We’ve all thought about what we might say to our younger selves if we had the chance. What advice or warning or encouragement we might give to help ourselves along our path. But it’s not just a wistful exercise; the things we might say to our younger selves could prove useful to the folks who are, right now, where we used to be.
That was the thinking behind a thread started by twitter user and business owner @amy_riveter.
She asked:
To my working women friends: If you could give your younger working self any advice, what would you say?
— Amy Nelson (@Amy_K_Nelson) February 18, 2020
More than 2,000 responses flooded in, with a lot of common threads.
Here are some examples of the types of things that came up a lot:
10. Give yourself a break
Take the sick days. Take the vacation days. Take the personal time. It’s all yours and you aren’t earning brownie points/protection by not taking them.
— it’s babe dylan bit*h (@kaylasansk) February 19, 2020
9. Always negotiate
Do not trust HR. Ask for at least 20% more than you think you should. Go for that promotion even if you think you’re under qualified. You don’t get ahead by stepping on other women, but by lifting them up with you.
— Karadelphia ???♂️? (@KaraNextWeek) February 19, 2020
8. Don’t put up with abuse
If you have a horrible boss, get a new job as soon as you can! You don’t have to put up w their mistreatment of you
— Barbara Jones Brown (@bjonesbrown) February 19, 2020
7. Take time for family
Turn your phone off when you go to Disney World with your family. Only turn it back on when you leave.
— Amy Looney ☃️ (@KnitWitLeia) February 19, 2020
6. Seek mentors
Stick with bosses who are mentors, and leave if they’re not. Mentors will advocate for your success (which will help them succeed), and welcome your continued success even if/after you move on.
— Tami Garvin (@TeeGarvin) February 19, 2020
5. Think of the larger context
When you push the envelope and ask your boss/HR for something for yourself, remember you’re making cultural shifts for everyone around you, too. Let that embolden you and guide you.
— Lauren Brody (@Laurensbrody) February 18, 2020
4. Stay full
Always have creative side projects and hobbies that feed you.
— Faye Penn (@fayepenn) February 18, 2020
3. Let change happen
That the career you’re working your b*tt off for 21, may not be the one you want at 41. It’s ok to change paths and try new directions. Life is too short to continue to do work you don’t enjoy.
— Alex (@northstoryco) February 19, 2020
2. Don’t doubt yourself
when people say “you can’t do that” they really mean “I couldn’t do that”
— Aisha Hakim (@AishaAnnHakim) February 19, 2020
1. Make it official
Get it in writing. Put it in writing.
— Liz Dawson (@LizAnnDawson) February 19, 2020
What pieces of advice would you like to give to someone on your path? Any mistakes they could avoid?
Let us know in the comments. We love to hear from you!