37 Pieces of Career Advice I Wish I’d Known Earlier⁠↗

• It’s not ambition or skill that is going to set you apart but sanity.

The thing that’s wrong about imposter syndrome is that for the most part no one is thinking about you at all. They’re too busy with their own doubts and their own work.

The person who clears the path ultimately controls its direction, just as the canvas shapes the painting.

Always say less than necessary. Saying less than necessary, not interjecting at every chance we get—this is actually the mark not just of a self-disciplined person, but also a very smart and wise person.

When you’re lacking motivation, remind yourself: discipline now, freedom later. The labor will pass, and the rewards will last.

Your creative output, your personal relationships, and your social life—balancing all three is impossible. You can excel in two if you say no to one. If you can’t, you’ll have none.

Lyndon Johnson said that the way to get things done was to get close to those who are at the center of things.

Focus on effort, not outcomes. Just try to make contact with the ball. Give your best effort, make contact with the ball. Let the rest take care of itself.

you don’t want to be dependent on a single thread or a single vote of confidence. You need redundancies. You need relationships.

When you’re building a business, salaries/staff can feel expensive. But if you succeed, you’ll regret giving up equity so cheaply.

Don’t be discouraged at the outset. It takes time to build up from nothing.

Talking about what you’re going to do makes you a lot less likely to actually do it. Keep your plans to yourself.

There are professional habits and amateur ones. Which are you practicing? Is this a pro or an amateur move? Ask yourself that. Constantly.

When people compete, somebody loses. So go where you’re the only one. Do what only you can do. Run a race with yourself.

The certainty comes later. The truly life-changing decisions are never simple. If I had only ever done things I was absolutely certain about, I’d have missed out on experiences I love. Conversely, I regret a good chunk of my “Fuck yes’s” because I was caught up in a fit of passion or bias. The whole point of risk is that you don’t know.