From Black Enterprise:
I’ve always been a fan of author F. Scott Fitzgerald, and one of my favorite classics by the writer is The Great Gatsby. As a child with what many people would describe as an “old soul,” I always loved colorful stories set in the past, whether it was the Bible days, Medieval times, the Roaring ’20s, liberated ’60s or the psychedelic ’70s— especially if they were true or based on what was really going on at the time.
Since the movie is set to premiere today, I felt inclined to revisit an old favorite of mine. In doing my research, I found that Fitgerald, in the way that great innovators of communication and story-telling do, included timeless themes that are still relevant decades later and can fuel the imaginations and critical thinking processes of generations to come.
(Wait, I promise you, no spoilers here. I haven’t even seen the movie to spoil it, but the book, well, that’s been in existence for decades.)
Here are a few career-related lessons from the classic that can help you avoid career ruin:
Your network is your net worth, and it’s a small world, especially among the wealthy and the powerful.Hey, this might seem like an overused cliche, but two of the main characters in the book, narrator Nicholas “Nick” Carraway, and Tom Buchanan, attended the same school, Yale. Tom, a man from an old-money family, later becomes Nick’s cousin via marriage, opening the war vet’s network up to world of wealth and extravagance. (This world would eventually lead to major demise, but in real life, one can often leverage relationships based on doors open to them via newfound friendships and connections built on common experiences.)
Read the rest of this story on Black Enterprise.