organization, profession and/or customers) and not letting your past experiences trap you in the "this is how we've always don it" paradium.

Posted by Roman Morozov
01/24 @ 08:40 PM

Very good summary. sometimes it is necessary to step back and see the world differently!

Posted by Aws Bassil
01/24 @ 08:18 PM

Tony
Great answer and if I can add one thing is that experience (opposite to being young to lead) should never be measured by time only or giving time more than its share in building knowledge and experienced leaders. I believe that what you do and what you go through makes a major portion of the experience and therefore a young wise leader.
Classifying experience for example to some categories like Mid Managers and so on is an example of what some companies are missing because someone of 12 years experience for example does not fall in their Executive category.

Posted by Cindy French
01/24 @ 07:47 PM

Mayte, I like to think I bring those traits and more to my recruiting. we are talking about our jobs, right? the learning, the wonder, the aweness of it all. Those things bring me joy. I have enhanced someone's life-that's the whole point of what I do.
When I was a corporate manager, the part I enjoyed the most was finding that new talent and teaching and coaching them to become a real recruiter. Everyone isn't in this business for the reasons I am and so you can be disappointed, but overall, it's been a wonderful experience.