Things I Would Have Done Different

Was in a reflective mood about my career recently. Writing (with other coaches) a career book to dispel myths. Normally would not change my experiences since they made me who I am today, but surprised myself this time and wrote a person list of changes I would make. Truthfully would love to know what I know now then. So this posting is general advice to manage your career and life.

Study Real Estate for Investment. (Bad investment for next couple years, then will return as good investment. Study business cycles.)

Studied Real Estate / Business Finance

Learned more about computers (useful tools.)

Saved more (More to invest.)

Bought a home where I love. (Get a small home on a big enough lot in the nicest neighborhood you can afford.)

Bought fun autos (Had three fun cars to date and recommend you buy what you love.)

Join Toastmasters (Talking to groups is a tremendous career booster.)

Write more (Communication skills are vital to your career.)

Taken more seminars: (Invest in yourself.)
– Dale Carnegie: How to Win Friends and Influence People
– Real Estate Investing
– Investing
– Finding your gifts
– Sales

1. Made lists of my dreams
2. List actions steps to make dreams happen
3. Take action (Keys to your success.)

Drank less (Really negatively affect your life.)

Exercise more (Being healthy has improved my life and work.)

Dated more, and avoid toxic people (Read Ten Stupid Things (Men, Women) Do to Mess Up Their Lives by Dr. Laura C. Schlessinger)

Not stayed home so much (Overcome shyness.)

Seen my family more often (Plan.)

Be more grateful (Best thing for your mental health.)

Be less depressed (Don’t be too hard on yourself. Limit how long you beat yourself up to ten minutes.)

Been more confident (Lets you be humble and sure of your commitments.)

Stay active in your faith (Being Catholic turned my life around. The most important thing you can do.)

Follow these and you will have a good life from now on. Wish I had read this list years ago.

Why Bridges, Products and Companies Fall

The bridge collapse on 35 West in Minneapolis is in the news today. Have just seen the security camera video of the collapse. The cause is off camera. You just see the bridge start falling level from one end, and then the structure pulls itself down section by section in seconds.

Falling level is a hint, if one joint failed on one side it would have tipped or wobbled when it fell. The initial failure has to be on the hidden support at that end. Whether the support collapsed, the section slid off the end, or too much concrete (weight) had been added for the structure will be determined by more knowledgeable engineers than me.

The truth is the real cause has taken years to be created. It is probably the accumulation of several human errors: possibilities include the design, past maintenance, the planning, and the execution the current project.

The same thing is true of any product or business. When they start to fail it is an accumulation of causes: late deliveries, poor trained customer service, customers struggling to order what they need, lack of marketing to new clients, and often the lack of new products and services. These are all symptoms to be taken seriously and corrected before the collapse.