Posted in Career Advice for Young Professionals on February 15, 2012 at 9:12 pm
I simply can’t let the Linsanity pass without getting involved. It’s just too much fun.
The short story if you’ve somehow missed it: Jeremy Lin played high school basketball in Palo Alto and in college for Harvard. He received no athletic scholarships and remained undrafted after college. Eventually making his way to the NBA, he mostly sat on the bench, most recently for the New York Knicks.
Then, a few weeks ago, due to a variety of unlikely factors, he was called off the bench and shocked the world by scoring a whopping 25 points against the New Jersey Nets. He’s led the New York Knicks on a major winning – er, Linning – streak ever since. He’s now their starting point guard.
Besides the fact that everyone loves Lin puns and it’s just an amazing, feel good story, I really do believe there is a major career lesson in Jeremy Lin’s come-out-of-nowhere stardom.
If you’re Linspired by Jeremy Lin, ask yourself this question: What if, like Lin, you received the chance of a lifetime in your career? What would you do with it?
Would you be prepared if it arrived tomorrow? If not, what can you do now to better prepare for a big opportunity? (Remember the classic saying, “luck is what happens when preparedness meets opportunity.”)
That’s it. Think about the most amazing thing that could possibly happen in your career and start planning for it now. Today.
Oh, and for those of you frustrated that you’re still living at home with your parents, read this.
What do you think of the Jeremy Lin phenomenon? Please share!
Image: CBSSports.com
@Sara, you bring up a good question about how can employers recognize their employee’s potential instead of valuing them just on their past work. I was reading in another blog recently how, in order to take advantage of current jobs and internships, a go-getter attitude is essential for your employer and will help them recognize your future potential. That type of attitude is probably (because I’m not following it too closely) what Jeremy Lin has, and is a good take-away from his story for all of us new professionals.
How could it be anything other than inspiring? He worked and worked and worked and finally, the world noticed. Whenever a person makes a big leap, they’ve got to know that there are rewards ahead. I keep hoping! http://meantforsomethingbetter.com/2012/02/21/big-life-changes/
@Chase – Thanks so much for the comment. I’m so glad you’re enjoying my book and that you liked the Jeremy Lin post. I’m not a big basketball fan but Linsanity has got me hooked! Glad our worlds connected in this way. Hope you’ll keep reading the blog!
Lindsey
I abosolutely love the Linsanity! The only reason I am on this blog right now is because I am reading your book, Getting From College to Career. I must say, this book is great. It has offered many things I would never thought of and I am so glad I picked it up. Thank you Ms. Pollak. The fact that I read your book and the first blog post I read is about sports is crazy. I am a huge sports fan and now a fan of your writing.
Great observation Sara! Thanks for sharing.
What I find interesting is for the teams who passed him, the coaches charged their players by past success. Knicks probably would cut him too if they were not forced to use him. Apply to a work place, how can employers recognize their employees’ potential, to value them by what they are capable of creating in the future instead of solely by what they have done in the past. The latter obviously involve more risk but also more awarding.