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> "Go back 10 years" > College major OK so we're looking for life advice here. :D If I could go back 10 years with the knowledge I have now, I wouldn't becaus
by taneq 3y ago
> "Go back 10 years"
> College major
OK so we're looking for life advice here. :D If I could go back 10 years with the knowledge I have now, I wouldn't because I'll take what I have now over something potentially infinitely worse through any number of random chances. If I did, the first thing I'd do is go back another 20 years.
Seriously though (and leaving aside 'Grays Sports Almanac' style responses):
- Never stop learning. Everything in life is a lesson, and everything in life is a test.
- Just because you behave ethically towards someone doesn't mean they'll behave ethically towards you.
- Saying no is as important as saying yes.
- Be kind to people when they make a mistake. Mistakes are how we learn, and besides, it's your turn next.
- Be kind to people you have power over.
- Until you take the plunge everyone will tell you not to gamble on a startup. The moment you do, everyone will tell you what you should be doing. Listen to their advice but think really hard before acting on it - after all, you ignored them before and so far it's working.
- Never underestimate the value of looking after people. Genuinely trying your best to help your clients/customers will be remembered and that's better marketing than any ad campaign.
- That said, don't be afraid to shut the door when someone takes advantage of you. Give everyone the benefit of the doubt, but remember how they treated you.
- The most difficult employee to manage is yourself, so you might have to cut yourself some slack, as an employee and as a manager.
Edit: Oh, also, if you're the kind of person who hangs out on HN and has a burning desire to start a business, it's worth seeing a psych. I'm not kidding, founders have a much higher than average chance of being diagnosed with a range of things, and it might turn out that some of the traits you thought were shameful character flaws are actually easily treatable.