What Would I Tell My Younger Self If I Could?

I always wondered what it would be like to go back in time and give myself some really good advice (not that the younger me would actually take it).  I suppose my best advice would not come from the avoidance of events and people, but more of a generalized assessment of the things I lacked in perception.

No advice matters without the desire to receive it.

o Always imagine your life in 5 years.  What do you want it to look like.  Then work your way backwards on the steps you will need to take to get there.

o Learn how to be organized. It's the secret to success in anything.

o Learn time management.

o Learn about money and how it works.  Madonna was right. It is a material world.  Put down the Teen Beat Magazine and pick up a Forbes! They won't teach you this in school, but you will need money for the rest of your life.  That is a guarantee in this world.

o Learn about business.  It's the most honest way to earn money by serving mankind.  Take it from the movie, Robots 2005, "See a need, fill a need."

o Work hard, but never work anywhere for more than 2 years without a raise, unless the position requires that you stay longer to gain mastery of a skill.

o Practice gratitude.  Appreciate what you have and the good people in your life.

o Don't be afraid to move on from toxic relationships.  If someone can’t see your value, they are not worth being around and if someone wants to walk out of your life, hold the door open for them.  There are billions more people in the world to meet.

o It's OK to talk to yourself in order to get in touch with your heart.

o Don’t beat yourself up when you make mistakes. There will be others to do that.  Concentrate on learning to do things the right way instead of giving up hope entirely.  Remember that success is a  perception that cannot exist without failure.

o The one and only thing you can control in this world is your emotions.  How you respond to adversity, reflects on you.  People will only remember how you respond and not the cause.

o Don't give up your dreams.  The really big ones never really die.

o Be kind.  Kindness is a gift you give the world, yet YOU receive value in knowing you did things in a marvelous way.