Is "just do it" the best advice? The Young Power List celebrates celebrities and entrepreneurs aged 30 and under. They offer words of wisdom for those chasing a dream.
New 'Young Power List' celebrates hard work
Is "just do it" the best advice? The Young Power List celebrates celebrities and entrepreneurs aged 30 and under. They offer words of wisdom for those chasing a dream.
What connects a comedian who interviews celebrities in a fried chicken shop, a teenage darts sensation, the creator of a patch that tracks brain signals and the creative director of a 96-year-old Italian fashion house?1
They all feature on The Sunday Times' Young Power List: an article honouring 25 inspiring young people who are making an impact on the world.
The list contains celebrities, such as footballers Bukayo Saka and Leah Williamson, racing driver Jamie Chadwick and Irish pop singer CMAT.
Amelia Dimoldenberg has 2.3 million YouTube subscribers that watch her offbeat interviews over fried chicken.2 Seventeen-year-old professional darts player Luke Littler shot to fame with a nail-biting performance at the world championships.3 And 26-year-old LabourBritain's main left-of-centre political party. MPMember of Parliament. There are 650 MPs representing people in different areas of the UK. Keir Mather won his seat after overturning a 20,000-strong ConservativeHolding traditional values, and in a political context, favouring policies such as private ownership. majority.4
There are others who have found success in quieter ways, such as Jacob Nathan, head of plastic recycling lab Epoch Biodesign and Josephine Philips, founder of clothes repair app SOJO.
The nominees have all shared advice for those who would follow in their footsteps.
Some believe one should gain wide experience and knowledge. Hannah Chapatte, founder of student letting platform Hybr, says: "Get involved in as much as possible while you're in university." Nathan agrees: "Become an expert by speaking with as many people as possible."
For others, focus is key. Joe Seddon of Zero Gravity, a social enterpriseBusinesses which trade for a social or environmental purpose. that connects disadvantaged students with opportunities, says: "Don't bank on being an overnight success. It's about playing the long game."
Racing driver Jamie Chadwick thinks risk-taking is important. "Don't be afraid," she says, "to put yourself out of your comfort zone." Saka quotes his first coach: "If you don't shoot, you don't score."
CMAT thinks that graftHard work. is essential: "You just have to work really hard and sacrifice pretty much every element of your personal life, but it's worth it." CMAT spent years working in a supermarket before she broke out.
Others advocate knowing your limits, and taking care of your wellbeing. "Don't take the weight of the world on your shoulders," urges Philips. Mather says: "Being kind to yourself is important."
Is "just do it" the best advice?
Yes: Seize the day. If you have a passion that needs to be unleashed on the world, exhibit it whenever you can. And if you have a great idea, do it quickly, before someone else does.
No: Fools rush in. You should understand exactly what you want to do and how you might be able to achieve it before committing to any cause or course. A smidgenA small amount of something. of caution rarely causes harm.
Or... All success comes from a specific situation. Advice from the successful is not very useful. We should listen instead to those whose ideas failed, learning from their mistakes to avoid making our own.
Keywords
Labour - Britain's main left-of-centre political party.
MP - Member of Parliament. There are 650 MPs representing people in different areas of the UK.
Conservative - Holding traditional values, and in a political context, favouring policies such as private ownership.
Social enterprise - Businesses which trade for a social or environmental purpose.
Graft - Hard work.
Smidgen - A small amount of something.
New ‘Young Power List’ celebrates hard work
Glossary
Labour - Britain's main left-of-centre political party.
MP - Member of Parliament. There are 650 MPs representing people in different areas of the UK.
Conservative - Holding traditional values, and in a political context, favouring policies such as private ownership.
Social enterprise - Businesses which trade for a social or environmental purpose.
Graft - Hard work.
Smidgen - A small amount of something.