Ask Lemmy

Don't be crap. This means you.

if the whole world smells like shit, check your shoe.

When I got my first car my grandmother told me "don't do anything to it that makes it stand out to the police."

Tell me who your friends are, and I'll tell you who you are. I thought it was stupid when I heard it as a kid, but it's the damned truth and I turned my life for the better after cutting loose some people I should not have called my friends.

If you’re in a group and talking about someone who isn’t there, imagine they are. That way, you’ll never say something you might regret later.

Lefty loosey righty tighty

This one may sound a bit silly, but it's worked for me quite a few times:

"Whatever happened before or might happen later, right now, just for this moment, everything's fine."

(of course, if something bad is actually happening at a given moment you're probably not going to be spending time remembering that little tidbit. It's for when you're feeling depressed or anxious).

It was advice I have myself in college... Don't focus on getting good grades, focus on learning. Judge your success on how much you learned.

The only time my grades actually mattered was interviewing for jobs right out of college. After that, every other job is based on your previous job and non no one ever asked again.

I'm in engineering and it this doesn't necessarily translate to other fields. But I'm currently the cto for a mid sized tech company.

Professionally, the question that needs to get answered isn't the question being asked. Always get context.

Don't be the first one to leave a party, but don't be the last one either. - my grandmother.

Good Critical Thinking Skills are the only education you need. With Critical Thinking Skills, you can learn anything you need to know, and recognize and avoid those who will try to interrupt your life journey and take advantage of you.

Your job is not your family. You owe them nothing. Do your job well and leave the work at the door when you leave at the end of the day. Unless you're an owner, every bit of extra work you do is you being robbed.

This was specific to calculus homework but it has turned out to be very good advice, "when you don't know what to do, do something". Often decisions can be paralyzing or problems can feel insurmountable but doing nothing is a choice. Very rarely is it the best one.

Emotional and ready to quit your job/break up with someone/confront someone?

Write down what you want to say/write. WRITE IT ALL DOWN.

Wait 24 hours. Read it again.

Do you still think you should send it? Then send it.

80% of the time my issue was stupid and my reaction inappropriate, but because I kept my mouth shut, all I had to do was tear up a piece of paper.

Thanks dad. That’s served me well.

You guys should be going at it. Whenever you want, all the time. Enjoy it

Never make fun of someone's job. No matter how "beneath you" it is, somebody has to do it, and we should all appreciate that they do it.

Admitting a mistake is NOT the same as admitting weakness or stupidity.

Only break one law at a time.

Thank you pops. It probably did keep me from fucking my life up (worse).

Don't Panic

Might not ever be the best piece of advice, but it's always the second best piece of advice in any situation

Ask yourself the three things before you say anything.

1. Does this need to be said?

2. Does this need to be said by me?

3. Does this need to be said by me now?

Craig Ferguson

This has been helpful for me in meetings since I have a tendency to talk more than I probably should.

An okay plan applied immediately and vigorously is INFINTELY better than a perfect plan ten minutes too late.

The three least heard words in the universe will serve you well, and often catch people off guard - don't be afraid to use them.

"I was wrong."

Admit your mistakes when they happen, then when something goes wrong no one will accuse you.

Never compare yourself to others but only to yourself from the past.

Be grateful for what you have.