A great thread started up in the Ask MetaFilter community, asking members to share common things they’ve discovered they were doing wrong — but suddenly, unexpectedly, late in life. We hate to steal a great question, but we have to ask.
If you offer your advice freely but feel like no one’s taking it to heart, you may just be doing it wrong. According to a study of our decision process, the best way to give advice is simply to offer information.
If you’re good at something and your friends know it, it can get boring — and time consuming — to answer the same question over and over again. Blogger Brett Kelly suggests creating a web page that answers the questions you get asked most.
Commenting on Lifehacker offers a great way for readers to share tips and chat, but for rich, full-on how-to guides and the like, Productive Geek provides a solid forum.
New ideas and ways of thinking—or people who think differently than you do, for that matter—aren’t always easy to embrace. Instead of sticking with your knee-jerk reactions, better understand your reaction with the Five Whys.
Personal finance blogger Ramit Sethi guest-posts on the Get Rich Slowly site about his best advice for those looking to start a business, no matter the scale: Take a successful entrepreneur out to lunch. Sethi says successful types usually want to see others succeed on their advice, and in these tough economic times, a sandwich and chips can be a lot cheaper than a business consultant. [photo]
Brazen Careerist blogger Penelope Trunk describes her experiences in finding a mentor whose knowledge and perspective complement and augment her own—but more importantly, how she kept the relationship from dwindling. One of her key successes in maintaining a mentor came from the man himself: The first time I asked Chris, “What should I be asking you now?” I felt silly. After all, it’s a line he fed me. But now I use it with him all the time, and it’s actually an invitation for him to tell me what he thinks I’m missing, which is information I wouldn’t get if I directed the conversation the whole time.
Trunk also advises only contacting your mentors when you know it’s easy for them to talk, and keeping them up to date on your career position. How do you successfully utilise a mentor without seeming like a time drain? Share your story in the comments. How I got my current favourite mentor [Brazen Careerist]
Martial arts master Bruce Lee was obviously a man who could accomplish lofty self-set goals, and the Little Dragon’s principles of effort and work can apply to those cranking widgets rather than besting Chuck Norris. The Positivity Blog highlights some of his writings and teachings and how they apply to everyday work, including these simple concepts: “It’s not the daily increase but daily decrease. Hack away at the unessential.”“If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you’ll never get it done.”
As the post author points out, that applies to both de-cluttering your work routines and space, as well as over-thinking problems to procrastinate them. If nothing else, Lee’s advice serves as more, uh, intimidating credos to keep posted near your desk. Photo by SqueezyBoy. Bruce Lee’s Top 7 Fundamentals for Getting Your Life in Shape [The Positivity Blog via 43 Folders]
Trent at The Simple Dollar blog would rarely recommend getting into debt, but since financing a car is sometimes a necessary evil, he recommends taking a good look at your finances, and the market, before signing those dealership papers. He walks through familiarising yourself with your credit report, shopping around for loans, and, of course, saving early, but his key advice on how much to put down is summed up in one sentence: Have at least a 20% down payment (unless you’re buying an old car, then 10% is the bare minimum), but if the interest rate is over 7%, save for a bigger down payment and wait until you absolutely need the car.
Anyone’s mileage will vary, depending on their finances, but Trent’s advice seems pretty solid. How have you determined what you should and shouldn’t put down on a new or used car? Share your own advice, and other car-buying tips, in the comments. How Big Should My Car Down Payment Be? [The Simple Dollar]
