50. Things to my younger self (1/5)

Category: Career and Purpose

​1-10.

​Things about career and purpose that
I wish I could tell my younger self

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Looking back on my career journey in the last 20 years, this is what I would tell myself:
​

1. Sometimes you just need to make a choice and then - make that choice right.
   It will not always be easy or straightforward to make a choice. But trust that whatever choice you make, it is for your own good and you have the power to make it the right choice.
   
   
2. Most of the things and theories you learn at school will not be applicable at work. But the way you have learned to think is key.
   You will not remember half of the things you learned for exams. Most of the course materials will be gone from your head literally months after you leave school. But the way you learned to think, will stay forever and it is your greatest asset.
   
   
3. Do not be afraid to make choices and to make ‘mistakes’. Life will course correct on its own.
   God knows how many times you will be afraid to make a choice because it might be a mistake. Looking back, you will see even if it was not the perfect step, life brought you back on track easily.
   
   
4. There will be bad managers. Do not make that to mean that you are a bad employee.
   Just because someone has a title, does not mean they know how to be good with people. I can not underline this enough. Work psychological trauma is real and we shove it under the carpet.
   
   
5. Companies and things you will see, will test your values. Always - and I mean always - choose your values and that you believe is right.
   In all areas of life - but especially at work - you will either witness or be part of things that will contradict your values. When this happens, be sure to have an honest conversation with yourself.
   
   
6. ​Be mindful of the energy you bring to a room. Choose the way you want to enter. It will become your trademark.
   Sometimes it will not be your work, it will not be your colleagues, it is you. Tough pill to swallow, but you are the owner and commander of how you enter rooms, make sure it is a trademark that works for you.
   
   
7. Sometimes work is all that will be stable and good in your life. Appreciate that.
   You will go through rough periods, breakups, life changes, troubles and sometimes the one thing that will be stable and on track will be your work. Lean on that and take comfort in that.
   
   
8. Do not waste your time building a network. Spend your time building meaningful relationships with the few people you click with.
   Everyone will tell you about the importance of networking. And the truth is, your network is mostly people remotely connected to you and thus, will care about you only if it also helps them. Build meaningful relationships, the network will come anyway.
   
   
9. Be kind to everyone.
   Such an old and still valid advice. But you never know when you will meet people again or what anyone is going through. So be kind, even if there is nothing to show you should be. Be kind and respectful.
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10. Be kind to everyone, including yourself. Especially to yourself.
    Please read this again. And again. And again. And again.
    ​Be kind to yourself when you are seeking your next jobs, when you are getting rejection after rejection, when you are in a conflict at work, when you get a bad performance review, when you have been asked to leave, when you have been denied what has been promised to you, when you are struggling financially, when you are lost, when you are burnt out, when you are not where you want to be. Be kind.
    
    50 things about career that I wish I could tell my younger self... (11-20)