Why I'm glad I'm not a lawyer, a banker, or (God forbid) an engineer.
Robert Solomon
Consultant, coach, and workshop leader, author of the widely read and respected book, "The Art of Client Service," expert in achieving behavior change with advertising/marketing/PR agencies, clients, and individuals.
I was a one-semester-to-go impending college graduate, sitting in the kitchen of the modest Los Angeles home of one of my college roommates, “The Tuna,” filling out a law school application, when I put my pen down.
I called Philadelphia.
“Dad, I don’t want to go the law school; I want to go to grad school in literature.”
My Dad, instead of being obstructionist, was surprisingly supportive. “Whatever you want to do, Bobby.”
Why the sudden change, not just of heart, but of career?
It could be I was inspired by the spirited teachings of a professor, A.E. Claeyssens (the most likely reason); or it possibly was a notion fueled and motivated by romantic visions of college life (less likely); or even driven by intellectual pursuits (highly unlikely). I equally was repelled by the prospect of law school (a grind) and the future of an attorney (beyond boring)
Regardless, my degree in American Studies, instead of prepping me for law school, equipped me with a generalist’s background. Less concerned with what was being taught, more concerned with who was teaching, I opted for professors who excelled in the classroom, each devoted to engaging me in ways that made me think for myself.
I learned how to learn, to be inquisitive, to explore the possible, to find my way around a research library, to ask questions, and, above all, to communicate clearly, concisely, and with conviction.
If you read The New York Times article, “Careerism is Ruining College, “ you see my choice is far less likely to occur these days. The story’s author defines careerism as,
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“pre-professional pressure: a prevailing culture that convinces many of us that only careers in fields such as computer programming, finance and consulting, preferably at blue-chip firms like Goldman Sachs, McKinsey or big tech companies, can secure us worthwhile futures.”
I didn’t plan on a career in advertising, but that’s where the journey took me. Instead of being a liability, my generalist’s training proved ideally suited to better serving my clients and collaborating more effectively with my colleagues. I came to describe myself as, “A mile wide and an inch deep.”
Most people assume it’s pejorative; who wants to be seen as superficial? That’s one view; the other is about being curious and interested in everything, especially in matters ranging far outside my normal sphere of interest. Perhaps both describe me, but it’s easy to see which one I prefer.
Could I have succeeded as an attorney? Possibly, although I imagine hating every minute of it.
As a finance person or consultant? An epic fail if ever there was one.
As a computer programmer/engineer? A total non-starter.
All of which prompts a question: were I a college student today, would I have succumbed to the pressure felt by others, making a not-easily-reversable choice, or would I still have been able to follow a path where there is no path, just random chance presenting often hidden-from-view opportunities?
It sucks to get old – I know firsthand– but it doesn’t suck to remember having license to explore far and wide as a last-century college student of the 1960s and ‘70s. Even more important, to this day my career, though far from perfect, isn’t one I would trade for being a lawyer, banker, or programmer/engineer.
It’s not a matter of money. And that’s exactly the point.