Every top executive had to start somewhere. Even the most successful people had a learning curve at the beginning of their careers. Whether it was learning a better way to approach a problem or making a bad business decision, many executives wish they could go back in time and give advice to their younger selves. Here’s the pieces of wisdom that a few successful people would give to themselves early in their careers.
Brian Ballard, co-founder and partner at Digital Services business Avatria, had two pieces of advice for his younger self. First, “Embrace change. . . In the fast-moving digital world that we live in today, people who resist disruption and change are only going to be left behind. Even for younger professionals, this a good concept to keep in mind otherwise they will quickly find that their skillset is no longer relevant.” He would also remind himself that “The best solution isn’t always the right solution – In the workforce, problems are not solved in a vacuum and there is always more than one right solution. The best chance of success is to maximize the number of actors that are bought in and establish a shared sense of ownership of the chosen solution.”
Shari Stein Curry, CEO and co-founder of The Living Apothecary, emphasized self-love and care in her advice to her younger self. “Let go of your ego and pride, be in the moment, and LOVE YOURSELF unconditionally,” she says. Curry would also tell herself to treat others with kindness, encouraging herself to “give to others selflessly.”
Mathieu Chantelois, a journalist and TV personality turned media executive and now Vice President of Communications & Promotions with the Canada Media Fund, gave an interesting answer when asked this question. He says he would tell himself to “believe you have the power to change the world and you will.” He gets this philosophy from his favorite quote by Henry Ford, “Whether you think you can or you can’t, either way you’re right.”
Stacey Jones, Senior Scientist and Principal Investigator at O Analytics, focused her advice to her younger self on the workplace. “Go into each venture, job or other assignment with an outline of your goals and those of the space you’re in,” she advises. “Where the two sets of goals align is the ‘sweet spot’.” This is great advice for anyone struggling to find motivation if a task doesn’t directly align with their career path.
Moe Abbas is the CEO of GenM, a free education system that is accessible to anyone and includes free courses and certifications. When asked what he would tell his younger self, he replied, “Trust the process and take the time to really ask yourself: ‘what is the best way to get from point A to point B?’.” Young workers might look for the fastest or easiest path when that isn’t really the best option for them or anyone else.
No matter their background, most executives wish they could share the wisdom they’ve learned throughout their careers with their younger selves. Individuals just entering the workforce should take these pieces of advice to start their careers off strong.
