Renowned inter-generational consultant Susan Gainen provides a detailed and candid review of Secrets to Success: The Definitive Career Development Guide for New and First Generation Professionals.

1. Al Coleman’s Secrets to Success
A must read for first generation professionals
“This little book should be required reading for high
school, college, and professional students, new
professionals, and the advisers and mentors who guide
them. In Secrets to Success, Al has written a blue-print
for �irst-gen professionals of all colors and backgrounds
which provides critical, useful, and detailed instructions
for �inding and creating a path to success. He writes
from the heart and, most importantly, he writes from his
own experience and the wisdom of others.”
Why pay attention to Al? He was a struggling “C” student in high school who made himself into an
honors undergraduate who performed well in a number of Fortune 500 internships. He earned his law
degree at a top 20 law school, and was promoted to a Director-level position at a billion dollar rm while
earning multiple professional awards for legal and business leadership. He was teaching, presenting
national speaking engagements, and mentoring high performing emerging leaders – all by the age of 30.
Who is Al Coleman, Jr.? He is the son of Alfred W. Coleman III, a Liberian immigrant who lost everything in
his homeland’s civil war, yet made his way into success the world of business. He died young (54), leaving
his son inspired to create a document that would honor his father by helping to create a path for rst-gen
students who seek success.
Creator or Server. Al explores the career implications of the di erences between creator and server, which
echo issues in the current state of the economy in which professionals (creators) drive productivity and
servers are supplanted by cheap labor or machines. Noting that servers have no place in key management
or professional occupations, he opts for creativity and recommends it to others.
Self Assessment. Career development professionals will cheer his strong endorsement of on-going
self-assessment. He suggests focusing on weaknesses (to x them) as well as strengths (to improve them),
and follow the pro les of successful individuals from whom best practices can be learned. He advocates the
need to be able to “pivot.” An excellent suggestion, because much can be learned from the challenges
arising in a bump in the road.
Mentoring. An early childhood inspiration which opened a door to a nuanced view of mentoring came from
one of his Mother’s friends, who said “While it’s wise to learn from your mistakes, it’s wiser to learn from the
mistakes of others.”
Real Exposure. Al urges his students to be sure that hard work is seen by all of the stakeholders on a career
path: “You can’t be promoted to the next level if no one knows what you’re doing or what you’ve done.”
For more information, please visit www.alcolemanjr.com
ABOUT SUSAN... It’s all about the work - Susan Gainen has spent the past
25 years observing market swings, career change, new technologies and new
generations bringing their own stamp and styles to work. Her clients bene t
from her unique perspective on how work gets done, which combines her
expertise in intergenerational communication and experience in the food
business, the car business, and the business of law.