A recent article in Fortune explores the ‘best business advice’ that several well-known business leaders received along the way in their careers. Nell Minow, cofounder of the corporate governance watchdog The Corporate Library, says that the best advice she ever received was to not hesitate to work part time when it fit her life-schedule. That balance has helped her over the long haul.
This has prompted me to think about the best advice I’ve received, and I am totally stumped. I keep thinking and thinking, and it makes me realize how fucking selfish I really am. I can hardly recall much advice at all, I just seem to hear my own voices. But that’s another story…
This said, make sure you never take any advice I might offer, as it will probably be total shit.
On a sunnier note, what is the best advice you’ve received about business, work, career?
The Butcher
The best business advice I ever received, a short list:
1) Courage is not optional. Every day you must put yourself out there,
ask the questions that others may think are dumb, take big risks with
new ideas, be willing to say “I don’t know, but I will find out”.
You must be willing to do all of this in the name of making progress -
in the name of getting stuff done. Your desire to be perceived as one
who knows everything must take second stage to the idea of getting stuff
done.
2) All big issues start with something small that didn’t seem to
matter in the beginning. Small issues do matter. Work the small issues
so they don’t become big surprises to that guy who signs your paycheck.
3) Email is no substitute for picking up the phone and talking to someone
directly
4) A tool is never a substitute for a business process. Understand the
business process first, then find a tool to help manage the
business process. Not the other way around.