21 career advice that matter
Lessons I wished I'd have knew earlier.
Hi, I’m Felix! Welcome to this month’s ADPList’s Newsletter: ✨ free edition ✨ advice column. I write high-quality insights on designing products people love and leadership in tech. If you’re interested in sponsoring us, let’s chat!
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This post is beautifully simple.
The best of the lessons—things I wish I’d been told when I was just starting and things I still tell myself.
Hi fellow readers,
After seven years in tech and lots of powerful lessons, I’ve decided to ask some of the top leaders in tech, for their career advice for what matters the most in the moments that they need it.
Today’s post is dedicated to showcasing this list.
If you go on LinkedIn, you’ll read some of the worst career advice in history.
Many people, particularly younger generations, rely on LinkedIn for career guidance despite its abundance of clichés and banalities.
I’ve had one of the most bizarre careers you’ll ever read about—from being a waiter to serving the military for 2 years and more. So many young people message me from time to time to ask for advice. I’ve decided to collect some of the best wisdom from people I admire and the internet to share with you.
Whether you’re just starting out, looking to make a big change, or aiming to reach new heights in your current role, I hope you’ll find something here that helps you navigate your own unique path.
Be quiet, work hard, and stay healthy. It’s not ambition or skill that is going to set you apart but sanity.
Set your boundaries or get pushed around.
Be friendly, but not best friends at the workplace.
Paper qualification does not equal common sense. I’ve made the mistake of judging people from Stanford, Havard, etc—bad mistake.
Chasing passion without having any skills will crash and burn.
People choose bad jobs because they lack self-awareness. Most people attribute it to a lack of choice, but the truth is that’s far from reality.
Job search is only 5%, and 95% are learning how to survive in the corporate world. If you’re in it, you’d know this.
If you don't ask, you don't get it.
Salary has a multiplier effect. Don't shortchange yourself.
Career shortcuts is like building a house of cards that can come tumbling down. Be careful of the LinkedIn Gurus.
Your boss is not your mentor, but your supervisor.
Quality work beats sexy ideas any time. Be the person who produces quality work and does only not scream ideas.
Productivity without clarity is like driving fast in the wrong direction. Clarity will provide you with more long-term wins than you’d imagine. (I’m facing this now firsthand running ADPList.)
Outcome > Output—reality is, people will judge you by the result of things you do, not by how many processes or frames you set in place.
Work hard first, then learn how to work smart.
Confidence comes from competence.
What’s wrong with imposter syndrome is that, for the most part, no one is thinking about you at all. They’re too busy with their own doubts and their own work.
Peter Thiel: “Competition is for losers.” I loved this. When people compete, somebody loses. So go where you’re the only one. Do what only you can do. Run a race with yourself.
If you can afford to, delegate it. If you can’t yet afford to, automate it. Time is the most precious resource.
If you have to ask how to do it, you probably shouldn’t do it. Choose goals in life that you’re naturally drawn to where it feels effortless. Even better, find obsessions.
A friend of mine just left a very important job that a lot of people would kill for. When he left, I said, “If you can’t walk away, then you don’t have the job…the job has you.” I love this from Ryan Holidays.
A huge thank you to Drew Bledski, Ryan Holidays, Nara Tomowa, Elizabeth Johnson, Amanda Wong, Thomas Sung, Utkarsh Agarwal, Michael Rubin, Lisa LiBeth, Jessica Park, James Baduor and many more for contributing.
Have a fulfilling and productive week ahead! 🙏
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I'll keep creating great stuff if you keep reading. I read every reply if you care to reply :). You might get an answer back.
Until next week.
Felix Lee
I super love this @felix! Thanks for the awesome issue 😎