I had an opportunity to sit next to a young man in first class on my trip from Dallas to Ontario (in California).  He is a freshman at a university somewhere near here.  He is studying business.

He is an interesting person;  the typical 19 year old with all the gadgets.  I figured his dad either traveled all the time and got him bumped to first, or he  was from an affluent community.  Before talking to him, I made an assessment that since he was so young and sitting in first class, he must be a snob.  He was, in fact, quite the opposite. 

I have a tendency to make assumptions about people before I meet them, based upon the circumstances that I am in.  This situation was no exception.  I think that we all do this, and it is natural. 

In this case, it only took me about two sentences of conversation with this young man to find out that he is bright and very nice.  After learning that he is studying business, I gave him a bit of unsolicited advice, and told him that when we get off the ground, I would give him some recommended reading, etc.  He was much obliged.  I realized very quickly how out of touch I am getting, because I don’t think that this young man had a piece of paper or a pen on him that could save his life.  Everything was done electronically.  That’s cool.  I just forget my age.

I recommended that he start taking “Business Week”, and to learn to actively rather than passively engage in reading.  I talked to him about networking.  He asked me if there was any other reading material to which he should subscribe outside of the Wall Street Journal and Business Week.  I told him to start there, since he is still young and has a lot of college work to do, and he should still go out and have fun.  No need to overload. 

I did recommend to him that he take as many leadership classes as are available for his electives.  He wasn’t sure what area he wanted to focus in, which, of course, is normal for a freshman.  I told him to go online and research online journals for various areas of interest in business.  Reading those journals may help him find what is interesting to him.

I asked him where he was from in Dallas, and he is indeed from an affluent community.  I said, “No SMU for you?”?  He said he might transfer back.  We talked about the Cox Program over there, etc.

He kept thanking me profusely for my help, and I understand why, but I wish he wouldn’t.  First, I may work for this young man someday (which I told him twice when he wouldn’t stop thanking me), and second, I consider him a person of interest (which I didn’t say out loud).  I shared information with him that no one had taken the time to share with him before; the favor will most likely be returned by him at some point in the future.  I gave him my card, and asked him to email me and not be shy about it.  I hope he does.

The lesson here is: don’t overlook the young.  They have all the opportunities in front of them.  We need to take responsibility for helping to shape them in the workplace, just as parents take the time to shape them as children.  Let’s take the time to teach them leadership philosophy; NOT just leadership skills.  Let’s take the time to teach them how and what to read so that they can think for themselves.  And let’s teach by example.  And let’s teach by example.  And let’s teach by example…

It would have been so easy for me to sit there and not talk to this young man.  I could have sat there and thought, god, what is a 19 year old doing in first class?  What kind of family does he come from?  Has he ever worked hard? 

If I had done that, look what I would have missed out on.  I would have missed out on an opportunity to meet an interesting person,  to help grow a young person, and I would have lost an opportunity to create a business relationship with someone who I may work for someday.  I guarantee that the little amount of time I spent with him will end up affecting others.  I know it affected me.

I am fortunate in some respects.  I was raised by a man that believed in shaping young business minds.  My father taught me about the WSJ when I was 13, taught me how to actively read rather than passively read, and introduced me to Business Week and other reading materials.  To this day,we share reading materials and share a love of books.  My father took me to dinner a lot, and he never went to dinner without a pen.  The right of passage with my father was to spend many nights at dinner watching him write on napkins, teaching us all kinds of things about life.  His father did this for him, and he did this for us.  My father gave me poetry and books that I didn’t understand, and wouldn’t until I was older.  As a teen, I hated it.  But as an adult, I wouldn’t trade that experience for the world.  My father taught me to think, although it took me years before I chose to exercise thought before action. 

So, raise your young.  Do your parent  thing.  I have no idea how to do that, and would never profess to know.  What I do know how to do is shape a young mind to think rationally and logically, and to point them in the right direction.  Never be afraid to give a young person your name.  Never think you are too busy to mentor them.  They need us as much as we need them. 

And, you may need them to explain to you what digg.com is when you read about it in Business Week on a plane bound for California.