What advice would you give your twenty-year-old self, and what should they ignore?
Recorded Wayne Rooney said elsewhere, not written here
If you've been picked for your country you've been picked for a reason: because you're good enough. So go there, be yourself, keep doing what you've been doing for your club, and enjoy it.

The Boot Room, The FA, 11 June 2021 source ↗

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Iyinoluwa Aboyeji Co-founder of Andela and of Flutterwave; founding partner of Future Africa
Do a deep reflection on what exactly went wrong and write it down. Please don't do that lazy analysis where you just blame government, the economy, the markets, fundraising etc. It might have been a contributing factor and you should reflect that but please do that uncomfortably deep and introspective work of figuring out where *YOU* the founder went wrong.
Recorded Aboyeji's own verified LinkedIn account, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji on LinkedIn, 27 July 2024 source ↗
Edmund Hillary Mountaineer and explorer; first ascent of Everest, 1953
I would advise them to aim high. To set their sights at a pretty tough target and don’t be too worried if you’re not successful at first. Just keep persisting and keep improving your standards, getting better and better and ultimately, you’ve got a pretty fair chance at achieving your desired goal. ... But, I do think that virtually everybody that’s born has the ability to be very competent at doing something. I think that, in itself, is worthy of aiming towards, just to be competent at doing anything you particularly wish to do.
Recorded Academy of Achievement recorded interview, American Academy of Achievement, 16 November 1991 source ↗
Keith Black Neurosurgeon; chair of neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
If you want to do something, one of the smartest things that you can do is go find someone that’s done it and to try to get them to show you how they did it, to show you where the potholes are. What are the right steps to get there? ... And not just in terms of where to go to school, but what are the things that are really tough that you have to overcome, and how did you overcome it.
Recorded Academy of Achievement recorded interview, American Academy of Achievement, 4 May 2001 source ↗
Richard Leakey Palaeoanthropologist and conservationist; head of the Kenya Wildlife Service
It’s very hard to give people advice, because you don’t know their personality. Personality is a big part of that. Everybody is faced with passing opportunities. Many people watch the opportunity come and watch it go. I say, if an opportunity comes and you have got the self-confidence, grab it. Ride it for a bit. If it’s not the right opportunity, do something else, but be positive about opportunities.
Recorded Academy of Achievement recorded interview, American Academy of Achievement, 21 June 2007 source ↗

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