CEO Gives College Crybabies A Hard Dose Of Reality In Open Letter
We all know what I think about the deteriorating state of our country’s youth and their willingness to work. A lot of college kids these days need to be coddled and told it’ll be a-okay. Then they step out into the real world and are hit by the train that is called work. It’s not pretty.
Kyle S. Reyes, the president and CEO of The Silent Partner Marketing firm, penned an open letter to all the college crybabies out there in the New Boston Post and gave them a warning about the postgrad life.
Dear College Students,
I remember the stress of college. The anxiety of papers due. The uncertainty of relationships. The concerns about what I was going to do after graduation.
I get it. It’s tough.
I also remember professors who challenged our perceived notions of “right” and “wrong.” I recall being exposed to movies, books and papers that I massively disagreed with. Looking back, I can visualize the heated debates between people with different perspectives. I can almost hear the yelling, the screaming, the passion and the CHALLENGES.
You’re studying and learning during the Industrial Revolution of our generation. It’s exciting. It’s encouraging. It’s liberating. And yet somehow, it’s also leading to your wussification.
Before you get all offended and run to your “safe place,” understand that I pulled that word right out of one of your trusted resources of knowledge – urbandictionary.com.
Here’s the first hit for the word:
wussification (verb): The act of turning one into a wussy.I’m sorry. I hope you didn’t mistake this letter to be one that would tell you how wonderful you are and that you’re going to make the world a wonderful place. No, my friends, that’s not what this letter is at all. This is an open letter to all those of you who are whining your way through college looking for a safe place and an entitled hall pass.
I come with a very simple message. When you cast off that safety blanket and enter into the real world, this thing called life is going to slap you faster than you can say, “Do you want fries with that?”
I recently saw an article about these so-called “marginalized students” at the University of Arizona issuing 19 pages of demands. Then, of course, the students at Emory University who needed counseling because they didn’t feel “safe” when they saw writing in chalk that said “Trump 2016.”To all those of you looking for your “safe place,” I have to wonder: How the hell do you walk out of your dorm (or your parents’ basement) without getting hit by a bus every day?
So on behalf of CEO’s across the country, I’d like to share with you a few lessons that you might want to learn before graduation.
1. The Business World Doesn’t Give A Damn About You
No, really – it’s true. You saw something on the internet that you found offensive? You’ve got the sniffles? Your boyfriend broke up with you? Well, that sucks. Deal with it. I expect you to get your work done on time. Hit traffic that made you late for the fourth time this week? You should have learned after the first time that you needed to leave your house early.
Listen, even the best bosses have their breaking points. Excuses might fly in college, but they’re NOT going to fly when we’re paying you to actually get things done.
2. The Only Safe Place Is Your Home
In the real world – and especially the business world – we’re going to challenge you. We’re going to push you. We’re going to demand that you consider other perspectives. We’re going to rip your ideas to shreds from time to time. And we’re going to insist that you play nicely with others to find ideas that actually work and implement them.
We’re going to get really pissed when you don’t deliver, and we’re going to get even more pissed when you cost us money because you weren’t willing to hustle hard enough to get the job done. And if you slack off enough, there’s no “bell curve” that’s going to save your ass from a big fat pink slip. Lucky for you there are enough people working in the unemployment office who’ve also been wussified by the system to make sure that even though you were fired for not showing up to work, you’ll probably still get to collect unemployment and sit on your ass.
3. There’s No Such Thing As “Free”
I get it. You’ve been told that money grows on trees, that education should be free for all and that everything in life should be handed to you on a silver platter.
But welcome to the big kids’ playground. You want that health insurance? It’s going to cost you. Oh, you don’t want it? That will cost you too. You want an apartment? A house? A car? Believe it or not, you need to actually come up with some money for that! Oh, and you can quit your whining about taxes. Because SOMEONE has to pay for all of that “free” stuff – and now it’s you, sucker.
4. If You Don’t Want To Be A Victim, Then Don’t Be
In college, any time your feelings were hurt, you were a victim. If you were challenged, the challenger was a “bigot” and you were the poor person who had their feelings hurt. Here in the real world, we expect you to be challenged and to understand that humility is just as important as bravado. Selflessness is more important that selfishness. The content of who you are as a person is more important than the color of your skin or your socio-economic background or your sex or your weight or your religious affiliation.
5. Success Is Hard Work
We’re not going to give you five breaks a day. You’re going to have to work nights and weekends from time to time. You want to make “the big bucks”? Then consider a nine-hour workday to be a part-time job. You’re most likely NOT going to graduate college and find a six-figure job. Hell, you’re going to be lucky if you find ANY job … and you should be grateful when you find it. Grateful … and prepared to work like a maniac to get ahead. Because in the real world, you don’t get a pass just because mommy and daddy are paying your bills.
So, ladies and gentlemen, enjoy the remainder of your time being gentle little snowflakes. Revel in the time you have at the world’s most expensive daycares across the country. Because soon, you’ll be in OUR world. And it’s about to get real.
Sincerely,
Kyle S. Reyes
President/CEO
Well said..
[via New Boston Post]
Kyle Reyes is the hero we need.
9 years ago at 12:32 pmThis is silly. The guy admits at the opening that he was like every single college student. He did well. Why not let college students be college students? They’re supposed to be whiny and entitled, then they go to the real world and learn for themselves about how shit is hard. They don’t need to be told that in advance. It’s part of joining the business world and it’s part of success.
Fuck this “open letter.” No one needs to hear what this guy has to say. Of all the successful businesses in the US, we are supposed to listen to a low-tier PR firm CEO? Really? It’s like getting rush advice during your sophomore year of HS from your former D&D Dungeon Master who joined a bottom-ranking house.
9 years ago at 12:37 pmholy shit you fucking suck in so many fucking ways
9 years ago at 6:52 pmYou’re fucking silly!!
9 years ago at 2:15 amBut thing you have to keep in mind is, this guy has a job in the business world, and all these protestors are studying, theater, art, womens studies and journalism. Theyll never know what deadlines and work is because theyre all gonna be unemployed at their parents home working on their “personal passion projects” when they graduate blogging about gay rights.
9 years ago at 12:38 pmWhile I agree with what this guy says, I suspect his motive in writing the letter was primarily to get free advertising for his company. Which TFM was glad to give him.
9 years ago at 1:16 pmtoo much to read but I agree with the CEO
9 years ago at 1:34 pmYes I would like Frys with that
9 years ago at 3:19 pmAnyone else not surprised at all that he is a CEO, based on his clear logic? Funny how logic is such a rare thing these days
9 years ago at 1:56 pmI don’t necessarily disagree with him. But he is doing this for free advertising. You can’t blame college kids for being “snowflakes,” yet call yourself a “CEO” —of what exactly? ….A one-man marketing company that looks like it is run out of an abandoned water treatment plant? (thank you google street view). Both are equally delusional. He sounds like every LinkedIn entrepreneur who thinks that CEO in his title will impress college friends. Guess what, nobody cares. We all know you’re not running anything remotely close to a F500. So who are these other executive officers? If you are a solo or small business, there is no executive staff to oversee. You are a “founder.” The fact that he doesn’t know the difference says all I need to know about his business acumen and credibility.
9 years ago at 2:05 pmSo what if he runs a one man business, which it is not. He has one and you don’t. Steve Jobs started in dorm room. He was a “founder.” So what are your credentials to criticize a man for stating the absolute truth about the real world after college? And if he is smart enough to get free publicity, what is wrong with that? (c.f. Donald Trump). Here’s your Burger King application, kid. Good luck.
9 years ago at 6:25 pmAnd he should be proud of being a founder of a company. That’s admirable. But its laughable to think that his self-labeled “CEO” status even comes close to putting him in the same league (and credibility) as the CEO of a heavyweight corporation. As for my credentials? How about a diploma from a T14 law school, freshly minted law license, and a sweet gig doing corporate/tax with a Vault ranked firm? Real-world game on fleek. Take a lap, son. The only Whoppers I munch are your sister’s.
9 years ago at 9:26 amReal world game on fleek…go fuck yourself, tryhard.
9 years ago at 9:47 am“Faster than you can say would you like Frys with that” – holy cow, that’s a 3rd degree burn
9 years ago at 3:18 pmHonestly if he’s trying to stand up against the PC culture, he should’ve said pussification
9 years ago at 6:26 pmWell written and completely agree, but I think to better relay his point he should have kept it real for both sides.
The wussification from the left is in fact nauseating, but as someone who recruits for my firm, I have encountered hundreds of schleps on the opposite end of the spectrum. Coming from a strong family and having good connections is a sure start to great networking, but you need to realize that’s as far is it’ll take you. I’m sad to say that I’ve had to tell even my own fraternity brothers that sure, I’ll hand in their resume, but a finance degree with a mediocre GPA and half-ass internship doesn’t exactly convey that you should be the one trusted with clients’ money and that you won’t crack after a 70 hour week.
He absolutely hits it home that softness has no place in the workforce, but neither does a false sense of entitlement.
9 years ago at 6:38 pm