Backstory: I met Howard (65 year old) at my hostel in Bangkok. The funniest thing, I was eating "durian", and he asked me questions about it. Then boom, an hour long conversation started and we connected super well.
When he was about to leave, I asked him what 3 pieces of advice would he give to his "24 years old self". He introduced them gently and with clarity.
"Really paying attention allows your brain to differentiate things, to learn and get you the skills you want".
I agree entirely, we are in an age where it is so easy to be a consumer and do nothing. The more you passively consume the harder it becomes to get into the "doer mindset". With the internet, smartphones, InstaChatGrams, it is very easy to get all of your attention stolen and without that there is no starting point.
"Don't hide yourself".
He meant, sometimes you know you have the skills and preparation but just feel the heavy weight of insecurity or Impostor syndrome, dragging you down in the middle of opportunities. He says that you have to be smart about it and put yourself on the line. Know how it affects you and induce some counter measures.
"Always be on the move, always be working" at least as a background process.
He told of a very successful man who when faced with a tough question sought advice from a monk. The monk replied "meditate on it". Howard says he interprets it as: "Don't just do nothing and hold your arms, actually it is your responsibility to figure it out."
He goes on saying that the most important part is the process of "figuring it out" and the work that gets you there.
I think that just holding your arms when not knowing what to do as a form of laziness. If you gonna wait for a lightbulb moment you will most likely for a long time. So be on the move. As with Eric Schmidt advice: "just say yes" to things when you're in some form of a rut.
My deepest thanks to Howard for his wisdom.
