I turned [muffled sound] last week, and it was fabulous. As we grow older, age becomes not even a number, but an attitude. And I still have plenty of that, so who cares about the number!
And so I wanted to indulge myself a little this birthday week, and write down the 6 things that I wish I'd known when I was 26 (there's a logic to that number but we will not be revealing it here).
- The most successful professionals are the ones that are liked and trusted. So invest in the development of your interpersonal skills and of your technical skills with the same ardour. If anything, the former trumps the latter.
- Learning how to engage people in a good conversation will pave the way to the most amazing life experiences you will ever have. This is an absolute fact and applies to your worklife as well as your personal life - every single aspect of it. Learn and polish your skills to connect with people on a deeper level. It will pay off.
- Whether you are an introvert, an extravert or an ambivert - you belong in any social situation. For example, introverts make the best networkers (they have supreme listening and analytical skills) and extraverts are often fun to be around. Work to your strengths.
- Yet know your weaknesses. If we don't acknowledge where we are weak, we can overcompensate where we are strong. And lose that elusive sense of authenticity in the process.
- Accept you can't be perfect: real life doesn't come with Instagram filters. Yet the real mastery is to let our values to be reflected in our actions. This is the definition of "authentic people". This is not as easy as it sounds and might take many years of practise and some bumps along the way. But this is the aim.
- Change comes from action, and often a worthy action comes from a place of courage. A courageous life if not devoid of anxiety, but it is one where positive action is not deterred by anxiety. In short, feel the fear and do it anyway!
26 also happens to be the age of a typical Gen Zedder in the workplace today. Does this advice strike a chord with you, my GenZ audience?
What advice would you like to give to a Gen Xer or a Boomer in your life? We're all ears!
