Private-equity veteran Bryan Cressey lays out twenty principles for success in your twenties: aim high, treat mistakes as teachers, listen deeply, prepare thoroughly for meetings, never burn bridges, and prioritize teamwork over solo effort. He ties the advice to his book Be a Winner.
If one of the world's most successful investors told you 20 things to do in your 20s that created joy and success in his life, would you listen?
Hi, I'm Bryan Cressey, and I'm going to share with you the things I've learned that create real success. Aim high. What you can accomplish is almost limitless. Admit mistakes. Mistakes are my best teacher. People who succeed make lots of mistakes. Make mistakes and learn from them. Impose your judgment on the world. Choose the path you have passion about, not what other people suggest. Be creative. The secret is identifying many alternatives before choosing one. You can become creative. Focus on something and become excellent at it. Excellence is highly rewarding. Help your team by contributing in the most important places. Name your top priorities and focus on accomplishing those. Be likable. People will want you to succeed. Be genuine and caring with other people. To understand others, walk in their shoes. Visualize yourself in their situation to understand them. Listen deeply when others speak. Your own pathway will become clear. Be prepared for every call or meeting. Doing your advance work wins. Never burn bridges. Even when you're angry, depart With grace. This can create great opportunities in your future. Play as a team. Teams win, loners lose. Admire every teammate and forgive their weaknesses while applauding their strengths. When you first meet people, smile and maintain eye contact longer. Only go to work with people who have succeeded in the past. In an interview, watch how employees interact with each other. If it's friendly, good. But if it's serious and quiet, run. Don't trust how-to-invest advertisements. Have fun. The world is not created serious. You can both win and have fun. For more ways to bring joy and success into your life, explore my new book, Be a Winner, which I've written so everyone can increase happiness and success in their life. And here it is. Thank you, and be a winner in your 20s.
Bryan Cressey, Co-founder of 4 of the most successful private equity firms in the United States, is one of the country's most influential business minds. He's an innovative builder of companies and leadership talent, and he's on a mission to help you become financially successful, personally fulfilled, and enthusiastic about life. Available at Amazon and all major booksellers.
