As the years go by our wisdom increases. This happens from making mistakes and learning from them. It is also from gaining advice from others, ideally from having a mentor. We attend meetings, events and conferences where we gain nuggets that we keep close to us that can help us in life from time to time. Every day is a gift that we can gain some words of wisdom.
The other day I taught a webinar for an organization and during the question and answer time, the focus turned to wisdom and advice and I would give in businesses, leadership and life. I gave some insight and realized I should dig deeper and write down some of the wise words that have come to me over the years. Here are the first 4 pearls of wisdom that came to mind.
- Don’t ever burn bridges. My dad would constantly tell me this. He raised me to treat other people how you want to be treated. He said you never know when the person you hire one day might be your boss.
- Take risks when you are young. The former CEO of Tennant, Janet Dolan, told me that when I was starting my business in 2003. Those words stuck with me. Starting a business is taking a big risk. Making major changes to your business and your life is taking a risk. But anytime I have taken a big risk, I have always wondered later why I didn’t do it sooner. Live your life to the fullest every day. Life is short. We never know when we will take our last breath. So take calculated risks when you can.
- It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. Your network. Your mentors. Who you surround yourself with influences your thoughts, feelings, inspiration and your life? If you surround yourself with people that are constantly striving for greatness or to better themselves you generally will work hoarder and strive for greatness to better yourself. We are who we surround ourselves with.
- Give yourself grace. One of my favorite phrases is to give yourself grace. It is about giving yourself the kindness you deserve. Giving yourself grace is treating yourself like you would treat you best friend. Grace opens up the door for you to truly grow and flourish. You cannot bloom when pressure, hustling and living is just that…pressure. My mentor used to tell me to give myself grace almost daily. I was always so focused on my goals and where I was going and how much more I wanted to achieve in my life. Grace will take you places hustling cannot.
Every moment we can learn something. It could be something we see, hear, or are involved with. It is when we can gather some pearls of wisdom that we can tuck in the back of our minds and remember them when the time is right. It is all who you know. It is all about treating others how you want to be treated. Go follow the golden rule and the other pearls of wisdom you have gathered over the years to live your life to the fullest.
