Have you ever thought to yourself, damn, I wish I knew then what I know now!? This saying rings true especially when thinking about leadership and owning your own business. Imagine how different some things would be if you had had the knowledge that you have now in your 20’s. This article, written by Todd Wilms of SAP, lists 10 life lessons that will make you think that life could have been a lot easier if you had known this back then. A personal favorite is “It is all personal, not business.” This lesson brings more humane thinking to business i.e. realizing that there is always someone on the other end of the transaction. Check out the rest below or read the full article: 10 Leadership Lessons I Wish I Learned In My 20’s
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Run with blinders on – keep your focus and don’t get distracted by others
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It is all personal, not business – “The faster you can get used to personal, the quicker you can learn how to properly react to your business decisions and garner the respect of your ecosystem.”
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Think marathon, not sprint – realize the long-term repercussions of the decisions you make. Think in years and not weeks.
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Find a mentor – someone who you trust and who will coach you
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There are incredibly smart people who will help you if you ask – learn to reach out to people and ask for advice
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Leadership doesn’t need a title – “Leadership is about helping the business succeed and helping those around you make that happen. Leadership is also about trust and those around you knowing you have their back.”
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Learn to eat sh*t – do things you don’t want to do or like to do, work outside your comfort zone
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Your business network should grown inversely proportional to your personal relationships – “your business network should grow, as you see your personal relationships grow smaller in numbers (fewer, but – hopefully – deeper relationship).”
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What is more important is how you handle the Big Screw-Up – everyone makes mistakes, it’s how you deal with them is what defines you
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Get knocked down 6, get up 7 – “Those that keep getting up when life knocks them down will soon find that there are great leadership opportunities for those that are weathered by experience and keep showing up.”
BONUS: Wait it out – change is inevitable
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