Setting aside the whole conundrum of “if I knew then what I know now would I still be here…” discussion, it’s pretty tough to narrow it down to three things. With the certainty of dating myself, back in my twenties the internet didn’t exist, and fax machines were considered cool. If you wanted to find out more information about anything, you got on the phone and called around, or you mailed off for additional collateral, or even checked in with your local library…… the access we now have to answers and information is both a blessing and a challenge. I believe everyone today struggles at one point or another with too much, too fast.
So that being said – what do I wish I knew in my twenties?
1.) You’re going to make mistakes – deal with it. When I was younger, it seemed absolutely critical to get things right every time, and to do everything better than everyone else. That’s fine to a point – but when the fear of making a mistake becomes an obsession, you lose a lot of the joy of trying something new. The pressure women of all ages often put on themselves to be perfect ends up being energy wasted. Try new things, experiment, and when something doesn’t go as planned, learn to laugh out loud and move on.
2.) Dream big and give yourself a shot! There is no perfect age to start a business. When you’re young, what you lack in experience you’ll make up for in energy and enthusiasm – and maybe reap the benefit of fewer distractions and responsibilities. Keep reminding yourself you’ve a whole future to fill – what you’re passionate about today may not have the same intensity for you in ten or twenty years. Take advantage of NOW!
3.) Trust your instincts. When you get that feeling that something’s off, or that someone is trying to manipulate you, believe it. As women, we find ourselves making excuses – “they didn’t mean it that way” or “I’m sure there’s nothing there”. Constantly looking around for what’s sneaking up on you -even if there’s nothing there – muddies your focus and is a distraction. Pay attention to the difference between an explanation (the why something went wrong) and an excuse (it wasn’t my fault). If something feels wrong, listen to yourself.
Michelle Forsythe is the co-founder and CEO of NoteStream, Inc.
NoteStream was co-founded with her husband, Richard, and was born of frustration with the options to learn about French wine: classes are inconvenient with restrictive time commitments, and books can have a habit of wandering off. The rise of the smartphone presented the opportunity to be able to fit something valuable into the bits of “dead time” scattered throughout the hectic modern mobile life. NoteStream app is now available in the Apple app store.
Leave a Reply