What's a piece of advice you've received that has stuck with you?

"Make it easy for them to give you what you want"

There's a lot of ways to interpret that, and most of them help. For instance, if you're asking your boss for a raise, if you just say "Hey boss, gimme a raise" you're making it hard for them. If you say "I think I deserve a raise, here are multiple, documented, examples of where I've helped increase revenue/fix a problem that could have cost us/improved customer retention/etc" then you're making it easier for them because they have a list of positives to justify it.

Generally if you're asking a question you need an answer to, or for something in particular, spend a little time thinking about the request from the other person's point of view. What do they need to be able, and inclined, to help you? When you know that, make sure you supply it.

I've found it to be a powerful way of approaching discussions, and it can make a lot of situations make more sense when you realize one party didn't do it and didn't get what they want.

Sometimes, of course, making it easy to give you what you want just means making any other outcome harder instead. >:)

This was given to me during a Process Safety class in college, and I'll never forget it: in the workplace, "Always have a stupid-question buddy." Try your best to direct your questions to someone who's not your boss as you learn the ropes. That way, you can be comfortable asking those questions on basics that really need to be asked in order to do your job properly, and not look like an idiot to the person that performs your performance reviews.

Salvador Dalí: 'Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing.'

I wish I would have heard this quote much sooner... I usually like to flesh out my projects/ideas from the start and it feels unoriginal or boring when it's too derivative of other work... But everything is derivative of something. Being afraid of being "unoriginal" should never stop you from creating, or at least trying. A lot of the time the "unoriginal" work pays great homage to the original work and really does transform the result to something new and vibrant

I actually do not remember where I heard this, but I was unhappy at one of my past workplaces, and I felt like nothing made sense anymore. The purpose of my job, the product, the people... I would ask why or seek deeper understanding and received nothing back.

The advice was "when no one has your back, it's time to move your back".

It stuck with me because it applies to friends, family, work, and life in general. If you do not feel supported and able to give support back mutually then it's time to place yourself in a situation more beneficial for you and those around you.

It doesn't place blame, it's simply a validation statement - you feel x, so do y.

A good way of shifting your mentality if you're apprehensive about something like pursuing a change of career, a new hobby or whatever, is to ask yourself the question "what if it all worked out?".

It's a simple thing but it can completely alter how you approach things.

"everyone knows something that you don't." it helps me to not be an arrogant dick. People are good at something.

"everyone believes they're the hero of their own story" too many people are set on their ways and sometimes its best to realize that you can't change their mind. Just move on and don't get all worked up.

Not religious, but "Steady plodding bring prosperity".

All my life I have watched as many of those around me struggle to stay consistent in their lives, and have worse outcomes as a result.

Inconsistent with their savings habits.

Inconsistent in their employment efforts.

Inconsistent with their love lives.

Inconsistent with taking care of themselves.

Consistency provides a basis for better long term results. Very little success is possible in almost any endeavor without it.

Though I've found it personally frustrating to remain consistent in my own life, the benefits of doing so I have found to be exponential, although late and taken for granted by others who weren't consistent.

Another is: "What are you willing to give up to get what you want?"

All too many things are zero-sum, and though consumer capitalist systems often pretend "you can have it all", you can't.

Honest reflection about what is most important to yourself, and what personal sacrifices are required to obtain your goal, makes the goal easier to obtain.

Many sacrifices that are needed are clear from the offset, but by being honest and willing before the endeavour, those future sacrifices are less traumatic. Other sacrifices pop up along the way, and it's important to re-evaluate at intervals whether your end goal is still worth it.

For love: "Prequalify your spouse."

People lead with their hearts often where their heads can't follow.

Sure they may be attractive, or have an amazing personality, or be rich, but do you KNOW them?

Is their fading beauty or quick wit or checking balance able to really make up for their poor treatment of others, latent racism or sexism, politics, religious adherence, stance on having children, intention in the future to care for ailing family, or poor spending habits? What about if they believe it's appropriate to hit your future kids, or demand the kids are their religion, or can't be gay? What if they refuse to travel or relocate? What if they don't clean up after themselves or never take responsibility for their failings?

It is imperative to long term relationship success that you spend enough time for both partners to actually understand each other, because there is more to long term compatibility related to shared values than there is to sexual attraction.

Most often this advice results in people realizing they haven't given enough thought themselves to what and why they believe is the best way to live their own lives, and where those values came from.

I've got loads more, but those are a great start.

A very practical rule of thumb, and I've no idea who told me it or if I've made it up myself, is: don't put your hand where you can't see it.

"Leadership is simple. Take care of your people and make a decision."

This is from a USAF Major who was once one of the first dudes in Afghanistan after 9/11, working with green berets when he was enlisted. He said that it's amazing how easy it can be to lose sight of those two basic things.

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Don't set yourself alight to keep yourself warm. Not always easy, but it is something I believe. You can only do so much if someone isn't willing to help themself.

If it is to be, it is up to me.

I was always tired of relying on others only to be let down and disappointed. I remember seeing a motivational poster in highschool and it stuck.

Someone suggested that I get a book called 'Discover What You Are Best At.' Linda Gail.

I was out after a job injury. I never liked any job I'd ever had. The book led me to a career I'd never considered.

Find a job you actually like. If you can wake up on a rainy Monday and not hate your life you've solved most of life's problems.

My grandfather continually underscored to me that no matter what you try to do, even if it is a failure so to speak, you have learned. And you can carry what you've learned into your next effort, and be that much more strong and powerful. There is no shame in trying to invent something and discover that you are wrong, or start a business and not have it succeed, or try to approach something in a novel way and have it fall flat. That is the essence of how we learn and discover and grow.

Furthermore he taught me that you need to let people show you how to do things that you already know how to do. Everybody out there has a piece of priceless gold that they're just willing to hand to you, and all you have to do is be willing to listen. And accept that while we may know how to do something, there's always a better way.

I remember one time way back in high school some kids were making fun of some other kids for liking something, can't remember what it was. Teacher overhead what happened and stopped it, and told us: Imagine how boring the world would be, if everyone liked the same stuff. This one has always stuck with me.

“Be where you are.”

"If you have a choice, move away for college."

That was almost 40 years ago, and it's still the best damned thing I ever did. It let me grow as a whole person.

Here's a rule of life: You don't get to pick what bad things happen to you.