The 1984 graduating class of North Cobb High School consisted of over 335 students. Half, of course, were young men of which I was one. Of this group of 160+ group of guys, I won the Senior Superlative by being voted Wittiest of my senior class. Winning a Superlative was a big deal at NCHS. But while being “the man” back in high school, I learned to be ashamed of this award.
What this award symbolized was I was the class clown and commanded more attention than any other guy in my graduating class. The reality was I was probably the most insecure and needed tremendous amounts of validation on a moment-by-moment basis. And if I did not get it, here came a series of jokes.
There was also something else driving this behavior. Back in the mid-80’s there were a series of movies celebrating goof-offs. Movies like Animal House, Stripes, Revenge Of The Nerds, and Caddyshack celebrated foolish behavior. In fact, the characters with foolish behavior always came out on top and more importantly, had fun doing it.
I bought into this false version of success hook, line and sinker. For several years, I somehow stayed one step ahead of accountability until I entered the professional workforce. It was there reality finally set in.
Each day, I began to work alongside grown men and women. These men and women had families and mortgages. They had no desire to work with John Belushi from Animal House. They were professionals. I was not.
Forget high school and college, I was now enrolled in the school of hard works.
For the next 10 years, I learned the following leadership lessons:
- Preparation – I might have goofed off in class when I was not sleeping, but there was no chicanery in the adult world.
- Hard Work – If you are not working hard, your team’s project was not being completed on time and everyone paid for my mistake. How do you think that went over?
- Excellence – Doing C-level work may get you through high school and college, but it will get you fired in the real word.
- Maturity – There will be some people who think the class clown is cool when you are younger. Professionals have no patience for clowns. Clowns belong in the circus, not the workforce.
- Wasted Opportunity – I began to look at my peers. The ones who were serious in high school and college carried their behavior into the professional workforce. They were getting better opportunities than I was. They were being promoted fast. Funny thing, they had nicer cars, nicer houses, and took things like vacations.
- Compounding – I had more fun when I was younger. They were have more fun now. You will either pay now and play later or play now and pay later. Here is the lesson – whatever you do later you get more of.
- Connections – My peers had far more influential friends than I did. It is true that the average compensation of your five closest friends is probably your salary. Let me tell you this – 5 class clowns did not make much money.
Interestingly, I was as smart as everyone else but was now paying the price for my chicanery. My peers were not smarter than I was but they sure got a significant head start because of better behavior.
The biggest leadership mistake I made in high school and college was wasting those years. Rather than using it as a time for preparation, hard work, maturing, building connections, developing my skills, and paying the price needed for success, I thought being Bill Murray in Caddyshack was the role model I should follow.
In my early 30s, I was frustrated enough to make the decision I would NEVER be a clown again. I would work as hard and long as I could. I would read dozens of books every year. I would give people attention through serving them rather than taking attention from others through foolish behavior. I would set and exceed goals and help others do the same. Enough was enough.
That was the best leadership decision of my 30’s. And the rest is history.
When I see class clowns, partiers and young people wasting their opportunities I think back to my younger life. I know they have a tough road ahead unless something changes.
Someone who is not giving their best effort needs to read this today.
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