Best Career Advice from Famous People
Successful individuals often attribute their success to wise advice they received at key points in their careers. Here are some of the best pieces of career advice famous people have received:
- Oprah Winfrey: “Follow your instincts.” Oprah’s mentor, Maya Angelou, encouraged her to trust her instincts and intuition when making important career decisions.
- Mark Zuckerberg: “Move fast and break things.” This piece of advice from an early Facebook investor encouraged Zuckerberg to take risks and iterate quickly, a key factor in Facebook’s success.
- Steve Jobs: “Stay hungry, stay foolish.” Jobs’ commencement speech at Stanford University in 2005 encouraged graduates to continue to learn, stay curious, and not become complacent in their careers.
- Elon Musk: “Work super hard.” Musk’s father encouraged him to work hard and pursue his passions, which has led to his success in multiple industries, including electric cars and space exploration.
- Sheryl Sandberg: “Sit at the table.” Sandberg’s mentor, former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers, encouraged her to assert herself in meetings and decision-making spaces, a key factor in her rise to become COO of Facebook.
- Jeff Bezos: “Have backbone, disagree and commit.” Bezos’ management principle encourages employees to speak up, disagree with each other, but then come to a decision and commit to it as a team.
- Bill Gates: “Focus on impact.” Gates has often spoken about the importance of focusing on making a difference in the world, rather than just chasing money or fame.
The best career advice can come from a variety of sources, but it often emphasizes the importance of hard work, taking risks, staying curious, and having a positive impact on the world. These pieces of advice have proven to be valuable for many famous individuals, and can be just as valuable for anyone looking to advance their career.
The Worst Career Advice Given to Famous People
Famous people have a lot of influence over the masses and often their advice is sought after. However, not all of the advice they receive is good and sometimes it can be downright harmful to one’s career. Here are some examples of the worst career advice famous people have received:
- “Follow the Crowd” – This is a terrible piece of advice because following the crowd often means sacrificing your own unique talents and interests. Celebrities who took this advice have often found themselves stuck in careers they don’t enjoy and with little room for personal growth.
- “Never Take Risks” – While playing it safe can be a good strategy in some cases, it can also prevent you from reaching your full potential. Many famous people have found success by taking risks, pursuing their passions, and creating new opportunities for themselves.
- “Lie About Your Past” – Fabricating a false history in order to get ahead can come back to bite you in the long run. Not only is it unethical, but it also undermines your credibility and damages your reputation.
- “Don’t Pursue Your Dreams” – Many famous people have been told not to pursue their dreams because they’re unrealistic or because they’re too risky. This is often said by well-intentioned family and friends, but it can hold you back from reaching your full potential.
- “Focus on Money Over Passion” – While money is important, it’s not everything. Focusing solely on financial gain can lead to a feeling of emptiness and dissatisfaction with your career. Pursuing your passions and finding fulfillment in your work is essential for long-term success.
When seeking career advice, it’s important to be mindful of the source and to consider your own values, interests, and goals. Don’t be afraid to take risks and pursue your dreams, and always prioritize passion over money.