4

Youth Is Wasted on the Young

During my first few months at PVH, I was often concerned about my lack of experience. I was not only the new guy, I was also the youngest person working there, and I was always the junior executive in the room. However, in spite of my entry-level position, my company wanted me to learn, and so I was always included in the mix.

One day I was invited to have lunch with many senior people from the company who were meeting with the president of a multi-billion-dollar textile company. I was happy simply to be invited. When we got to the restaurant, the textile company president asked me to sit next to him at the table, and I’ll never forget what he said: “Mark, do you know why I’m sitting next to you? Because you are the future.”

I was a bit surprised, but I was also impressed, and I thanked him. I realized this guy was special because he had a long-term perspective on his company, my company, and our industry in general. He taught me a lesson I remember to this day: even though you’re the youngest, newest, or least experienced person in the room, you may be the most important person because you are someone who will be making the important decisions someday and because you are plugged in to what’s going on far more than is anyone older than you. Young people need to understand and respect that and realize that they have something to contribute. (Of course, the way you present yourself is also very important, and I’ll talk about that in Chapter 14.)

Moreover, because the president of this company introduced himself and took an interest in me, I had a direct connection to him, which I was able to leverage as I worked my way up in my company. I was able to call him directly, ask him for advice, and show him ideas I was working on to get his input. That connection was invaluable because I could learn from him just as he was learning from me.

Most young people don’t realize their youth is something senior executives covet. Although there are some very confident, self-possessed exceptions, most people just starting out worry that they don’t have any experience or training even if they are very well educated. They’re intimidated by the people they’re working with, who seem fearless: they know what they’re doing, they’ve done it before, and they seem to know how to handle every difficult situation and problem that arises.

But don’t sell yourself short. The fact that you’re young or new to your company is not a negative; it’s a positive, and you should always keep that in mind even as you’re learning. You know more than you think you do. Young people are closer to what’s new: they’re simply wired in better. As a result, most companies—if they have smart managers running them—covet the opinions of young people. No matter how much TV I watch or new music I listen to, no matter how involved I am with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, or the next new thing, I realize now that I’ll never be fully tapped in to what younger people know about our constantly changing culture and technologies.

I have this opinion because of the way I rose through the ranks of my company. I didn’t grow up on the financial side (although I certainly understand the financials of a business), and so I view business from a different angle, and my approach works. It’s good to have a different way of looking at things, and young people from different backgrounds and with different experiences have something to contribute. You have to know when to talk and when not to talk. You need to know what questions to ask and what not to ask. Nonetheless, every one of your thoughts and questions has value. Don’t let anyone sell you short and don’t waste your youth, because you’re only young once.