5 Things I Would Tell My 25-year-old Self
Author: Teri Robb
Five things I would tell my 25-year-old self:
Slow down & enjoy the ride!
Take every chance given to you!
Drop the Guilt!
Keep networking!
Share your thoughts & ideas!
Slow Down & Enjoy the Ride!
I was married young, had children young, focused on my career and honestly, rushed through my twenties. I was very driven, which is a great thing but what was the rush? In those days the right thing to do was graduate from college, get a job, get married, buy a house, have kids. We did all that in our twenties. I would do it all again, but not quite so fast a second time around!
Take Every Chance Given to You!
If an opportunity arises, take it! Don’t wait until the timing is perfect or you have every qualification and experience needed. I can promise you that the men we work with don’t wait for perfection. A risk is a good thing and pushing yourself is a good thing. This is how we grow and learn. It is ok to make a mistake and learn from it.
Drop the Guilt!
As working professionals, we often have other commitments in our lives whether that is a partner, children, aging parents, or all the above. We tend to feel guilty if we are needed at work and miss a personal event or need to miss work as we are needed on the home front. The best advice I would give my young self is to be present at whatever you are doing and drop the guilt. We need work / life balance in our lives, but it won’t happen every day, so give yourself some grace!
Keep Networking!
Super important to expand your network all the time. Take time to keep in touch with past colleagues, partners, and customers. Our world is very small, and you never know where you will see them again. Find opportunities to join professional associations that will expand your network and contacts. I’d strongly recommend not only using social media but also doing this in person. Mentoring is a great way to give back and also a wonderful opportunity to expand your network with someone earlier in their career.
Share your thoughts & Ideas!
Share your thoughts and ideas, there is a reason you are in the role your are in or the meeting you are in. Feel free to share your ideas and your thoughts and don’t be intimated by the more experienced person or the male in the room. Diversity of ideas is a very good thing and be bold about sharing what you think is important. Looking back on it, I believe I was to intimated early in a new role and assumed that others had more experience and better ideas. That is not true! You are where you are for a reason, so be heard!