Dear Rookie,
People judge fast—look sharp. Speak sharper.
Nobody’s expecting you to show up like you’re headed to a red-carpet event, but at least look like you didn’t just roll out of bed. And when you do get a chance to speak, don’t waste it on nervous rambling or stating the obvious. Say something that makes people think, Huh, this kid’s got something.
Early on, your chances to impress are rare—like finding a decent coffee in the office vending machine. When they come, use them well.
Or, as my Guru, Gandalf, wisely said, “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”