Sharing Sound Advice

Hmm, OK, “Write a note for yourself full of good advice for the future.” That’s the matchbox suggestion for last week. Yep, I missed last week because I was out of town for a daughter’s graduation. A weekend before I was at my nephew’s swearing-in ceremony as a brand new attorney. So I’ve heard a lot of good advice over the last couple of weeks. One speaker counseled the young attorneys to first, don’t lie, always tell the truth—to clients, to judges, to other attorneys. Second, he said you will make mistakes. Confess your mistakes, try to fix them if you can and then go on with your life. Don’t dwell on mistakes; learn from them. Third, have a mentor. Don’t try to figure everything out on your own. Work with someone with more experience who can help you avoid the pitfalls ahead. At the university graduation the main speaker emphasized going “all in” on whatever you choose to do in life. Don’t hold back. Don’t be mediocre. Give it your all. I realize these speeches were designed to motivate people starting out in their careers, but this sound advice could be applied to any of our lives.