What's the best advice to give someone about life? Share a personal experience that shaped this advice.

Question

Life advice can be a complex topic, but this article simplifies it with expert insights. Drawing from a wealth of experience, the following points offer practical guidance for personal growth and success. These tips cover various aspects of life, from career advancement to building resilience, providing readers with valuable tools for self-improvement.

Chris B. · Answer

Growing up, my dad would always tell me, "If you can write, you'll always have a job." He was an engineer and observed that those who could communicate effectively were the ones promoted to project managers. His advice stuck with me and shaped my aspirations to become a writer. He also taught me to "say more with less" because people appreciate concise, actionable points that they can easily understand. This advice has helped me tremendously when putting on my editing and proofreading hats over the years.

Jessa Farber · Answer

Life doesn't inherently mean anything. In the grand scheme of things, what people think the purpose of life is often does not carry as much weight as they believe. Some time ago, I attended a conference that included a group activity that examined the question, "What does it all mean?" In the end, the exercise revealed that nothing has ever been definitively proven to be the meaning of life.
This suggests that life's meaning is entirely up to you and what you choose to value. What kind of mark do you want to leave on the world, and what actions can you take to create that impact? It was a powerful message, and one that is worth reflecting on every day.

Gagan Saini · Answer

Generally speaking, the best advice I can give is to not be afraid of starting over, which I discovered firsthand when I took the leap to start JIT Home Buyers two years ago. Working with over 35 different homeowners taught me that every challenge brings a lesson, and it's okay to take calculated risks while learning from both successes and failures.

Amy Jam · Answer

Stop waiting for a green light. No one's coming to hand it to you.
Start before you feel ready. Most people sit on strong ideas, delaying for the right time or title. Clarity doesn't appear before action. It appears after. Progress happens when people stop overthinking and start building. Some things will fail. Most things teach. But nothing happens without a first move.
This applies to anything: businesses, career shifts, personal goals. Momentum beats planning. Waiting too long means missing your opportunity. You don't need full confidence or every answer. Start small. Learn fast. Adjust along the way.
Perfect doesn't get results.Action does.

Vijaya Singh · Answer

Treat advice like data, not gospel. Collect it, analyze it, but act only on your interpreted truth.
Gather data points. Listen widely, but note the advisor's bias. Does their experience align with your reality? 
Make a decision based on filtering the data (advice) you've accumulated through your reality lens. Then, own the decision. If it fails, you chose it; no blame-shifting. If it wins, you will understand why.
This approach will help you to act on your terms, not borrowed dogma, and it will train you to learn to spot self-serving or outdated advice.
Not to mention, ultimately, your choices will align with your unique goals and values, not others' expectations.
Advice is a toolbox, not a manual. Be the scientist of your own life. Collect inputs, stress-test them, and let your lived experience be the ultimate validator.

Brooks Humphreys · Answer

I've learned that success comes from being patient and adaptable, just as I experienced when I started in real estate during the 2009 market downturn and had to completely rethink my approach. Through managing over 1,000 properties, I've discovered that the best strategy is to focus on continuous learning and improvement, rather than trying to achieve perfection from the start.

Christian Bullas · Answer

Running a senior care home has opened my eyes to the true value of slowing down and genuinely focusing during interactions. I've found that when I am fully present, both the clients and I experience a deeper sense of fulfillment. Life goes by faster than we think, and often we only realize what truly matters when it's almost too late.
My experiences often come from the interactions I have with clients. Many of them share their fondest memories, and they rarely discuss career achievements, travel, or other big accomplishments. And if they do, it tends to come second to them discussing the time shared with friends and family over the years. It has helped me to really understand that life is more about the personal connections you nurture.
These conversations have taught me an important lesson, which is that people value attentiveness and engagement above all else as time goes by.

Ryan Barichello · Answer

The best advice I can give is to stay curious. Curiosity leads to growth and opens up paths you wouldn't have expected. Early in my career, I stuck to what felt safe, but being open to learning and exploring new ideas changed everything for me.
One experience that shaped this mindset was when I faced challenges building something from scratch. Instead of seeing obstacles as setbacks, I treated them as chances to learn and improve. That simple shift made tough situations easier to handle and helped me move forward with confidence. Stay curious; it'll take you further than you think.

Rakesh Kalra · Answer

The best advice I've learned is that success comes from staying curious and never stopping learning - something I discovered while building UrbanPro from scratch. Last year, when we faced challenges with our platform, instead of giving up, I took coding classes myself to better understand our tech issues. This not only solved our problems but also opened up exciting new possibilities for our company.

Corey Hassett · Answer

The best advice I've learned: be the person you needed when you were struggling. I started The Freedom Center to provide what I once wished existed: accessible, compassionate care. Every client I serve reminds me why I do this. If you're in a position to lead, ask yourself: "What would have made a difference for me?" Then go build that.

Carl Dugan · Answer

I tell others: strong foundations don't just apply to buildings; they apply to people too. My work in roofing taught me structure and discipline. My sober living home taught me compassion. Together, those worlds taught me that resilience starts with support. If you want to succeed in life, don't just build walls, build community.

Julian Klenda · Answer

Always follow through on what you say.
Most people overpromise. They say yes too quickly, then scramble or back out. I learned early that your word means nothing if you don't back it with action. That doesn't mean doing everything. It means when you commit, big or small, you follow through. No delays. No excuses. People remember when you show up and finish the job. They remember when you don't, too.
This works in everything: work, personal life, and daily routines. Trust comes from small actions done consistently. Be on time. Do what you said you would. Hold yourself to a standard, even when no one sees it. That's how you earn respect and build progress.
Most problems start when people don't do what they said they would. It's not about skill. It's about skipping the basics. Say yes only when you're sure. Then do exactly what you said. Every time.

Dr. Vidya Colospate · Answer

Pay attention to your health before it forces you to.
Most people ignore the signs: fatigue, tension, poor sleep. They tell themselves they'll deal with it later. Work feels more urgent. Responsibilities pile up. Health takes a back seat until something gives out.
This happened to me. I kept pushing through long days, skipped rest, and thought I could handle the pressure. Eventually, I couldn't. My body shut down. It was a clear message: slow down or break down. That moment made me reset. I started protecting my time. I made space for rest, movement, and proper meals. I stopped treating wellness as optional.
Health isn't a luxury. It is the foundation of everything. If your body isn't working, nothing else works. Start with the basics. Go to bed earlier. Drink more water. Move every day. Say no to things that drain you. These are not small things. They keep you going.
Change doesn't need a crisis. It needs a choice. Don't wait for the right moment. Do what you already know is right. Your future starts there.

Paul DiMuzio · Answer

Do difficult things early. Most people avoid discomfort, and that's often a mistake. Discomfort builds discipline, while leaning into it sharpens your thinking and forces progress. You stop reacting. You start moving with purpose.
In my life, I've faced things that have shaken my confidence, and I initially ignored them. Losing my hair was a significant one. When I started balding, I pretended it wasn't a problem. When I could no longer ignore it, I was finally scared enough to take action. But that's the wrong approach. Better life choices come from taking action before you're ready, before you feel prepared. Don't let fear be the only thing that lights a fire under you.
I think this can apply to every area of life: starting something new, fixing what's broken, having difficult conversations. Growth doesn't come from comfort; it comes from action. Most people delay what matters because they're afraid to look unprepared. That delay costs time, energy, and opportunity.
Facing what you've been avoiding creates clarity. It removes noise. It builds proof that you can handle more than you think.

Tamsin Gable · Answer

My personal insight is that you really need to be able to listen! Listening is sometimes more important than speaking, especially when you are leading or collaborating with a team, as in my case. My role as an ambassador is not just to tell the world about the brand. It is to listen to what the people on the team are actually saying.
Once, a simple conversation with an employee saved an entire project because I noticed signs of burnout, and we fixed everything in time.
Now I know: listening without rushing and without evaluation is a superpower in life and work.

Sean Kearney · Answer

My biggest life lesson came from selling baseball cards in college when I desperately needed tuition money. I had a rare rookie card worth a decent amount of money, but I held onto it, thinking the price would keep climbing while my bills piled up.
The card's value actually dropped 40% over six months while I waited for the "perfect" moment to sell. Meanwhile, I was eating ramen and stressing about rent. I finally sold it and learned that timing beats perfection every single time.
This lesson now applies everywhere in my restaurant equipment business. When a pizzeria owner calls about upgrading their prep tables, I tell them the same thing - don't wait for the "perfect" financial quarter or the "ideal" market conditions. The revenue they'll generate from better equipment efficiency usually pays for itself within months.
The best decision is often the one you make today with good information, not the one you postpone hoping for perfect information tomorrow.

Geoff Massey · Answer

My best life advice is to lead with education over assumption. Working as Regional Director at Canna Doctors of America, I've seen countless patients arrive with preconceived notions about medical cannabis that nearly prevented them from getting proper treatment.
I had one veteran with severe PTSD who came in convinced that all cannabis would make his anxiety worse. He'd been suffering for years because he believed street-level misinformation about THC ratios. After walking him through the actual science behind different cannabinoid profiles and consumption methods, we found a treatment plan that dramatically improved his quality of life within weeks.
This experience taught me that most problems stem from information gaps, not character flaws. Whether someone's struggling with health issues, relationships, or career decisions, the solution usually starts with getting accurate information rather than making assumptions about what will or won't work.
I apply this daily when helping patients navigate Florida's medical marijuana program. Instead of rushing to recommendations, I spend time understanding their specific conditions and educating them about their options. That foundation of proper education creates better outcomes than any quick fix ever could.

Deborah Israeli, MA · Answer

Get good at doing hard things.
Life doesn't wait for comfort or clarity. Progress comes when you move forward anyway. Whether you're starting fresh, solving problems, or trying to grow, hard things are part of it. You get stronger by doing, not by planning. When you accept that hard things are normal, you stop resisting and start building.
I've faced setbacks, stress, and burnout while managing every detail of our practice. I've had to juggle operations, finances, patient issues, and creative direction all at once. What kept me grounded wasn't having perfect systems. I kept going, even when it felt impossible. Over time, the chaos made sense. The work got clearer. I got stronger.
Facing hard things without hesitation changed how I work and live. Every step I took under pressure made me more confident. Doing it again and again brought real results. Over time, it felt normal. I stopped overthinking. I kept moving. The work got done.

Gerald Michaels · Answer

After 35 years in construction and running my own roofing company since 1997, the best life advice I can give is this: measure twice, cut once. Every decision you make should be based on thorough preparation, not impulse.
I learned this lesson the hard way early in my career when I rushed a commercial roofing project in Villa Park without properly assessing the existing structure. What should have been a straightforward replacement turned into a nightmare when we found the decking was completely rotted through. The project doubled in cost and time because I didn't do my homework upfront.
Now I personally meet with every client to discuss their project thoroughly before we start. This approach has earned us an A+ Better Business Bureau rating since 2003 and built our reputation entirely on word-of-mouth referrals. Taking time to understand the full scope prevents costly mistakes later.
Whether you're choosing a career, buying a house, or starting a business, invest the time to really understand what you're getting into. The extra hours spent planning and researching will save you months or years of problems down the road.

Laura Stone · Answer

After balancing a kayaking business and motherhood for years, the best life advice I can give is: accept what makes you different, even when it's inconvenient. Your constraints often become your greatest competitive advantages.
When I had my kids, I thought my 3:15 AM wake-ups and early bedtimes would kill my social life and business growth. Instead, it forced me to become incredibly efficient and intentional about everything. While other tour operators were nursing hangovers, I was out there providing consistently excellent sunrise experiences because I had no choice but to be disciplined.
This "limitation" led us to save 45,676 coffee cups from landfill and raise $58,980 for conservation projects—because when you can't compete on convenience, you compete on values. Our rigorous routines (washing kayaks exactly the same way every time, being pedantic about equipment care) became our reputation for quality.
The friends who stopped inviting me out? They were replaced by customers who became advocates and a team that shares my standards. What felt like sacrifice was actually alignment with what mattered most.

Dr Stacey Laskis · Answer

Do the right thing next. Then repeat it.
At the start of my career, I focused too much on proving I belonged. I pushed to be seen as capable, fast, and in control. But attempting to present myself as perfect generated tension and errors. While performing a challenging procedure, I hurried. The outcome wasn't acceptable. I had to redo the work. I accepted it, apologized, and rectified it. That moment changed the way I approached everything.
Ever since, I've aimed at being consistent rather than impressive. When a patient sits in the chair, I don't offer perfection. I offer honesty, clear explanations, and consistent follow-through. If I say I'll call with results, I do. If something looks off, I fix it. Quiet consistency generates more trust than performance ever could.
This approach works beyond the office as well. You don't need to know it all. You don't need to be ten steps ahead. You need to approach what's in front of you with purpose and care.
Most people make progress too complicated. They believe success means huge change. It doesn't. It means discipline, integrity, and repetition.
People remember how you made them feel. Not what you said. Not what you wore. Not what awards you won. If your actions match your words, people notice, without you needing to push for attention.

Marquette Walker · Answer

The best advice I can give someone about life is this: You can't outrun your pain—but you can face it, heal it, and turn it into purpose. And when you do, you don't just change your life—you change your legacy.
I know this to be true because I lived it. When I was just 11 years old, my parents divorced—and without explanation or closure, my father was suddenly gone from my life. That moment left a deep scar I didn't understand at the time. What I did understand was this: if I wanted to be loved, I had to earn it. So I started achieving, performing, excelling—anything to avoid the rejection I feared would come again.
That childhood abandonment planted seeds of insecurity that followed me into adulthood. I became successful in my corporate career, managing teams, climbing the ladder in HR, and mentoring others. But in my personal life, I found myself repeating patterns of seeking approval, losing myself in relationships, and enduring multiple failed marriages. Each one reflected an unhealed part of me I was afraid to confront.
It wasn't until everything around me fell apart that I stopped running. I finally sat with my pain and said: "I have to do this differently." That moment of truth wasn't glamorous, but it was holy. With the help of therapy, prayer, journaling, and faith, I began unpacking the layers of my trauma. I had to forgive myself. I had to forgive those who hurt me. I had to learn that my worth didn't come from what I did—it came from who I already was.
Today, I lead a nonprofit and coaching ministry that helps other women—and especially Black women and marginalized leaders—break generational cycles, embrace emotional wellness, and lead from a place of wholeness. My story no longer carries shame; it carries wisdom. I've gone from silent suffering to speaking life.
So my advice is simple: You don't have to hide your wounds to be worthy. Let your healing become your offering. Because the life you're meant to live begins when you stop performing—and start telling the truth.

Mike Kruse · Answer

My piece of advice would be never to back down when it counts the most. There are many instances in life when your values and beliefs will be put to the test. During those times, it is highly essential to remain true to what you believe in and not allow fear or external influence to drive you off the path. Be it personal or professional choices, the power to fight for what is right will define your future like nothing else.
As a criminal defence lawyer and a prosecutor, I have witnessed the need to be convincing at all times. One of these cases appeared to be where the evidence was too overwhelming, and many believed that the outcome was a foregone conclusion. However, I was aware that it was necessary to stand my ground, challenge every detail, and make sure that the process was fair. The case supported the notion that it is always true that you should not lose your integrity even when it seems that you are struggling up an uphill slope.

Dr. Eleonora Fedonenko · Answer

It is not an option to lack resilience. I have understood this through years of experience in a complicated medical world, both in Ukraine and the U.S. When I migrated to America, everything was new. The medical system and even everyday life were unfamiliar. There was a time when I doubted whether I was fit to continue. However, every failure only made me stronger. Patients have struggled against all odds, and their resilience has always made me appreciate the reason why I cannot give up. "Never give up" is the key to success, regardless of how hard things are going against you. What I have had to learn in my profession is that the actual breakthrough comes when you cannot be pushed back. Problems in life will never go away, but your chances to overcome them will make you stand out. Do not wait for the hard times to end, but take them as a launchpad towards advancing yourself.

Megan Stoia · Answer

The best advice I can give is: balance structure with empathy. Early in my career, I focused on streamlining operations at treatment centers, making processes faster and more efficient. However, one client told me they felt like "just another file," and that moment stuck with me. It reminded me that even the best systems fall short without human connection.
Since then, I've made it a point to pair every improvement with a personal touch, such as welcome calls and additional check-ins. Efficiency matters, but empathy makes people feel seen. In any field, especially behavioral health, compassion should lead the process, not follow it.

What’s the best advice to give someone about life?

Table of Contents

What’s the best advice to give someone about life?

Write Effectively to Advance Your Career

Create Your Own Meaning in Life

Embrace New Beginnings and Learn

Take Action Without Waiting for Perfection

Analyze Advice Before Acting On It

Focus on Continuous Learning and Improvement

Value Personal Connections Over Achievements

Stay Curious to Unlock New Opportunities

Lead with Empathy and Solve Problems

Build Strong Foundations and Community

Follow Through on Your Commitments

Prioritize Health Before It Becomes Urgent

Face Challenges Early to Foster Growth

Listen Attentively to Improve Leadership

Act on Good Information, Not Perfect Timing

Educate Yourself Before Making Assumptions

Embrace Difficulty to Build Resilience

Prepare Thoroughly to Prevent Future Problems

Turn Constraints into Competitive Advantages

Prioritize Consistency Over Perfection

Transform Pain into Purpose

Stand Firm in Your Convictions

Cultivate Resilience in the Face of Adversity

Balance Efficiency with Human Connection

Never Back Down When It Matters Most

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