5 things I wish I knew when I was a teenager

Coming into adulthood is the pivotal point for every teenager. However, running into a few bumps on the road is all part of the experience. Let’s talk about the 5 things I wish I knew when I was a teenager.

How to ask for help.

This is something I still struggle with today because I like to figure out how things work myself. That or being too embarrassed or stubborn to ask for help (I know, stereotypical “men” thing) and doing anything else other than asking for help. However, when you waste 2 hours spinning your wheels, it’s time to get some help or advice to get you moving forward again. You’d be surprised how many people are willing to help, though, don’t ever expect it to be free. Be the squeaky wheel.

Your problems won’t matter.

Not eating that fruit snack when you were 3 years old meant throwing a temper tantrum. Break ups, losing job interviews, not getting into schools. Don’t overthink it – it’s not the end of the world. Put those things into perspective and don’t waste your time and don’t let things hold you back.

Pick and choose your battles.

You don’t have to win every battle to win the war. When I was a teenager, every argument was a must-win scenario. Now, when I negotiate on the behalf of a client, its not about winning every exchange, but winning the important exchanges to achieve your desired results.

It’s OK to fail.

Culturally, I definitely struggled with this the most. In school, receiving an F probably meant you’re going to get a beating that night. Just kidding. Probably more like house arrest and no games or cell phone for a week. When you make a mistake, learning from it enables yourself to grow in character and experience so you can be better prepared next time.

When I tried to start my own business, I failed miserably. It set me on a path of self-loathing and feeling depressed. There were times I felt worthless. In the end, it took me over a year to learn from my mistake and to embrace the failure, get it out of the way and move on.

Be punctual and don’t be a flake.

Showing up on time is critical to “adulting”. Interview? Show up 10-15 minutes early. Invited to a party? Make a firm commitment. Don’t be a flake or make someone wait for you.

Nobody wants to do business with someone who may or may not show up or is late. Nobody wants to waste their time on other’s who don’t respect your own time. Meetings with clients should have a firm ending time and not run late. The key takeaway is don’t waste someone’s time unless it is mutually agreed upon.

“Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it”

Bruce Lee