LONDON (Parliament Politics Magazine) – No matter how many courses you have completed and how many diplomas you have obtained, in the end the best learning starts at home. When you were little, most parents and grandparents were already ready with tailor-made advice, but also with some basic advice that you can put in your backpack for life.
Mommy wisdom. Whether it’s playground diplomacy, pep talks during your exams, or professional career advice, parents are equipped with an arsenal of useful clichés that reach further than you might think.
Some examples of standard evergreens from the mom (and dad) catalog:
1. Be yourself
Successful people often approach problems from a unique angle and manage to create opportunities by seeing the world from a different perspective. So stay your unique self and don’t try to be like the rest. Success stories like those of Elon Musk, Sophia Amoruso, or Arianna Huffington didn’t come about because they wanted to be like everyone else, but because they believed in themselves and their ideas. A little quirkiness goes a long way.
2. Don’t let it get to your heart
There will always be people who want to tear you down, who don’t believe in you, or who reject your proposals. It’s often easier to say ‘no’ than ‘yes’ and it’s often easier to let this get you down than to see this as a building block. You often have to have a thick skin in life, if you have that, then nothing or no one can stop you (except yourself).
3. Play well
No, you shouldn’t allow anyone to walk all over you. But kindness, politeness and honesty often take you further in terms of mutual relationships (professional and private). It will take you beyond simply waltzing over everyone or achieving “professional success” through bullying and lies. Career karma, you know.
4. Don’t be afraid to count on other people
Achieving great success on your own is unrealistic. Teamwork is more efficient and much needed if you want to achieve great things. It gives you the opportunity to delegate, ask for advice and focus on what really matters. You have your strengths and your weaknesses, someone else can complement these pluses and minuses.
5. Choose your friends carefully
It is necessary to be able to count on other people, but choose these people carefully. Of course you can’t count on everyone. Better a small group of people who really help you, than a large network of people who can’t or won’t mean anything to you or on whom you cannot rely. Surround yourself with people who give you energy and who also believe in you and build you up. And of course be that same confidant, cheerleader, friend to them.
6. Never give up
Does everything fail? Do you always get the lid on your nose or does every attempt you make go wrong? Then a new attempt might be just what you need and after the fourth “no”, maybe finally a “yes”. Persevere. You might even come out stronger.
7. Work hard
Someone who puts all their passion and energy into something will get further in life than someone who waits and hopes that someone else will do the work for him or her. Invest your time, attention and your own competencies to achieve what you want. It will bring you satisfaction and success. Even if the results were disappointing, you can reassure yourself that you did everything you could and you can’t blame yourself.
8. Nobody is perfect. Just do your best
Pursuing perfection is beautiful, but you have to be aware that you may not achieve it. Learning, improving, sharpening, these are equally beautiful things that you will encounter on your way to success.
Do your best and you will be able to go to sleep and continue working with peace of mind. A rough good idea is still a good idea. The finish and the details are a nice bonus. And mistakes are human. Commitment is important, so is having your heart in the right place, you can’t do more than your best. Just learn and try again.
