Advice you’d give to your 20-year-old self

Posted: July 30th, 2009 | Filed under: insights | Tags: personal development | 1 Comment »

If you could travel back in time and give advice to your 20-year old self; what would you say?

The first thing might be “I know you’re not going to listen to a word I say but…”

I am sure this list will be pretty organic as I make more mistakes and learn new stuff but here’s my starting-point.  I’d love to hear what advice you’d give your 20-year old self.

Remember everyone you’ve ever done business with and use social networking tools to keep in touch.

Be someone people can rely upon.

Always produce the best work you can, and always strive to make it better than other people’s work.

You aren’t going to “get discovered” – you’re going to have to tell the world about yourself.

Work hard, take care of your integrity and your reputation will take care of itself.

Know the rules so you know how to break them properly.

Take more risks.  But remember the difference between courage and foolhardiness is, at most, only a few minutes thought.

When the fat lady does finally sing, make sure that you can hear her.

Sleep less.  Get up an hour earlier for 3 weeks and you will be amazed that you can do it easily, and delighted with this extra hour all to yourself.

If you never say no; then what is your yes worth?

You can have your cake and eat it.  But not all at once.

Opportunities multiply as they are seized.

Save money.  It may seem boring but you’ll be the one smiling when you have a new car, deposit, holiday, cushion when you lose your job.

Cause and effect are not always closely related in time and space.

The easy way out usually leads back in.

Discipline is not a bad thing – especially when it’s self-discipline.  Do you want success?  Do you want results?  Then have the self-discipline to make it happen.

Anticipating the pain is always worse than the pain itself.  Don’t waste your time worrying about how much something you are striving for is going to hurt on the way. Whatever that pain is: A) it won’t be as bad when you’re working through it, and B) it will all be worth it when you are celebrating your success.

Yes you will make mistakes but don’t beat yourself up – just don’t do it again, and learn what didn’t work that time.

Motivate yourself; don’t strive to have what others have.  Be fired up by the internal motivations that drive YOU, not the external trappings of wealth, power, and success.  If you’re any good – and that sort of thing is important to you – they’ll come the more brilliantly you shine at what you are doing.

No company will ever give you loyalty.  Only people will.

Food doesn’t make you fat.  Eating more calories than you burn up in the average day does.

Let your individuality shine out.  What makes you unique gives you your particular edge.  Don’t copy others – work on expressing the uniqueness of you – whatever it is.

Having fun is much more fun when you’ve done your work first.

Get it in writing.  This is true for multiple cases of “it”.

If something cannot go on forever it will stop.  No matter that you don’t want it to, and usually when you least want it to.  Or expect it to.

Confront the brutal facts of your current reality – no matter how unpleasant they might be.  Then take ownership of the position you find yourself; admit to yourself your role in making all of this happen.  When you do this, and only when you do this, you can start creating the reality you want.

Life a life of purpose.  Our unique talents and personality mean that we all have a unique contribution to the world – one that’s going to enrich the world and fulfil you.  Work out what your purpose is – and start living it as much as you can, as soon as you can.

Rest and recharge often.  Then you can go and work hard.  And party.

If you are selling something for money; the sale is over only once you have gone to the bank.

Nobody ever gives you power.  You take it.  Don’t ask for permission to do something – if every fibre of your being thinks it’s right, and I mean really right and you’re not kidding yourself, then do it.  Then do it again.

Standing out from the crowd and doing your own thing – being a leader – that’s a lonely gig.  But better to be slightly lonely than ripped up by regret.

The secret of life?  Be at peace with now – whatever that now is – because now is all you really only ever have.

If you could travel back in time and give advice to your 20-year old self; what would you say?

The first thing might be “I know you’re not going to listen to a word I say but…”

I am sure this list will be pretty organic as I make more mistakes and learn new stuff but here’s my starting-point.  I’d love to hear what advice you’d give your 20-year old self.

Remember everyone you’ve ever done business with and use social networking tools to keep in touch.

Be someone people can rely upon.

Always produce the best work you can, and always strive to make it better than other people’s work.

You aren’t going to “get discovered” – you’re going to have to tell the world about yourself.

Work hard, take care of your integrity and your reputation will take care of itself.

Know the rules so you know how to break them properly.

Take more risks.  But remember the difference between courage and foolhardiness is, at most, only a few minutes thought.

When the fat lady does finally sing, make sure that you can hear her.

Sleep less.  Get up an hour earlier for 3 weeks and you will be amazed that you can do it easily, and delighted with this extra hour all to yourself.

If you never say no; then what is your yes worth?

You can have your cake and eat it.  But not all at once.

Opportunities multiply as they are seized.

Save money.  It may seem boring but you’ll be the one smiling when you have a new car, deposit, holiday, cushion when you lose your job.

Cause and effect are not always closely related in time and space.

The easy way out usually leads back in.

Discipline is not a bad thing – especially when it’s self-discipline.  Do you want success?  Do you want results?  Then have the self-discipline to make it happen.

Anticipating the pain is always worse than the pain itself.  Don’t waste your time worrying about how much something you are striving for is going to hurt on the way. Whatever that pain is: A) it won’t be as bad when you’re working through it, and B) it will all be worth it when you are celebrating your success.

Yes you will make mistakes but don’t beat yourself up – just don’t do it again, and learn what didn’t work that time.

Motivate yourself; don’t strive to have what others have.  Be fired up by the internal motivations that drive YOU, not the external trappings of wealth, power, and success.  If you’re any good – and that sort of thing is important to you – they’ll come the more brilliantly you shine at what you are doing.

No company will ever give you loyalty.  Only people will.

Food doesn’t make you fat.  Eating more calories than you burn up in the average day does.

Let your individuality shine out.  What makes you unique gives you your particular edge.  Don’t copy others – work on expressing the uniqueness of you – whatever it is.

Having fun is much more fun when you’ve done your work first.

Get it in writing.  This is true for multiple cases of “it”.

If something cannot go on forever it will stop.  No matter that you don’t want it to, and usually when you least want it to.  Or expect it to.

Confront the brutal facts of your current reality – no matter how unpleasant they might be.  Then take ownership of the position you find yourself; admit to yourself your role in making all of this happen.  When you do this, and only when you do this, you can start creating the reality you want.

Life a life of purpose.  Our unique talents and personality mean that we all have a unique contribution to the world – one that’s going to enrich the world and fulfil you.  Work out what your purpose is – and start living it as much as you can, as soon as you can.

Rest and recharge often.  Then you can go and work hard.  And party.

If you are selling something for money; the sale is over only once you have gone to the bank.

Nobody ever gives you power.  You take it.  Don’t ask for permission to do something – if every fibre of your being thinks it’s right, and I mean really right and you’re not kidding yourself, then do it.  Then do it again.

Standing out from the crowd and doing your own thing – being a leader – that’s a lonely gig.  But better to be slightly lonely than ripped up by regret.

The secret of life?  Be at peace with now – whatever that now is – because now is all you really only ever have.

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