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"Leaders aren't born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work." -Vincent T. Lombardi
 
You're young and ambitious, a perfect representative of the millennial generation. Your energy may take you far, but fair or not, you've got to prove yourself to your boss and your colleagues. So, as someone who has been doing this for a little bit longer perhaps, here are some pointers on how to earn their respect...
 
I know you value being "real". So, on your resume and in person, resist the urge to embellish your accomplishments or brag about your talent. Let your achievements speak for themselves.
 
Handle the stress. Show that you can keep your cool when things don't go according to plan. If you wilt under pressure, managers and co-workers won't trust you with responsibility.
 
Cultivate the right relationships. Don't just kiss up to the boss (but don't ignore him or her either). Identify people who can help you, and whom you can help, and establish long-term relationships with the potential to benefit both of you.
 
Learn to communicate! Your email, reports, and notes should be grammatically correct and free of LOL, JK, etc., k? Read everything over carefully to be sure you're making the point you intend, in appropriate language. Leave out the jokes, and concentrate on content that's clear and easy to follow.
 
Don't complain. Not everything is a perfect social justice moment. You may be disappointed or angered by a manager's decision. Don't take it to Twitter. Live with it. If you get a reputation for agitating, you'll have a much harder time convincing people that they should give you their attention and trust.
 
Show some humility. You may have gotten straight A's in college, and you may have the greatest idea for a new product EVAR. But if you insist on telling people how smart you are, you'll alienate co-workers and managers who would otherwise be willing to help you. Show some maturity, and listen to the people around you with respect.
 
Perhaps this doesn't go down as smoothly as it should in order to be perfectly received. But acting on this advice might just set you up for the kind of long-term success that you have always hoped for.
 
Warmly,
 
Pat O'Hara
(845) 242-2151