High School In My 20s

For the longest time, I blocked out my high school years. I wasn’t part of the “popular” crowd nor was I part of the “teased and bullied on a daily basis” crowd. But, I still hated it. I was the geek (in a good way) who was also an athlete (volleyball and tennis). Let’s not forget yearbook. I was trying my best to “succeed” so that I could leave and get into college. One of the things I was trying to get away from the most was the popular crowd. Let’s just say we had different values. I thought that through hard work and education I could get to the top. Even after two degrees, as I am starting to build my business, I can’t help wonder, did the “popular” kids have it right in high school?

Networking

High School: They were the ones who threw the wild late night parties that popular kids from other high schools would go to as well.

Real World: It really is about who you know. Well, at least that’s how it feels like in the business/tech industry. I didn’t think that had such a big influence until I realized that some of the most important and valuable steps that I made climbing up the ladder were because I had known someone.

Grapevine

High School: You’d fear walking by them because that would make you the next possible gossip topic. They didn’t care too much about whether the words that came out of their mouth were true or false. Either way they would pass along the information and it would spread like wildfire.

Real World: If you have control of the information, you have control. And those gossipers? They didn’t just disappear after high school. They grew up an entered the real world too.

Confidence

High School: There was a sense of entitlement with the popular kids. They were to get the best seats in the house. What they wanted they got, what they expected to get they got. We were at their mercy. They reeked of entitlement and the rest of us obliged.

Real World: In the real world, I think just like dogs, we can smell fear. We can smell confidence. We see it in each other’s mannerisms – they way we walk, talk, and carry ourselves. Having a sense of entitlement emotes this smell of bold confidence. And that’s attractive not only in the business world, but other industries as well. You can have the smarts and know how, but no bold confidence? No deal.

The “In” Crowd

High School: You were automatically in if you were family, looked hot, a jock, or a bully. Other types need not apply.

Real World: If you’re not family, attractive looking, or have some sort of capital (social or monetary), say your prayers. Ok, maybe that’s being dramatic. There is an “in” crowd. Let’s not fool ourselves. We can point them out. If you’re in – good for you. If you’re not, well, it’s just going to be harder for you to be wildly successful. Still plausible, but you have to work harder.

Bottom line? High school followed me into my 20s. The popular crowd knew the ins and outs of power and control.. I’ll gladly admit that and take some pointers. But I’m also going to bet that with hard work and smarts, the yearbook geek with a rockin’ cross court angle is going to come out on top.