Become a CEO by 30 – Here’s the Secret to Success
Every young professional dreams of claiming that shiny corner office as home. However, it’s not as simple as walking into an office and planting your flag of ownership. Rather, the path to becoming CEO takes hard work, dedication, and time — sometimes even decades spent climbing the corporate ladder. To help guide ambitious young professionals with CEO aspirations, I’m sharing some helpful tips you can follow to become a CEO by the time you’re 30.
Education. Getting a proper education and degree is important and key for pursuing any career path, but it’s especially important when aspiring to become CEO. Not everyone strikes it big and becomes the next Mark Zuckerberg by founding their own business, let alone founding a business that actually succeeds. Unless you’re a founder, your chances of making it to the top job without a degree are virtually non-existent. In
terms of what sort of degree path to pursue, degrees in business, economics, or accounting are typically popular choices.
Find the Right Company for You.
Find a company that allows you to work at your rapid pace and pursue goals without co-workers holding you back. Don’t get stuck in a position where upward mobility is next to impossible. Find a great fit for you in a job you truly enjoy. Working in a company where co-workers respect you and give you the tools to succeed and climb the ladder provides the scene to excel.
Personality.
Not everyone is cut out to be a CEO. You must have the drive and ambition to rise to the top, and the ability to handle the stress and long hours that comes along with climbing the corporate ladder. Good communication skills and listening skills are important also, and will go a long way in unifying an organization. Lastly, it’s important to be a people person so you can make connections with peers, effectively growing and further legitimizing your company.
Don’t Shy Away from Taking Risks.
You won’t get to the top by playing it safe all the time, and when you’re younger, it’s the perfect time to take risks because you have less to lose than more seasoned colleagues. Take advantage of this time when there’s no family, mortgage or other responsibility that might get in your way and pursue bigger, bolder risks for greater rewards. If you fail, you still have time in your career to make up for the loss and give success another shot.
Demand Respect.
You won’t get far if your colleagues don’t respect you. As a young professional, some colleagues might be hesitant to give you respect because of your age. Demand it. Commanding the respect of your colleagues with go a long way in helping you get ahead. Speak up for yourself. Once colleagues discover you know what you’re talking about and see your drive and passion, respect will follow.
Even if you follow these tips, reaching the top of the corporate ladder is a hard career path to take. But these tips will help make that journey a little easier.
Gennady Barsky is the CFO of JetSmart and a real estate entrepreneur.