I saw this article in Fortune Magazine. (Why I read this magazine is another long story.) The article shared the advice that some of today’s greatest leaders and thinkers received.
I found the advice to be… well… uninspiring, bland and … unhelpful. I thought we might do a better job.
What is the best advice you ever received? Or what’s the worst advice you’ve received? Write it in the comments and I’ll post it with a link to your site/blog.
Here is some of the advice they shared in Fortune:
1. “The best advice was, first, always ask for the order, and second, when the customer says yes, stop talking.” Michael Bloomberg
2. “It’s hard to look smart with bad numbers.” Mark Hurd
3. “Whatever anybody says or does, assume positive intent.” Indra Nooyi (Well, Ok I liked this.)
4. “…effective leaders don’t make themselves the center of attention. They are respectful. They listen.” Sam Palmisano
5. “When (my Dad and I) played football, he’d say, ‘Go out ten steps. Turn to your right.’ The ball would reach me just before I turned, and it would hit me right in the chest. Why would my Dad do this? He told me, ‘If I waited for you to turn, you and the defensive player would have an equal chance to get the ball. Your opportunity is gone.’ This idea of anticipation is key to investing and to business in general.” Eddie Lampert
6. “My boss, then Maj. Gen. Jack Galvin, said, ‘I think you ought to look for an out-of-your-intellectual-comfort-zone experience.’ (…) The bottom line is that seriously bright folks thought very differently about issues…. In truth, experiencing that not everyone saw the world the same was good preparation for many of the experiences I’ve had since – in Haiti, Bosnia, and certainly Iraq.” Gen. David Petraeus
7. “I got two pieces of advice I have always remembered. My father, Charles E. Murphy, who was a justice of the New York State Supreme Court, … said, ‘Doing the wrong thing is not worth the loss of one night’s good sleep.’ (…) Benjamin Selekman, a Harvard Business School professor who taught labor relations, …, said, ‘Here is something to remember for the rest of your life: Don’t spend your time on things you can’t control. Instead spend your time thinking about what you can.’” Thomas S. Murphy
8. “I go back to the things my dad said: ‘Your career is long and the business world is small. Always act with integrity. Never take the last dollar off the table.’” Joanna Shields
9. “It was my dad who gave me the best advice of my 45-year career: ‘Get sales up, and keep expenses down.’ That sounds simplistic, but it’s the way my father got 4% margins in his food business when his competitors made 1% or 2%.” Nelson Peltz
10. “I was about to transition to a new role, … and Jeff Immelt gave me this advice: ‘Spent a ton of time with your customers.’… Customers give you the reality…. You’ll never get anything straighter than from a customer.” Charlene Begley
11. “Focus on those things you do better than others. That has been enormously helpful in defining our business strategies.” Peter G. Peterson
12. “Don’t Panic” Elon Musk
13. Now it’s your turn. What is the best piece of advice you have received in your life? or the worst piece of advice? Write them in the comments and I’ll post them here with a link to your blog.
- Ok, I’ll start. The best advice I ever received was: “Treat people the way THEY want to be treated.”
- Nicole Austin’s mother told her to “write the stories I wanted to tell and forget everything else, and even if no one else ever read them they?d be something I could be proud of because they came from my heart.”
- Sarah at Puss Reboots‘s great-grandfather said, via (her) grandmother: ?If you see a large crowd, head in the opposite direction.?
- Susan Helen Gottfried’s favorite piece of advice is: “The decisions you make today aren?t permanent. You can always change things later on when you need to.”
- Michael C says, “The best advice I was ever given was to enjoy life and be glad I have today. Sappy, but very, very true.”
- Sue‘s advice is: “Always bring a banana to a party. Bananas are good!”
- Julia tells us that, “(w)hen I was making fun of myself for starting university as a mature student, realizing I?d be graduating at 30, my cousin said, ?You?ll turn 30 anyway. Might as well turn 30 with a degree.?”
- Lori says, “Some of the best advice I ever received? Write what frightens you . . .”
- Tommie‘s favorite advice is from a fellow military wife, “Leaving friends is bittersweet. Without the moves we would never had met them in the first place. There are new people that we will share laughter and tears with at the next post. We don?t even know their names yet?but they will share our lives. It?s kind of great really.”
- Forgetful one says, “You have two ears to listen and one mouth to speak.”
- Slick‘s ex-father-in-law said: “Treat her right or you?ll be above my mantle.?
- Journeywoman‘s mother advised, ?You may get annoyed with your in-laws, but just remember they love their child as much as we love you. Treat them with the same respect you treat us and they will love you too.?
- Janet says, ?Fun is not a four-letter word.?
- Adelle Lauden advises, “You can?t please everybody, so why try?”
- Virginia says, ?God designed women to have children so He will give us the strength to raise them.?
- Mark‘s father said the duel edged advice of, ?You?re to goddamn stupid to go to school, learn how to work.?
- Anthony North‘s father used to say, ” If we all walked the same way, we?d never meet anyone.”
- Darla’s favorite advice is, ?Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.?
- Tink gives this advice, “Learn from the past, look at the future but focus on today!”
- Jill‘s Mom gives the seminal advice of, ?Never leave the house without your makeup on.”
- Grace in Dubai‘s favorite advice is, “It?s not how much your clothes are, it?s how you carry them.”
- She says, “Seek Balance. Find Happiness.”
- Bethanie quotes Richard Bach with, “Argue for your limitations and, sure enough, they?re yours.”
- Colleen‘s husband Joe says, “You already know what you want.” She also likes “Be Yourself.”
- Laura‘s favorite advice is, ?Always remember that ?this too shall pass? and you?ll learn and grow from whatever difficulty you have just survived.?
- The other Claudia reminds us, “Don?t give up.”
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The best advice I ever received was from my mother. She told me to write the stories I wanted to tell and forget everything else, and even if no one else ever read them they’d be somthing I could be proud of because they came from my heart.
Wait a minute…it’s still Wednesday, right? But it’s Thursday’s post. With Wednesday’s date…
Oh wow….I have broken through the time/space continuum.
Awesome.
From my great-grandfather via my grandmother: “If you see a large crowd, head in the opposite direction.”
Probably my favorite piece of advice was this:
The decisions you make today aren’t permanent. You can always change things later on when you need to.
No. 11 makes for good teamwork.
The best advice I was ever given was to enjoy life and be glad I have today. Sappy, but very, very true.
I like #7 the best!
http://www.chelleyoung.com/index.php/archive/thursday-thirteen-109-thirteen-things-wonderful-things-about-being-a-mom/
My contribution is: Always bring a banana to a party. Bananas are good!
Happy TT
Nic – I love your mother! Thanks for sharing!
Fabbie – Yes, time/space continuum Yeah, that’s it.
Sarah – Gosh, I think that’s fabulous advice – and we do that!
Thanks for sharing!
Susan Helen Gottfried – Now that’s a great piece of advice! Thanks for sharing!
Sandy Carlson – I’m sure you’re right!
Michael C – Now that is great advice! Thanks for sharing!
Chelle Y – What did you like about it?
Sue – Now that’s great advice!
Thanks for sharing!
I like the major general’s advice in #6. As for the best advice I ever got? When I was making fun of myself for starting university as a mature student, realizing I’d be graduating at 30, my cousin said, ‘You’ll turn 30 anyway. Might as well turn 30 with a degree.’
WOW! Interesting post with great advice. Thanks for sharing.
Some of the best advice I ever received? Write what frightens you . . .
A fellow military wife blogger just told me :
Leaving friends is bittersweet. Without the moves we would never had met them in the first place. There are new people that we will share laughter and tears with at the next post. We don’t even know their names yet…but they will share our lives. It’s kind of great really.
The best advice…. You have two ears to listen and one mouth to speak.
Julia – Now that’s great advice. I have Dear Abby saying that on my refrigerator: “and how old would you be anyway?” Thanks for sharing!
Homemaking Mama – I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Lori – Wow. Great advice – do you do that? Thanks for sharing!
Tommie – I love that advice. I hope it holds you during this transition! ((hug))
Forgetfulone – Ew… now how brilliant is that! Thanks for sharing!
True…oh so true:) Happy TT.
“Treat her right or you’ll be above my mantle”
After I divorced his daughter, I keep my distance from him now.
From my mom: “You may get annoyed with your in-laws, but just remember they love their child as much as we love you. Treat them with the same respect you treat us and they will love you too.”
I loved #3! My advice? “Fun is not a four-letter word.”
I?ll be back tomorrow to read and respond because my brain?s too tired to think right now and my fingers are barely cooperating.
Hugs and blessings,
You can’t please everybody, so why try? lol
Happy T13!
Lori –
Slick – Ah good thing too! I’d hate to see you on someone’s mantle! Thanks for sharing!
Journeywoman – Great advise! I’m delighted it worked. Thanks for sharing!
Janet – Great advice! Thanks for sharing!
Storyteller – promise??
Hope you get some rest.
Adelle Laudan – Great advice! Hard to do…. Thanks for sharing!
I thought this one up but it helps me when I get frustrated, down, or just need to remember I’m not alone:
“God designed women to have children so He will give us the strength to raise them.”
Happy TT!
My father gave me both the best advice and the worst in one sentence. I was 13, a freshman in HS and failing algebra for the first time.
“You’re to goddamn stupid to go to school, learn how to work.”
I wasn’t, but I did, and it led me to this life of retired “leisure” and thousands of stories accumulated along the way.
Peace OG
mark
My father always used to say:
If we all walked the same way, we’d never meet anyone.
I always like “Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.”
Learn from the past, look at the future but focus on today!
Thanks for visiting my 80′s TT!
Love the simplicity of Don’t Panic.
Mine was from my Mom “Never leave the house without your makeup on.”
Not sure its the best advice I’ve ever received, but it sure does pop into my head when I’m in Walmart looking like death warmed over and an ex boyfriend or old boss walks up to me. Sheesh.
On top of my mind right now is: It’s not how much your clothes are, it’s how you carry them.
Sorry, I’m not smartypants today.
Seek Balance. Find Happiness.
Thank you for another inspiring TT. You’ll be proud of mine, I think!
Hah! I actually like the ‘Don’t Panic’ advice … hey, isn’t that a rip-off from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy??
My favorite is from a book by Richard Bach (no, NOT Jonathan Livingston Seagull!): Argue for your limitations and, sure enough, they’re yours.
Interesting list. Sorry I don’t have anything to add. Happy TT
I’m still waiting for the best advice. Maybe this: You already know what you want, via my husband Joe.
I was waiting for someone to say “Be Yourself,” but I don’t think I ever heard it, so know I use it to as advice to others.
Some of those are really good, but bear marinating for a while.
Some good advice I’ve received…”Always remember that ‘this too shall pass’ and you’ll learn and grow from whatever difficulty you have just survived.”
Don’t Panic is pretty good-as well as a good reference to Hitchhiker’s guide!!
Another piece of good advice? Don’t give up.
TWMark – Yes, I think my father said something similar. hmm actually it was, “I’m not going to waste my money on an idiot like you going to college.” Of course, my sisters all had a free ride. Go figure. I had such a great time at college!
I’m glad you’re still telling stories! Thanks for sharing!
AnthonyNorth – Gosh that’s great advice! Thanks for sharing!
Darla – Yes, yes, yes! How true is that! Thanks for sharing!
Tink – Oooh! I like that! Thanks for sharing!
Jill – Your mom… What would she say to me never wearing make up?? Sigh… She’d probably roll her eyes at my middle childness!
Thanks for sharing!
Gracie – What great advice for where you are in the world too! Thanks for sharing!
She – Now that’s great advice! Thanks for sharing! I’ll be right over.
Bethanie – Of course, you’re right. He says that in the article -the quote is from the Hitchhiker’s Guide. I like that quote – very helpful! Thanks for sharing!
Tammy – This is interesting – and fun!
Colleen – Hmm… I wonder if your husband and my husband know each other!
“Be yourself” is lovely too! Thanks for sharing!
Laura – Gosh, that is great advice. I know I’ve often felt better when I remember “this too shall pass!” Thanks for sharing!
Claudia – I like “don’t give up” – so hard to remember and do! And yes, the “Don’t Panic” Is from the Hitchhiker’s guide. Thanks for sharing!
Best advice: Follow your heart! (it worked for me
)
Have a great day!
My best piece of advice came from my mother. She always told me to get a job (from the age of 15, much to my dismay at the time) and learn to take care of myself first before getting into any relationship. She was right. After years of learning how to live with ME and be content (wow, that was hard at times) I felt like a “whole” person who was ready to share my life.
“Believe non of what you hear and only half of what you see…”
[...] http://www.on-a-limb.com/?p=1308Eddie Lampert. 6. ?My boss, then Maj. Gen. Jack Galvin, said, ?I think you ought to look for an out-of-your-intellectual-comfort-zone experience.? (?) The bottom line is that seriously bright folks thought very differently about issues? … [...]
I loved this post. What a fun idea! My favorite was #3- imagine how it would be if we all just assumed that people had good intentions in their behaviors.
Ivanhoe – yes, look where you’ve ended up! Thanks for sharing!
Jennifer – Great advice. I completely agree with your mom. I started my first business at 11 years old and have never looked back. Good for you for following it! Thanks for sharing!
Toni – Yes, indeed! Thanks for sharing!
Melanie – I know that when I remember this simple thing, I feel a lot better about myself and the world. I remember that I too have good intentions, even if the outcome is not so great.
They best advise I ever heard was from Thumper’s Mom: “If you don’t got nothin’ nice to say, don’t say nothin’ at all”
What a creative TT Claudia!
wow, awesome idea…
“Think you before you speak, words cannot be taken back, once said.”
“Words can cut as deep as any knife.”
My father gave this advice and it has never steered me wrong. Wish mom would have listened to it.
Happy TT, hope you’ll visit my 32nd TT…Housework, Quoth the Mama, Nevermore at The Cafe.
I read this in a biography of Katherine Hepburn and it’s always stayed with me, “Love has nothing to do with what you expect to give — only what you expect to give.”
The worst advice I ever got was to put a new transmission into an old Dodge caravan. Needless to say I didn’t get my money’s worth!
The best advice….take a special education course after teacher’s college – I did and it helped me get a permanent contract. And it doesn’t hurt that i love my work.
My mother always says, “Inch by Inch is a cinch, yard by yard is very hard” in respect to learning anything new.
I love that you read Fortune and would like to hear that story!
Ok, my best advice to others comes from my experience as a P.T./Manager: You can always win an argument with numbers. In fact, if you have the numbers on your side there likely will be no argument.
My other piece of advice comes from poker: Don’t play your hand, play the player.
I think now you need to write a better article then what appeared…
Best advice ever a la Gandhi: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
Come on by and see why I love Sheldon Cooper.
I guess that’s why I am not in business, what lame advice!
The two I live by (and I was actually surprised that someone said the first) is
1) assume positive intent (change the story)
2) Know that the only constant is Change, and be willing to reevaluate.
My T13 is up. Feel free to stop by if you’d like.
http://casadecruz.blogspot.com
Thought of another one: be nice to the waiter/waitress…you don’t want them to spit in your food! LOL
Vixen – Yes indeed! Thanks for sharing!
Sassy Mama Bear – Those are words to live by… and so very true! Thanks for sharing.
That Gal Herself – Now that’s awesome! Thanks for sharing!
Hazelnut – Hurray for loving what you do! That’s a real blessing! Thanks for sharing!
CelticLibrarian – My friend Betty says that too – it’s been huge in my life. Thanks for sharing!
HRH – Great advice! I’m certain numbers work – and always play the person works everywhere. Thanks for sharing!
CajunVegan – I try to do … erm.. be that every day! Thanks for sharing!
TLC – Yes, lame advice! Great advice! Thanks for sharing!
Tommie – Now that’s real life advice – thanks for sharing it!
The best advise I ever got (and at first I didn’t like it, but found it to be so true) is:
“You are responsible for your own happiness”.
Peace
I have miss this, I’m delinquent.
Happy belated T13. You got wonderful advices…
My mother would always remind my sister and I that laughter is the best medicine and to look for the good in every situation. I think that’s why #3 is my favorite. Staying positive is the best way to deal with problems. Indra Nooyi lists some good tips in the Time 100 as well. Actually, a lot of those profiled have some great advice and philosophies. It’s a good read.
http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/time100/article/0,28804,1595326_1615737_1615996,00.html
Those are all great pieces of advice! I liked your take on the golden rule– “Treat others how THEY would like to be treated.” I also liked Indra Nooyi’s advice to “always assume positive intent.” I think if more people did this we would all be a lot better off.
‘Feel the fear and do it anyway.’
can’t remember where it came from. it is something i aim for yet seldom get more than 50% right. (i got feeling the fear down pat tho.)
glad you enjoyed the silly book title list at my TT. that BTW came from an email fwd–an eleven page, 10pt font, single spaced attachment sent to me about four years ago by my sister who, when it was sent to her, remembered how we three sibs as kids would make up these hilarious author/title combos on road trips.