We’re taking a different angle in this week’s newsletter… 1) because this is a topic I am passionate about and 2) because, honestly, I want to see if this style of content resonates.

This past Tuesday, I went back to where I graduated college, Temple University, and spoke in front of a Digital Marketing course full of Juniors and Seniors. 

I’ve spoken to college students many times the last few years. I love doing it. It’s fulfilling, gratifying and a healthy challenge.

I decided to skip the marketing tips and social media hacks.

Instead, I boiled down five ways to get ahead professionally in your 20s—and I'm sharing them below.

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👋 Hey, I’m Brandon Blum. I’m the Founder and Managing Partner at New Edition - a boutique creative agency based out of Brooklyn, New York that helps emerging e-commerce brands create content.

In this week's newsletter: Five brutally honest ways to get ahead in your 20s

Let’s get into it…

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1. NOBODY IS COMING TO SAVE YOU

Sure, you may get some help from a family member - maybe an inside track to an interview or a first job - but what you do with those unique opportunities is 100% up to you.

Be objective with your situation. Be realistic with ways to improve it. Be flexible in how you do it. But don’t play victim (no matter how badly you want to).

Nobody is coming to rescue you from your bad job, toxic relationship or shitty apartment. Pick yourself up off the mat and keep pushing. Keep trying to figure it out.

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2. THERE’S NOTHING BETTER THAN LIVE REPS

Getting your degree is great. Reading a book is productive. Listening to a podcast is helpful. But you have to get in the game. 

Start a side-business, even if it makes no money. Start posting on social media, even if nobody engages with your content.

The lack of sales, the lack of views, and overall lack of anything, is invaluable.

“Rejection” or - even worse - “indifference” is the best feedback you can get. And the only way to get it is when you have skin in the game and … try.

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3. HOW YOU DO ANYTHING IS HOW YOU DO EVERYTHING

Your attitude in meetings, interactions in Slack, and presence at happy hours may seem minor, but they're not.

At my first job in New York at The Atlantic, I was at the bottom making no money, doing soul-draining work.

Somehow, I got a meeting with the Publisher and pitched an idea: spending 5-10 minutes at company all-hands to go over a few ad campaigns in the industry that were receiving recognition.

She liked it and suggested I be the one to do it. I had to accept the challenge.

A few weeks later, I presented to the entire company—about 60 people.

I practiced that 10-minute presentation 101 times. I was SO nervous. But knew it mattered.

How I did on that presentation was how I would do everything else.

4. FOR THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITY, WORK FOR FREE

Sometimes, a live rep is more valuable than $100. Sometimes a foot in the door will lead to way more than $250.

The reality is this is a judgement call and, to some extent, a privilege. I know, money is tight. You have bills to pay.

And here’s the rub: you still need to deliver.

Assuming you do good work, taking advantage of a free opportunity can change your entire career. I have seen it happen so many times.

5. AT THIS STAGE, YOU ARE NOT ABOVE ANY JOB

When I graduated college, I got an unpaid internship training college football players for the NFL.

The facility was owned by former NFL wide receiver, Brandon Marshall.

One day, I saw Brandon walk out of the bathroom with a spray bottle and rag.

Caught off guard, I said, "isn't that my job?" He responded, "no, it's all of our jobs."

An NFL Wide Receiver cleaning toilets instead of delegating it to an intern.

That mentality can take you a long way.

Your 20s are too critical to coast through. 

Which one above resonates with you the most?

Respond to this email or send a note to [email protected] and let’s chat.

See you next week ✌️