We’re always learning, all through life – but there are some things that we wish we’d realized earlier. Here are some great pieces of advice that it would have been nice to have from the start.
You can’t please everyone
If you try to make everyone happy, you’ll end up feeling weak and diffuse. Some people won’t like your ideas – and others will be captivated. Everyone’s different, and they all have different tastes and thoughts. Hold firm to what you believe in, and stop trying to find something that everyone will adore: this is a recipe for disaster.
Stop putting off the problems you don’t like
There are always other things you can think about, so it’s easy to set certain problems aside, or try to discard them entirely. But these are your problems, and your issues, and it’s up to you to resolve them. Once you start facing up to them head-on, you might find that they aren’t as insurmountable as they seemed.
Don’t expect immediate results
Life is a marathon, not a sprint. If you’re busting yourself on a project, it can be incredibly frustrating to see it advancing at a snail’s pace. Take a breath, get some perspective, and remember that good results don’t happen overnight. Slow and steady wins it. Keep on working at it, and take time out for yourself as well – otherwise you’re headed for a burnout.
Speak up more
If you stay silent, nobody will ever hear what you had to say. Say it out loud! Maybe people won’t agree with you – but then there are other people who will, and you could find yourself with new allies and supporters. Regardless, if you don’t speak up, you don’t have any cards in the game.
Don’t be afraid of failure
Stephen McCranie says, “The master has failed more times than the beginner has tried”. At the beginning, fail fast, and often. Learn from your mistakes, pick yourself up, and keep on going with all the knowledge you’ve acquired along the way. This will ultimately make you stronger.
Learn discipline over your mind
Sure, sometimes we don’t want to do the boring stuff, but it’s through perseverance that success is born. Good discipline is the base of good work. Get to grips with your emotions as well – bad days happen, and are a part of life. A bad day doesn’t mean a bad existence. Deal with your bad day, feel sad about it, let it go, and move on to the next.
Remain open and flexible
The world is full of new ideas, innovations, and inventions. Don’t settle into a groove: be ready to pivot if required, and stay dynamic. Listen to new ideas with an open mind. You don’t have to implement anything you don’t want to, but sometimes they can be life-changing.
Never take the people in your life for granted
There are people around you who support and love you. Cherish these people. Take time for them, and appreciate them. These are the relationships that bind life together. Make sure that you’re making time for your loved ones, as well as for your work.
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