What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20

by Tina Seelig

harder you work, the luckier you get.

But by putting myself out there, being open to helping someone, and following up years later, I became quite “lucky.”

everything someone does for you has an opportunity cost.

there’s no need to make enemies.

your reputation is your most valuable asset—so guard it well.

Craft the story now so you’ll be proud to tell it later.

just say, “I didn’t handle that very well. I apologize.”

it is important to take responsibility for your actions and be willing to learn from your experiences.

The key to a successful negotiation is to ferret out everyone’s interests so you can maximize the outcome for everyone.

the most important outcome of any negotiation is to get to the next negotiation.

walking away from a deal should always be considered a viable option.

“A mensch helps people who can’t necessarily help them back.

All I needed was someone to ask, “Are you all right? Is there anything I can do for you?”

those who don’t know how to make others successful are at a huge disadvantage.

there is a significant difference between doing the right thing and rationalizing a decision that’s best for you.

in life you can do it all, just not at the same time.

Keep a stack of thank-you notes on your desk and use them frequently.

The collection of missed opportunities adds up, leading to a huge deficit.

You get out of life what you put in, and the results are compounded daily.

You have to focus your intention to make something happen by giving at least 100 percent commitment. Anything less and you’re the only one to blame for failing to reach your goals.

Make it a high priority or drop it from your list.

You have no excuse for delivering anything short of your best effort at all times.

There’s a significant difference between being competitive and being driven toward an objective.

Being driven involves tapping into your own passion to make things happen.

give yourself permission to challenge assumptions, to look at the world with fresh eyes, to experiment, to fail, to plot your own course, and to test the limits of your abilities.

The environment is filled with flaws and flowers, and we each decide which to embrace.

When you leave a job, the organization will go on without you, as you are not indispensable.

uncertainty is the fire that sparks innovation and the engine that drives us forward.