Successful People Share Pieces Of Advice They’d Give Their Younger Selves

Successful People Share Pieces Of Advice

What are some lessons and advice you wish you could tell your younger self? Looking back on your life, do you have things you wish you’d done better?

Personal experience gives us the best lessons in life. But just as important in gaining new perspectives is learning from other people’s advice and experiences. It helps us prepare us for what’s to come and avoid possible blunders we’d otherwise go through blindly.

In this article, we’ve interviewed people from all walks of life with different career paths on things that they would tell their 30-year-old selves, to inspire you to live such a life that you won’t have to wish to go back in time and change anything.

On work and career

Alexa Sison, 54, chief executive officer

“These are the top five lessons and advice I’d give my 30-year-old self:

1. Never compromise your values. The end does NOT justify the means.
2. Your job is not just your job. Be willing to take on the slack that others leave behind in order to get a job done.
3. Solve the problem first before looking to blame someone.

(See Related Topic: This Is Jack Ma’s No-Nonsense Advice For Young People)

4. Be generous with everything you know. The biggest achievement and fulfillment you can have as a manager is to see your people grow, prosper and rise in the corporate ladder, even if that means reporting to them someday.
5. Never forget that everything you have and everything you are is because of God. Always remember to praise and worship the Lord. Give thanks to Him. Pray and ask for His guidance. Always do His will, no matter how difficult. His way is always the best way.”

On making the right choices

Ram, 43, tattoo artist:

“I have nothing significant to tell my 30-year-old self because everything turned out fine. There were favorable choices I should’ve done, like marrying a Canadian citizen so I could go there, but then I would miss my kids. So yes, I made the right choices.”

Andrew Marquez, 46, application developer:

“Not much has changed on my principles and beliefs from when I was 30 years old. I still had the same attitude as before especially with regards to work. But if I could travel back in time, I would give this advice to myself:

1. Do not invest in pre-need plans. Laws and regulations in the Philippines are not yet adequate to protect customers.

2. For the next several years you will search which stock trading technique will best fit you. There are so many techniques but the answer essentially is fundamental analysis.

3. A device called iPad will be invented in the future. Don’t use it in the dark before you sleep as often as I did. It is not as harmless as computer monitors.

4. Don’t sell your 800 sqm. lot in Lanang, Davao. SM Davao will rise just a few blocks away and Davao City will greatly improve because the presidency will be won by Duterte in the year 2016.”

(See Also: 5 Things Entrepreneurs Can Learn From Albert Einstein)

Bing Austria, 52, musician/frontman, Flippin Soul Stompers:

“To be more humble, I would say. And be nice to the people I work with. So that in the future, you’re making friends, not enemies. You’d be more approachable.”

On continuing education

Farrah Florer, 39, BPO operations manager

“Move faster, be more aggressive, and go back to school. Invest.”

Edwin Tuyay, award-winning photojournalist

“Go back to college and finish school. My dream then was to go the University of the Philippines and take Political Science, and then maybe get a Master’s Degree at Asian Institute of Management. But I became a dad so I only got to attend college for two weeks. That’s when I resorted to photography.”

On being practical

Carlo, 44, sound engineer

“At this age, I should have bought or at least have saved up enough money to buy my own house.”

Ariel Bondoc, 63, choir musical director

“Being 30 is the age when you have gained experiences that can make you become a better person, a sibling, a wife, and mother if you are married. The things that molded you in your youth should be enough for you to know how to accept the challenges that you’ll be facing in life as you grow older. Limit your debts. It becomes unbearable when you accumulate so much debt. Try to save as much as you can for future needs.”