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Relationships
Cautionary Tale
I was
dating this guy and about four weeks into the relationship he somewhat
jokingly tells me “you should not be with me I am a bastard.” I thought
he was joking and dismissed the statement. After being dragged through
relationship hell, I realized that he was right. He was a Bastard!
Here is my cautionary tale:
If the
guy you are dating or you are even remotely interested in says he is a
bastard or anything to that effect, HEAD FOR THE HILLS. If you don’t
the only person that will be sorry is you. The hurt cuts deep and take
time to heal.
Seattle, WA
Life
Cautionary Tale
Never
stop planning or setting goals because when you get to the last thing on
your list your life stops going in the direction you want it to and you
start getting pushed around by destiny.
What happened?
I
planned my life from age 18 to 25 after that I guessed I would be on the
right track. In fact, I used to say, “I know where I am and I know
where I want to be, I just don’t know how to get there. I feel like I
am on a ladder with a few crucial steps missing.” Pardon the pun, but,
in hindsight that was more of a prediction than a causal statement.
Because by the time I turned 25 I had neglected to plan or set specific
goals for the rest of my life. I knew where I wanted to be and I was no
where near it. It took me another 8 years to get my life back on
track.
What I learned.
You
need a roadmap. Even if you don’t look at it everyday take some time to
plan your life. Who are you? What do you want from life? How do you
think you can accomplish your goals? Write it down, think of it often.
The Universe will do the rest of the work.
Washington, DC
Never
put your life on hold to help someone else. You should always keep
working on your own goals or you will end up regretting the good that
you did, and you will resent the people you helped.
You
should never expect anyone to put their lives on hold to help you out.
It is a choice they have to make.
If you
do decide to help someone out:
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Set a personal goal of your own.
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Put a timeline on your promise.
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Remember you made the choice, so do it whole heartedly.
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Take time for yourself.
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Don’t look back on the time lost.
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Have an exit strategy.
Kent,
England
Career
I wish
I had not stayed seven years at a job I hated. I got comfortable, you
know, an evil you know is better than one you don’t know. I know for
sure I did not stay for the benefits.
What Happened
In
hindsight I think I let life’s disappointments get me. I lost the fire
I had in me when I was in college and just stop fighting for what I
wanted. I sort solace in primetime TV and cookies and cream ice cream.
What I would like to share with people that find themselves in this
situation?
It is
a risk you have to take, you can either live a life you will regret or
get up, get out and do something. Sometimes you crash and burn, but you
have to learn from the experience and keep fighting. One thing I know
is I don’t regret leaving that job, I still regret staying so long
though.
Be
honest with yourself, when it is time to leave, leave!
Houston, TX
I
would associate with more career driven individuals at work. I would
have networked with the best of them, make use of every training dollar
available to me. I would have joined every association there was in my
industry and I would have been a very active member of those
associations. I would have been more visible and acted more like a
“team player.” I would have build street credit within the industry.
I
would have done all the above, get the recognition, left the company at
my peak and started my own company using the contacts I made when I was
working for the “man.”
Manhattan, NY
Finances
Cautionary Tale
If you
can’t afford it, you don’t need it. Do not get into debt. Credit cards
are evil if you don’t have self restraint needed to use them
responsibly. Save $20 a week to get that ipod or you will be paying for
it for the next ten years (that is if your credit doesn’t get completely
screw up before that point).
In hindsight:
I
would have gotten an American Express and one Visa or MasterCard. I
would have learned to save money to buy what I needed. I would have
been less impulsive.
Los
Angeles, CA
Word of Advice
about loans to friends and family
If you
loan money to a friend, treat it like a gift, don’t expect to get it
back. Same applies to books and movies.
San
Jose, CA
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