Hi folks.
Today is my 60th birthday. Bring on the senior discounts!
In other news, I was laid off from my job today (part of a general layoff of contractors). I had been planning to post this on Friday, but then I would likely miss your responses....so here goes!
Have you ever received a piece of advice that stuck with you? Like when you were told:
- Measure twice; cut once.
- Righty-tighty lefty-loosey (old Navy memory trick for turning screws, valves, etc)
- Under-promise and over-deliver.
There must be a million pieces of advice you have been given over the years that have served you well. Maybe something wise your grandparents or parents or teachers told you (like my high school teacher made me promise to go to a four-year college and get a degree or my mother told me to always make myself useful).
Or some nugget from your boss or a co-worker. Or maybe advice you give others.
I watched Radar O'Reilley on M*A*S*H and used him as a role model (always anticipate what your boss needs and make your boss look good). My boss once told me to never bring him a problem without at least one suggested solution, which I follow to this day. I always tell people that interviewers really want you to be the one they hire (because interviewing is a real pain), so relax and put your best foot forward in that interview--and always send a thank-you note to every person you interview with.
I always tell people to try to leave every person better than you found them (compliment easily and often; remember that sometimes people are having a hard day, so treat them with compassion).
Please share your best advice with the rest of us. I'm going to need it as I look for that next best opportunity. And try to keep my spirits up after having just lost my job.
