WashingtonExec Series:
WashingtonExec asked the simple question to top area executives:
“If you could give your kids only three pieces of advice, what would they be?”
Today’s critical advice comes from Craig Reed, Founder and Managing Member of Growth Strategy Leaders.
Here are my thoughts…with one child who is a junior in college and another who is a senior in high school, I have had lots of practice recently honing my advice!
1. Seize Opportunities: Some opportunities present themselves logically as a result of hard work and positioning. Others seemingly come out of nowhere and may not have been a part of “the plan,” but can be life changing, even if unpredictably so. Be willing to take some risk, jump at those unpredictable opportunities, and let them take you to places you didn’t previously even know existed.
2. Pursue Your Creative Passions: Listen to the creative right-brain part of you that enables you to do something that only you can do, even if it doesn’t align with the left-brain, linear path society continues to say we should follow. Studies that focus on what degrees pay the most generally miss the point about following your passion.
3. Don’t Unnecessarily Close off Options: Even if you think you’re sure about which direction you want to go in the future, do what you need to do today to preserve choices and options downstream. Often doing a little extra work now helps you preserve the ability to choose a different path later if you change your mind or your priorities.
