AT WORK
CEOs give advice to teen: Chase your passion, not money
By Anita Bruzzese
Gannett News Service
Ask anyone about today's teens and you're likely to get an earful:
Teens have no ambitions other than getting the latest cell phone; they have no respect for their elders; they have no work ethic.
Wrong, wrong, wrong.
Doug Berry, 17, is a high school senior who has not only ambition, but the smarts to go along with it. He decided when he was 14 to find out exactly how to become a CEO. So, he sent
150 letters to the top brass in the United States. Amazingly, more than 100 responded to his inquiries about what it takes to become a CEO. Their responses inspired Berry to share the information in a book, "Wisdom for a Young CEO" (Running Press, $14.95).
"I know doing this (writing the letters and the book) separates me a bit from other kids my age, but this was really so interesting to me," Berry says. "To be honest, I was surprised that the CEOs themselves answered. I thought they might have their secretaries write back."
What Berry learned from the CEOs gives everyone — no matter the age — an invaluable look inside the minds of top performers who shared some surprisingly candid thoughts.
For example, Berry says he was inspired to think of his life differently when he saw the letter from Raymond V. Gilmartin, chairman and CEO of Merck & Co.
"One thing I learned," Gilmartin wrote, "is that I could never take a job simply because it might look good on my résumé. I have to do things I enjoy."
Berry says that while it "would be great to be a CEO," he is taking Gilmartin's advice and will probably major in creative writing — his great love — in college.
He says his perspective on life and work was also altered by letters from other CEOs, such as George M.C. Fisher, chairman of Eastman Kodak Co., who cautioned: "There's more to life than being a CEO. But go for your dreams, whatever they are."
Thomas S. Johnson, chairman and CEO for GreenPoint Bank in New York, warned Berry not to focus too much on becoming a CEO, since "no matter how talented you are, no matter how hard you work, no matter what kind of advice you get from people, it is nearly impossible to foresee the twists and turns in a person's life and predict a route that is likely to lead him or her to any particular long-term goal.
"What is important, I think, is to have a general understanding of two things. First, what are you good at? Second, what do you really like to do? When you discover something that truly answers both of those questions, go for it."
The CEOs also advised against getting too caught up in financial and professional success.
"The bottom line about success in life isn't whether you are financially successful, but whether you have given of yourself in some way to help others less fortunate than you and to serve your community and your country," counseled P. Anthony Ridder, chairman and CEO of Knight Ridder.
Bertram Scott, president and CEO of TIAA-CREF Life Insurance in New York, told Berry: "Respect the dignity of everyone you meet, irrespective of their race, beliefs, gender or social status. Each individual is sacred. The differences among us enrich our world. They are to be valued."
And finally, this advice from Leonard Riggio, chairman and CEO of Barnes & Noble Inc.: "I never take myself too seriously, and I oftentimes look at myself and this world as a distant observer. Believe me, there is a lot to laugh about."
Write to Anita Bruzzese c/o: Business Editor, Gannett News Service, 7950 Jones Branch Dr., McLean, VA 22107. For a reply, include an addressed, stamped envelope.
