Some Advice From a Fellow Monkey

Hey guys,

I thought I'd just share a LinkedIn post that I wrote up today because I felt like the two thoughts that I covered are applicable and relevant to many of us here on this forum. Here it is:

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This is my first LinkedIn post! Woot!

I wasn't sure what to write about for my first post, so I decided to just write about a few thoughts that are fresh on my mind after a long night.

Here are 2 pieces of wisdom that I'd like to impart to my fellow friends:

1. Don't be afraid to be the first to say "hello" and reach out.

Last night, my roommate and I attended an info session where the panel spoke briefly and ,afterward, people proceeded to flock towards the speakers to ask additional questions. What happens in the meantime? People stand around, they attempt to make small talk that usually doesn't last very long, they look at their phones, and things can start to get awkward when no one wants to make the first move. So what should you do?

My suggestion is: Be bold & take the initiative. Extend your hand, smile, and greet the other person with charisma that exudes confidence. Many times, we as human beings can be shy and unwilling to open ourselves up to others, especially in an environment or setting where we don't know most of the people there. I mean, just imagine somebody standing next to you - their body static, eyes darting, hands clammed by their sides only inches away from their phone. I'm sure we've all been there (myself included) and we know it's not a comfortable feeling at all.

So go ahead and be that person's hero! Greet them with a nice "Hi! My name is (insert your name here) what brought you here today?" and continue to have a meaningful conversation with that person. Sometimes,we think that, by doing this, we are maybe being a nuisance to that person, but I can assure that probably 9 out of 10 times, that person is actually going to be grateful, maybe even ecstatic, that someone decided to pick them to talk with out of all the people in the room. He/she won't have to pull out their cell phone to make it seem like they're busy while everyone else is chatting and having a good time.

2. Only compare yourself to you.

After me and my roommate had left an info session led by a ton of successful people, he began to have his own doubts about his capabilities as a person, and how he didn't possess the qualities that, in his mind, encapsulate an interesting and intelligent individual. I told him that the only thing that matters is "Who are you today?" and "What have you done today to make yourself better than who you were yesterday?"

I personally frame a lot of my decisions around this mindset because, when I begin stacking myself up against my peers who may be highly ambitious and have done things I haven't, it becomes a never-ending battle that wears me out overtime. How can I possibly do that or that? You could go on and on listing out things another person has done that you haven't done, that you've failed to do. Avoid doing this because it will lead you nowhere good.What truly matters is:

What is most important to YOU?

What are YOUR goals and how do you intend to make them happen?

Whenever you're able to make a mental decision to do something, ask yourself, "Will doing this make me better than who I was yesterday? and will it get me one-step closer to where I want to be?" These are questions that, I think, are absolutely critical to ask ourselves.

That's all for today! Wow I didn't realize how much I actually wrote.. anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed the post and were able to get something out of it. I look forward to writing more in the future. Hopefully I'll get better at expressing my thoughts and at becoming a better writer overall. :-)

Cheers,

TGP

Oh, and if anyone of you guys have any questions or would like to connect with me in LinkedIn, send me a PM and we'll make that happen. - thumbs up -