From The New York Times - Corner Office -
This interview (exert) with Saundra Pelletier, chief executive of WomanCare Global, a nonprofit provider of health care products, was conducted and condensed by Adam Bryant. Ms. Pelletier is also C.E.O. of Evofem Inc., a biotechnology company.
What career advice would you offer new college graduates?
This
might be unpopular. But it’s O.K. to play it safe. I think we get very
caught up these days in the idea of following your heart and your dreams
and don’t settle for less. But thinking you can bring your wildest
dreams to life without paying dues is “cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs.” It’s
great that you want to start an organic farm in Guatemala. It’s
wonderful to have those aspirations, and it’s great to deliberately work
toward whatever it is you want. But there’s value in pragmatism.
It’s
O.K. to be safe out of the gate, to start building a foundation to get
where you eventually want to be. Don’t worry that it doesn’t make your
heart sing. Don’t worry that you don’t get up every day and think,
“Wow.” You’ve got to learn things and make mistakes and pay your dues
and do different jobs. Sometimes those steppingstones teach us the best
lessons. I’m not trying to squash anyone’s dreams. The point is that you
have to be practical and reasonable. I think more kids need to hear
that.
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