What Career Advice Would you Give your 16-year-old self

If I could go back in time and give my 16-year-old self career advice it would be to follow your heart and do something that makes an impact on the lives of others.  Sure having a good paying job is important to future success.   But focus on making a difference, focus on being part of change and help make the lives of others better.   When I took my first step in my career it was in the non profit world helping raise money to my the community stronger and the people within it better.   It did not pay well, which hurt me because I never learned the value of money.  So a part of career advice, I would say learn to save money and never touch those savings.  Though I was making a difference in the lives, I was not helping myself.   I felt truly rewarded doing work that was extremely meaningful, but I did my future a disservice by not being better at saving money.  I held too much faith in karma and not enough in self control and discipline.  Thankfully my family was always there to help me out and continues to be there in my transition to my new career where I still get to make a direct impact on the lives of others.  Lastly, always stay true to yourself and your ethics and do not compromise them for anyone or anything.

So in the end the 3 pieces of career and life advice I would give myself:

1. Make a difference on the lives of others.

2. Save part of every paycheck and don't touch it

3. Always hold yourself to a high standard and never compromise your ethics

Thanks for reading.