07 Episode - Columns: Reflections Of A Not-So-Young Professional

Advice on navigating the road ahead with a sense of purposeBy Anthony IrackiBy most accounts and standards, a young professional is someone who is deemed “35 and younger.” While I will take that assessment for my own benefit (who wants to admit they’re getting older?) I will also honor what I see as a time-honored tradition among my colleagues and use my recent 35th birthday as a moment to “bow out” from this designation while remaining present in its purpose. In other words, while my age may say I am one, my reflection in the mirror, position in life, experiences, and feeling in my gut tell me otherwise. I’m not saying I’m old. I’m just saying that, when I look at the students, interns, and young adults coming into the field today, I feel more like a big brother/middle child ready to guide them through the early stages of their career instead of being in the trenches with them.