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Anyone from Leidos? Anyone? ...... *crickets*
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There's no joke funnier than one told by a Partner.
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No.
I’d tell him some winning lottery numbers, then tell him to invest the winnings in FAANG, and then unload, and short the market in prep for 2008.
Oh and to quietly work with a few people from NJ to “get rid” of a certain NYC property-developing “celebrity”.
Im sensing a major case of TDS.
I came in as an experienced hire, a bit later in life. To this specific question, I’d tell myself to do what I did- get the specialized skills from industry and join a firm later. For me, consulting has been a great experience. Not easy, but truly something I am thankful to be experiencing.
Much like when someone gets an MBA right after undergrad, I think people don’t get the most of it when they do it too early. Or maybe it seems like they don’t appreciate it. Being able to reflect on industry experience has been great. I notice the people who come up in consulting seem to have a an almost naive consulting-centric view. It takes all types and a career journey is very personal, so this is just my opinion.
My true advice to self would be about having confidence and not taking advice from people who aren’t successful. I would have had faster success if I followed my own interests/curiosity, rather than try to do what other people thought was “right.”
I joined consulting straight out of college, and I totally feel like I should’ve gotten some industry specific experience. I feel lost most of the times
Appreciate all of your saturday night replies. Hope this brought you some entertainment to read. We r all lucky and thankful!
20? What would I tell my 20 year old self? When I was 20 I was in the military. Didn’t graduate college until I was 26. Worked in consulting until I was 30 and after several jobs, returned at 43. Several years later I look back....
Maybe I would have made a few different decisions along the way but I wouldn’t be where or who I am now. I would tell my 20 year old self that life is not a straight line. Life sometimes throws challenges in your path. Being smart isn’t good enough and hard work trumps talent. Those challenges will teach you more about yourself than any book can. That everything will not be all right but that you will overcome whatever is thrown in your path. That hope alone is not an approach. Action and investment and effort will win out.
I doubt I would have listened...as I needed to learn these lessons organically along the path of life.
Twenty year old me was in 1989. I didn’t get into consulting until I was forty. I would tell twenty year old me “you were accepted to Harvard, do whatever it takes to go there.”
Sorry D10, just saw this. There are a whole host of reasons, but number one was to get to a place where my kids could get a good education. Where I lived at the time, the schools are subpar to say the least. Even the private schools. I happened to see an add for McK on a job board looking for an expert. I didn’t even have to tailor my resume. Sent it in as is, interviewed 1.5 weeks later, started my new job about 3 weeks after that.
Marry rich!!!
No start my own business
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If I could talk to my 20 year old self, I'd tell him about financial and romantic mistakes to avoid. I would not bother with work advice. 52 year old me is doing fine with work.
As a young guy, I’m curious as to what romantic mistakes you made. Any general advice?
Start out in consulting - build great skills, travel the world, eat at nice restaurants... position yourself to leave at manager, go to industry and enjoy work life balance
Nope
Yes, but abroad
Without a doubt, maybe work harder in college and cut back on smoking 🥴🥴
Live your life don’t think what society would care, don’t get married till your 35! Be vulnerable and take risks!
Yes, and it was everything I expected.
My only advice to myself would be to figure out how to manage stress without drinking.
Same let me know what you find 😩😂
Don’t get married until you’re at least 35. Marriage is not a necessity and not everyone should marry. Work is work if not consulting other work could be bad too.
I would say the biggest villain is within yourself. It’s your “inner saboteur.” The little voice in your head that stokes your fears and tells you what not to do. Sure, the outside world may fuel it, but ultimately whatever is holding you back is in your head and sometimes the best you can do is to tell that little voice to shut it.
Don’t get married so soon. At 23. Saying this as a 40 year woman. I could’ve had so much more fun.
I think my focus would be more on family life and life advice for non-work related things.
I’d tell myself not to argue with my mom so much because she means well and wants the best for me
I’d tell myself to appreciate my grandparents and spend more time with them while I still have them
I’d tell myself to give my brother some guidance on careers and help him out in school
I’d tell myself to shed the anxiety about finding a good job because in reality most of the time things even out (look where I landed)
Things like that. In the big picture, work is just a piece of it
Do it, but don't get lost in it. Because it's unlike anything else, anything that industry or university can offer. It's fun, exhilarating, interesting while also being intense, exhausting and all encompassing. Like the difference between watching a Webinar vs going to a full week conference where you are immersed in the experience. Consulting is amazing, but so are the sacrifices, and that's what makes it generally unsustainable long term for most people.
Never listen to your father.
Daddy issues, perhaps?
Don't spend your life working hard to make other people rich. Start a business you love and work like hell to build your own life your way.
It’s all going to turn out all right. You are going to be amazing and blessed with a great life.