This link was making the rounds yesterday and I did enjoy reading what people said. I think the question was really what was the best and the worst advice you ever received? Here is the link. Most responders are from the business or entertainment world.
http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/fortune/0804/gallery.bestadvice.fortune/23.html
One thing I thought was striking was the number of people who named their parents. This serves as a reminder to us as parents of the immense influence we have on our children. Here are my bests and worst:
BEST: My parents always taught me to do my best, and modeled this ideal in their own lives. One thing in particular I remember is that my dad would offer me counsel when I failed to measure up to my own standards, maybe making a "B" instead of an "A" in a class. He would say, "Did you do your best?" When I replied yes, he would say, "Then stop worrying! What more could you have done?" I still remind myself of his words today when I "mess up" in trying to perform perfectly in a demanding job.
WORST: My folks were products of their times, and marked by the depression. When I was ready for college, I was told, "You can be a teacher, a secretary, or a nurse. Those are your options. Which will it be?" Today I am glad that we offer young women a much broader range of choices. Actually, becoming a teacher was a happy choice for me, but it would have been exciting and interesting to at least consider other options. My mother had an amazing ability to see into the future though. Maybe she was just putting things in those terms because her intuition told her I should be a teacher. I am happy with my life's work, in any case.
How about you? I would love responses!
I think you will love this. I can relate to the part of your post that says "When I was ready for college, I was told, "You can be a teacher, a secretary, or a nurse." I heard about a librarian who retired recently. Here is what she told the student who was interviewing her for the school newspaper about her career. "When I was in high school, I was told I could be a teacher, a secretary or a nurse. Well - I knew I didn't want to be a secretary and type all day long, and I knew I didn't want to be a nurse and look at naked people all day long. I also knew I didn't want to be a teacher and tell kids what to do all day. So...I became a school librarian and now I type all day and tell half-naked teenagers what to do!"
ReplyDeleteJust had to share that with someone else who grew up in the era of limited possibilities. Though even today - I would make the same decision. Being a librarian is my "mission from God" and my hobby combined!