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Best advice you ever got?

#64
Joe Nerve said:
Regarding advice, I heard something interesting recently. And I believe it to be true. Everybody likes telling people what to do. Nobody likes being told what to do.
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I don't know why your post made me think of this, but I had a minor epiphany (oxymoron?) a few years back somewhat along these lines. I wouldn't classify it as advice, but please allow me to share.

It sounds dirt simple (and it is) but the impact it has had on my life and my interactions with other people has been profound.

Here goes:

For the most part, people do not know why they do the things they do.

I used to occasionally analyze people's words and actions. Was there an agenda? Why did they zig when they could have zagged? What do they hope to accomplish here? I did this just as a hobbyist observer of human behavior; not because I was paranoid.

But I've come to be more and more convinced that while people may frequently have conscious intent (or the illusion thereof), MOSTLY people are not deep or conniving enough to very often have ulterior motives.

And even when such motives and conscious intent are present, could the person really elucidate on how/why they planned to utilize them?

Nature, nurture, blahblahblah. Most people are more buffeted about by the caprices of day-to-day life than they are purposefully trying to superimpose their will on things.

For the most part, people do not know (and cannot express) why they do the things they do.
 
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#65
As told to me by my parents early in my career, "Winners drive home in the dark".

Don't be afraid to stay late and get the work done as opposed to putting it off, don't be afraid to go the extra mile, and most importantly, don't be afraid to work hard. It worked well for them, and so far, it's worked well for me too.
 
#66
Joe Nerve said:
Regarding advice, I heard something interesting recently. And I believe it to be true. Everybody likes telling people what to do. Nobody likes being told what to do.
Click to expand...
I have also noticed that the people who are always quick to give advice are usually the least qualified to be giving such advice. It could be that is a way for them to aviod looking at their own issues.
I was in a small group with several couples. One couple was having struggles in thier marriage. There was a woman in the group who was all over them with her helpful advice. That same woman divorced her husband less than a year later. The couple who was being honest about thier struggles are still together and doing very well.
 
#68
Richland123 said:
When I was in my early 30s, I was thinking about starting to go to college. A guy I worked said, "If you don't start now, in five years, you will be five years older without a college education."

I took that advice and started college part time and ended up getting an associate degree, a bachelor's degree, and a master's degree (M.B.A.) all while working and raising my kid alone.

His statement made a big impact on me.
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So, what happened? Do you work for Apple computers or IBM now?
 
#69
TechJunky said:
As told to me by my parents early in my career, "Winners drive home in the dark".

Don't be afraid to stay late and get the work done as opposed to putting it off, don't be afraid to go the extra mile, and most importantly, don't be afraid to work hard. It worked well for them, and so far, it's worked well for me too.
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Maybe that used to be the case, but now mostly winners inherit their dough.
 
#71
thabassmon said:
From my younger cousin
"only waste time on people that would waste time on you"

I thought it was quite insightful for a 22 year old.
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Hmmm... Makes me think of something I heard that's quite the flip side of that. And something I agree with:

You can judge a person's character by how they treat people who can do absolutely nothing for them.
 
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#74
TechJunky said:
As told to me by my parents early in my career, "Winners drive home in the dark".

Don't be afraid to stay late and get the work done as opposed to putting it off, don't be afraid to go the extra mile, and most importantly, don't be afraid to work hard. It worked well for them, and so far, it's worked well for me too.
Click to expand...

"I wish I spent more time working." ...said no one ever, from their deathbed :D
 
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#75
BboogieXVII said:
So, what happened? Do you work for Apple computers or IBM now?
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I wish I worked for one of those companies. I worked for an electric utility company for 18 years and then went to work for MetLife for 7 years. After leaving there, I started my own marketing/advertising and event/concert management business but the economy in my area is tough. I would apply for jobs and I was constantly being told I am overqualified when I would interview for jobs. Just their way of saying we don't want to pay you much. Two years ago, I bought an insurance agency and it is extremely tough owning a small business. However, many of the things I learned from college and work experience, I have applied to my work, my music, and my personal and business relationships.

And, another piece of advice I heard years ago that I still use.

"Opinions are like butts. Everybody has one and most of them stink."
 
#77
3 things, mostly:
1) "Keep your mouth shut; your nose clean; and never volunteer". (Hey, I'm a GI brat, after all..);
2) "If you want to find the easy way to do something, give the job to a lazy man"; and
3) As some one's already said; "Don't sweat the small s..t - and it's mostly all small s..t". :)
 
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#80
my dad told me this when i was about 12. of course it makes much more sense to me now. he became so much wiser the older i got.

he told me, "don't get paid for what you do. get paid for what you know."

thanks, dad. much love.
 

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