25 is pretty big…right? A quarter century? Two and a half decades? It’s hard to fathom any quantification of that age. I have some really great friends who have been turning 25 for a while now and assure me that it’s not (that) different than 24. But still, it’s never a bad idea to reflect with a new year…which starts today.
On this- the week of my 25th birthday- it felt appropriate to finally read a book I’ve been meaning to get to for a while now. Katie Couric compiled life advice from people she knows in a variety of industries- sometimes adapted from speeches or books but very often written specifically for this purpose. Similar to Poking A Dead Frog, it’s so sweet to think of these incredibly important and powerful people taking the time to offer personal anecdotes about how they got to where they are. The speeches as well are completely relevant and don’t feel simply copy and pasted. (If you’re wondering what a perfect commencement speech sounds like, check out Ellen DeGeneres at Tulane– her advice was adapted from this speech.)
I have a ton of highlights in this book, though admittedly and expectedly, not all of the advice is groundbreaking. People (speaking generally) have overcome so much- some things seemingly insurmountable, others pretty unremarkably commonplace- but sometimes it helps to be reminded that there are very few really solitary experiences in life. It’s a wonderful thing to be able to relate to others.
It would be hard to pick one favorite piece of advice or anecdote that is my favorite, so here are very few of my highlights (with commentary because of course):
“Anxiety is a glimpse of your own daring.” Maria Shriver
I love this quote. Sometimes just telling yourself that any unsure feeling is validation that you are making a bold choice is enough to get you through it.
“Always remember, there is a difference between skepticism and cynicism.” Thomas Friedman
Simple, but easy to forget. I find myself toeing this line frequently- I’m working on it.
“‘No’ isn’t really so bad and ‘Yes’ might take you places you’d never expect.” Susan Stroman
This is the best advice that I have been trying to adhere to for years- the answer to any question you don’t ask is always no.* (If you’re a sports fan, go with Wayne Gretzky’s classic “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Same idea, great life plan.)
Also, strong recommendation for anyone experiencing any kind of career insecurity (or probably any kind of insecurity, I suppose): read “Develop Your Own Brand of Self-Confidence” by David L. Calhoun, Chairman and CEO of the Nielsen Company. In addition to just being fantastic advice, any other diehard 30 Rock fan will appreciate the Jack Welch references.
And, of course, it’s not hard to spot just generally good life advice, even when it’s not the deepest:
“When in doubt, order the hamburger.” Jimmy Kimmel
You’ll like this if: you like anyone famous- from Billy Joel to Bill Clinton, Meryl Streep to Melinda Gates, Chelsea Handler to Condoleeza Rice- and are interested in their personal stories and advice. There’s something for everyone.
Happy reading!
Buy The Best Advice I Ever Got
*Edit: my dad wants credit for this. Not saying he gets it, but let the record show that he wants it.
carlyreads 