What advice would you give to your younger self?
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It’s not an unfamiliar question.
I have often thought about it.
I still think about it …
I also use this question as a thought experiment to learn more about people and get a perspective on what mattered to them in the past and what matters to them now and see how they have changed or grown over the years.
If I were to ask myself this question today I would give myself the following advice:
(1) 𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐨𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲.
The world will change. You will change. Your aspirations will change so don’t be too obsessed with your grades and don’t think much about the future. Be open to learning new things and staying authentic and cherish the journey and not the outcome.
(2) 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞.
You are an engineer today. There is a good chance you will not be one tomorrow. The friends and connections you make today will go a long way in life. Maybe one day you will find an old friend who will open your path to a new job or maybe one day an acquaintance will save your day with a random act of kindness.
(3) 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞.
You have a roof over your head. You have family and friends who love you. You have the privilege to decide how you spend your day and who you spend it with. Never forget your moral responsibility to give back and open doors for others whenever you can.
There is so much I have learned over the years that I want to share.
All the way from crafting your story for impact to building and presenting your CV or even pitching your personal brand.
I want to take it one step ahead by sharing some of my career learnings, stories, tips, and advice in form of a newsletter for young professionals who are about to kickstart their careers.
(5) Don’t React, Decide.
Life is all about reactions, We are just reacting to the things that are happening to us or around us. I am still struggling to put my brain before my tongue and tbh it's harder than it feels.
“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react.” — Charles R. Swindoll
(4) Believe in yourself.
because if you won't then who will?
Any advice would you give to your younger self? Please share in the comments below.
