Some of the Best Advice I Ever Got
I’m lucky in a lot of ways. You could say I’m very blessed, and I count these blessings every day during my attitude of gratitude every morning.
I owe a lot of my luck to incredible people whom I’ve met. Thankfully, I like to ask weird questions and enjoy listening to the answers even more. Here’s some of the best advice I’ve ever gotten from those sometimes unlikely conversations.
Always go for more square footage.
Building it later is far more expensive. It’s easier to buy a big house and fix it up than to expand a small house.
Save first, then pay the bills.
You’d be amazed at how little you can live on. If you save after your expenses, you’ll never have enough for later. Time is often our greatest ally, and a good credit union can give a positive savings rate. I have my job’s human resources office split my paycheck into different accounts, three of which are different savings accounts. It adds up, even something as small as a dollar a day.
You have to take care of yourself because no one else will.
Buy the skincare, wash your face, work out, move, dance, drink the water, meditate, sleep. Do what you must, but remember, you only get one face and body.
Bend like the willow, don’t break like the oak
Flexibility in everything is vital. Life is messy. It’s easier to listen, understand, adjust, and bend.
Imagine you put your hand in a bucket of water, now take it out. That’s how much you’ll be missed by your job when you leave.
I once worked with a man who wisely said this quote. His message? None of us are really special. My ideas and effort might be appreciated, but the building will continue to stand without me. I’m not Walt Disney, Steve Jobs, or Bill Gates. Honestly, though, two out of three of those men passed away, and their companies continued and grew. The point? Stay humble.
If you died today, your job would replace you in a week.
Let that sink in. As much as I love my resume and my job, I’m a realist. This piece of advice helps keep things in perspective.
The worse thing you can say is that’s not how it used to be
Thinking about the past isn’t going to help anything right now. What matters is where you are and where you’re going.
Hard work won’t hurt you. Stress and worry will.
This advice comes from my Cajun great-grandmother. Studies back it up too. Here’s a TED talk on just that very topic.
The cream always rises to the top.
Do your best, and give it time. You’ll get noticed.
Memento Mori, remember you will die, so seize the day
People often know the happier part carpe diem, but I first stumbled on the phrase when I was fourteen years old reading a The Series of Unfortunate Events in geometry class, which despite the name, was an excellent series of books. I remember that moment because it struck me so hard. I’m grateful I got this wake-up call when I was young because I’ve learned now, many people don’t get this message until they’re much, much older. Since that moment, I’ve felt like I’m in a race to finish what I want to do before it’s too late. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. We can’t bet on having more time, which is why when I published my first book last year, I felt a wave of relief. I had made it. That all being said, enjoy the ride. Go ahead and order dessert.
So there you have it! The best advice I’ve ever gotten all on one page. I’m on a quest for wisdom, so drop me a comment below if I missed something or you have a piece of wisdom to share.
Onward!
Kathryn
