Sharing the advice

Friday, Jan. 17, 2025

Dedicated students, distinguished colleagues and dear friends,

Happy Friday!

Depending on the topic, on average, I receive about three dozen responses to my Friday messages, out of nearly 100,000 students, faculty members, staff, alumni, parents, and university presidents, provosts, and deans who receive the messages. Responses come from students and others as well as from alums who were here long ago, as far back as the 1940s, with nearly a century of experience to share.

Those who respond are passionate about the topic and, almost always, enhance my thoughts with those of their own. Last week’s message, “Our coaches, our metamorphosis,” was no exception and generated savvy responses that compelled me to share their wisdom.

One responder, a 1949 graduate of our university, then Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy, shared that he served as the CEO of his company for 42 years and learned from his mentors and coaches that “Passion, courage, and empathy were the virtues needed for a successful long career and life. Without passion, life is boring, without courage you seem weak, and without empathy you will be disconnected.” That’s good advice from someone who led a 10,000-employee company for over four decades.

Another respondent, whom I consider a mentor of mine, had a similar and interesting take on career coaches. With permission, I am including his eloquent response, particularly for the benefit of our students:

Mo, the benefit of experience cannot be minimalized. Around age 30 I made it a point to seek out a man, and I suggest females seek out a female, who is 10 years older, successful and in a related profession, industry or the like. The question to pose is "Tell me what the next 10 years of my life look like." The similarity of all aspects of life, relationships, professional growth, health, etc., are remarkably similar for all at like ages. This is true despite advancements in technology, medicine, pandemics and other unknown events. I'm 77, so I'm searching for a 90-year-old who fits the criteria. Difficult task.

I have no clue how to advise a youngster on what that student should do in each year of college, how to prepare a resume, what employers deem is employable or practically anything of value in obtaining a job in the present market.

However, I will offer there is one trait that is essential for success that cannot be measured by testing or taught by a coach and that is passion. When one rises to elite competition in their field, all have the same strength, intelligence, endurance. It is passion that separates the one from the rest. Passion is what keeps one going when others stop, it allows one to solve what is not solvable for others. So, my only advice to all is look for something that lights your fire, makes you want to stay late and rise early, and in which you revel in its difficult challenges. That's at least part of what passion looks like. If passion isn't apparent in your first job, move on. Hurry up! The sooner passion is found, the better.

In addition to the inspiration and advice that these and many other eloquent responders have offered, they have indirectly highlighted that career coaches, when selected properly, add value by pointing the way and by helping us mitigate harm. Career coaches “help us develop and sharpen our skills in ways far more lasting than anything we learn from our textbooks alone.”

I, for one, am grateful for the responses I receive and wanted to share their advice with all of you as we begin a new academic term. After all, we are as good as the great advice that we heed.

Warmly,

-Mo.

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Mohammad Dehghani, PhD
Chancellor
mo@mst.edu | 573-341-4116

206 Parker Hall, 300 West 13th Street, Rolla, MO 65409-0910
chancellor.mst.edu