<p>I know that many students and potential students cruise the Parents Forum, and I though this might be an interesting experiment.</p>
<p>What advice have you given, that was worthwhile? What advice have you received that was worthwhile?</p>
<p>Often parents think the gems that roll off of our tongues are gold encrusted. Sometimes they are not valuable practically. It also should be interesting, in that we will see some generational differences as well.</p>
<p>I’ll start:</p>
<p>Dad told me to be very careful in whom you stepped on or climbed over as you go through your career. You may need to rely on their input later, or see them if you ever tumble down. </p>
<p>It doesn’t matter what they “call” you. It matters what they pay you. Try not to be enamored with job titles.</p>
<p>I’ve passed on both of those. Can’t seem to put my finger on any crappy advice I received from him anyway</p>
<p>My father told me always to arrive before your boss and to leave later than your boss. He also said that when you’re the boss, you need to keep reasonable hours so that your employees can do the same. </p>
<p>As a corollary, my husband and I–half owners in a small business that employs 8 people–try to be the employers we wish we’d had in previous jobs. It’s paid off in lower turnover and great employee loyalty.</p>
<p>My mom told me — and I pass it on to my kids & their friends whenever the situation warrants! —</p>
<p>“Life is not fair. The sooner you accept that, the more satisfying your time on this earth will be.”</p>
<p>Truer words were never spoken. </p>
<p>Also: The more you have, the more you need. You will never feel you have enough. So … be happy with what you have.</p>
<p>My best friend, who moved half a world away from her teenagers in order to make more money, is a case in point. I will stay middle class and be happy with it, thank you!</p>
<p>Can’t remember where I got this advice but I have passed it on: </p>
<p>If you’re tempted to do something you know isn’t right or decent, imagine having it written up in the local paper with a big headline on the front page. In other words, don’t do something you wouldn’t want your parents, grandparents, best friends, neighbors, former teachers etc. to read about in the hometown paper. </p>
<p>Sometimes I close a conversation with my freshman S with the words, “No horrible headlines.” He knows what I mean.</p>
<p>I heard this said at a high school graduation at a girls-only high school. “Beware of the tyranny of perfection.” I thought this was excellent advice. Advice I give my kids: “They say that half of life is showing up. The other half is following up.”</p>
<p>Also, to image conscious teens: “don’t compare your inside to everybody else’s outside” and “nobody is looking at you anyway, they are all too worried about themselves.”</p>
<p>For first job out of college, the best advice ever was to make sure you got the little details right, because people notice details and nobody expects the new kid to understand the big stuff anyway.</p>
Sounds like advice I got. Think of it as having money. At the beginning, you may only have pennies. But think of your job as having to polish those pennies. Polish them until they shine. People will notice.</p>
<p>My message to my kid since day one has been for him to keep his options open. Some decisions open options; some close them off. When you need to make decisions, think of it in that way.</p>
<p>My mom told me to build relationships with people who appreciated me, not people that I wanted to like and appreciate me…kinda good advice I think</p>
<p>The very best business advice I ever received was “measure twice, cut once”. </p>
<p>Outstanding piece of wisdom that has served me very, very well over the years - it has saved me from making statements that shouldn’t be made, sending email that shouldn’t be sent, or making reactionary, destructive decisions. Thinking things through twice has been a godsend. </p>
<p>Second best is “leap, and the net will appear” - I cannot remember who told me that, but it has worked…</p>
<p>Last, “if you want to change the world, begin with yourself”.</p>
<p>Great thread with lots of good ideas and quotes,</p>
<p>My husband is a big fan of Teddy Roosevelt and is always telling our kids that they should be “the man in the arena whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood…so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.” </p>
<p>Another big TR line that he/we use is “the only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything.” We encourage our kids to not overthink things and get started on their tasks. </p>
<p>So far, that’s been pretty good advice. Like all of us, they make mistakes, but they learn and they also learn that it is ok to fail sometimes. Hopefully, they are also learning that life takes courage.</p>