Five reasons Chad Osko will be successful

Chad Osko was a student of mine. I received a note from him the other day and, after reading it, it occurred to me that Chad will be successful – for a lot of different reasons. To clarify, "will be successful" doesn’t necessarily mean successful today or even tomorrow or that he will have a mansion and a yacht. He may not reach his definition of "success" for some time. But, I have no doubt that he will reach it or, more to the point, it will reach him.

So, without further adieu, five (rambling) reasons Chad Osko will be successful:

Chad is unique – No question about this, and in a lot of different, good ways. One day I was walking to class and thought Chad was walking in front of me. A young man, of medium build, blond curly hair… and then I realized, that can’t be Chad, the person in front of me isn’t wearing flip flops.

His flip flops aren’t the only thing unique about Chad – and I doubt he wears them all the time. His unique attributes are the kind that make people want to hang out with him. What I found most unique about him was, for as unique as he is, he didn’t hide it. He is very comfortable in his own shoes… ahem… flip flops.

Chad is talented – No question about that either, very, very talented. Talented in a creative way, a way that pays dividends to any company once they harness his energy. But, oh that energy. I know, I know. Chad is, for lack of a better term, a goof. Some of my best friends are goofs. I am a goof (self confession – don’t hold it against me) and some of my best/most productive employees have been focused, creative, talented goofs. Ask any successful team leader who their best/key team members were and most will describe Chad.

He is open to change – It doesn’t have to be a debate/argument for him to change his mind. His eyes, heart and mind are open. The most successful people I know are open to change. Sometimes they change their minds, opinions, habits, etc. because they were simply listening and hadn’t closed off the pathways to alternate ideas.

What change did I witness? I didn’t, but he shared. Let me use his words. …"at the beginning of the semester, you and I got into a little tiff about the legitimacy of a Public Relations degree.  I absolutely had my doubts, but you, almost single-handedly changed my mind."

I remember that conversation. It was actually with the entire class (class, what are you doing to improve your reputation as public relations professionals?) and lasted no more than ten minutes. For Chad, apparently, it lasted all semester. And, in the end… well, he saw the light.

Chad is passionate – Go ahead, ask him about the movie Rushmore or a myriad of other topics. Be ready to sit for a while though. Bottom line, people who are passionate about something understand passion. And, that tends to migrate to other topics and people.

And last, but not least, Chad gets "it" – I am not sure why he wrote me. He didn’t have to and there was no benefit or gain for him. He didn’t ask for a favor or need advice. It was truly altruistic, to say thanks for being a good professor, being "Paul Miller’s Mr. Holland". But that is what people who get "it" do.

A lot of my students will be successful for all the same reasons listed above. For those not taking notes, let me summarize. Unique, talented, open to change, passionate and getting "it" equals future success.

For the record, let me clarify success – it is what you determine it to be, no one else. I am not sure how Chad will define success, it may be having a job where he can wear flip-flops to work. For me, success is being a college professor and receiving, every once in a while, a note like Chads.