1. Talent is vastly overrated. Every single human being has talent. It’s what you do with it that matters. Rehearsing, practising, training, learning… that’s what really matters. Don’t leave expecting doors to open just because of your brilliance… expect to have to develop personally, academically and in character for the rest of your life.
2. Networking is not overrated. You need mentors, you need good friends, you need patrons. It is about who you know. IQ is important, but in this generation your RQ is what will make the difference in your life. Ministers in particular leave Bible colleges knowing a hundred things ABOUT grace but not knowing how to show grace. An hour of seeing something modelled is worth 6 months of education.
3. Technology is overrated. If the internet is down don’t ask your boss to go home! Get on the phone. Business is still done face to face and person to person. Technology is an awesome tool but a lousy boss. Make sure you use technology but are never owned by it. Get in front of people.
4. Experience is not overrated. I just heard a young bible school graduate who applied for a senior pastors job. When experience was brought up he (rather foolishly) said that college gave him all the experience he needed. It takes 3 years to become an expert in a skill or job, so if you are fresh from college have a little humility. It is also a good idea, depending on profession, to ensure you find a company you can stay three years with. Not only will it help you it will help your CV.
5. You are overrated. Or more accurately you learn to rate yourself on things in college that the real world does not care about. Be aware that you are going to get into a place where things are different. Go humbly, go flexible, go with a learning attitude. You haven’t ended your learning process by finishing college, you have only just begun.
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