On being a Successful Millennial
Christopher Martlew • 18 May 2017

Get up early, work hard, strike oil.

That was J.P Getty’s formula for success. (Whether he was successful, apart from being extremely rich, may be a moot point.)

The first two may be relatively easy (get up early and work hard) and the third (strike oil) a matter of luck — or maybe not?

Actually I think Getty got it the wrong way around — at least in a modern, post-millennium, generation-y world.

Millennials need to strike oil first. The rest will follow.

By striking oil I don’t mean drilling a hole in the ground and hoping that the dark stuff sprays out the top of a tower. Nor do I mean being a billionaire before the age of 30 — although having some money helps.

Striking oil is about finding something you love doing; it’s about happening upon a great employer; or being your own employer; having a good boss; friendly colleagues; being in an interesting industry; having great clients; doing challenging work; being part of a team; contributing…making the world a better place.

Strike oil first — it makes getting up early and working hard a lot easier.

That’s what I think…what do you think?

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On being a Successful Millennial was originally published in On Being Agile on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

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On Strategy, Mission and Purpose (Ithaca — in Greek Mythology the island home of Odysseus).

by Christopher Martlew • 11 March 2023
On Strategy, Mission and Purpose (Ithaca — in Greek Mythology the island home of Odysseus).As you set out for IthacaHope your road is a long oneFull of adventure, full of discovery.Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt —Don’t be afraid of themYou’ll not find those on your wayAs long as you keep your thoughts raised highAs long as a rare excitementStirs your spirit and your bodyFear, Uncertainty and Doubt — you’ll not encounter themUnless you bring them along inside your soulUnless your soul puts them in front of youHope your road is a long oneMay there be many summer mornings when,with what pleasure, what joy,you enter harbours you’re seeing for the first time;may you stop at many trading stationsto buy fine things,and may you visit many citiesto learn and go on learning from their scholars.Keep Ithaca always in your mind.Arriving there is not the goalSo don’t hurry the journey at all.Better if it lasts for years,so you’re wealthy with all you’ve gained on the way,not expecting Ithaca to make you rich.Ithaca gave you the marvellous journey.Without her you wouldn’t have set out.Source: Excerpted and (shamelessly) adapted from: C. P. Cavafy, “The City” from C.P. Cavafy: Collected Poems. Translated by Edmund Keeley and Philip Sherrard. Translation Copyright © 1975, 1992 by Edmund Keeley and Philip Sherrard.On Strategy, Mission and Purpose (Ithaca — in Greek Mythology the island home of Odysseus). was originally published in On Being Agile on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.