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What's the best advise you ever got?
7 answers
Ahh, I could write a book on this topic. Here are some random thoughts:
- Underpromise and overdeliver. The reverse will get you in trouble.
- When trying to influence people, present your case calmly and logically. If you display too much emotion, the people who like you will still agree with you, but those who don't like you will dig in their heels. Ask questions, "What if we did it this way? Would it be possible to try this?" rather than push too hard for a specific outcome.
- Keep track of your work accomplishments at least once per year. Include any metrics (e.g. worked on a project that saved 20% of salespeople's time, increased sales by $400K in one quarter, uncovered new leads, helped 274 people.) It's key to keeping your resume up to date.
- Keep a kudos file. Any time someone send you a compliment, I forward it to MTF: kudos (memo to file: kudos). I can then find those items when I need them personally or professionally.
- Keep learning. Always be reading something, whether fiction or otherwise. Watch YouTube videos on how to fix something. Learn a language. You'd be amazed at what's out there, and you may uncover a new fun task or talent.
- Don't skip vacations. Putting yourself in a new environment it like rebooting your brain. Go somewhere colorful and interesting.
- Every person, good or bad, can teach you something...if you let them. Ask yourself what you learned from them.
- Read Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People. I didn't realize how clueless I was until I learned the basics. Don't be a grump. Nobody likes a grump. They tolerate them, that's all.
- Use your money to buy experiences, not things.
- Praise in public; criticize in private.
- If given an opportunity to have a new experience or meet new people (or both), take it. At the very least, you'll get a story out of it. A most, your life might change significantly. You never know.
- Spend time with family and friends. At the end of your life, all you have is your relationships and experiences.
- If you're fortunate to work for a large company that will match your 401K savings, deposit the maximum amount. It's free money and you're crazy not to take it, even if you have to give up short-term niceties.
- Drive an old, reliable car. You'll save a fortune on car payments, insurance, repairs. Put that money in the bank when you're young and keep adding to it whenever you can. The security and freedom when you're older is priceless.
- Drink as little hard alcohol as possible. If you don't want to limit for health reasons, think about the money you'll save. Alcohol often costs more than food. I didn't drink in the years after college and saved enough money to buy a house a decade before my friends.
- Fast food will make you fat and will increase your appetite. An occasional visit is fine, but there are other, better choices.
- If you feel yucky most of the time, it's your body's way of getting your attention. Give it some.
- Get a good night's sleep every night. Don't sleep in on the weekends (easier said than done). It'll make you depressed and lazy.
- Sit up and smile when you answer the phone. You'll find yourself talking with happier people.
- Live within your means. Go without. Never, never, never get into debt. It's a death spiral.
- Don't go shopping when you're bored. It's an expensive habit. You're allowing your life to be controlled by advertisers. Instead, think about how you can make additional money, not spend it.
- Learn to spell. Advice is spelled with a "c." There's no downside to being articulate and educated, except that you frequently find fault in others.
- Don't be mean or snarky like that just was. I'm sorry.
Just started a book by Jon Kabat-Zinn called 'Wherever you go, there you are'
Only read the introduction so far, but the words of wisdom I've pulled out of there already are a simple question. "Now what?".
In a busy, complex and noisy world, where we get stressed and pulled in so many directions, those two words sum up for me the art of getting refocused.
60 months ago
"Go where you are loved." This pertains to selecting a job. Even though you might be offered more pay somewhere else... are they "fighting" to hire you? Are they "aggressively recruiting" you? Going where you are loved means if you take that position--you already start with a leg up. You still have to prove yourself, but that might be the best job opportunity of the bunch.