What advice would you give your twenty-year-old self, and what should they ignore?
Recorded Tom Kerridge said elsewhere, not written here
Everything that’s happened to me was because I said yes to everything and gave it a go. I never thought, wouldn’t it be good if I got two Michelin stars and my own TV shows. I just tried my hardest at everything I got the chance to do. If I could give the younger me advice I’d just say, never underestimate graft. Give up on sleep, work very hard, and it will pay off. Graft graft graft. And never give up.

Hannah Westwater, Letter To My Younger Self, Big Issue, 14 January 2019 source ↗

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Fei-Fei Li Professor of computer science at Stanford University; creator of ImageNet
Scientists are people who are curious and want to pursue knowledge and pursue truth, and this still remains the most timeless and priceless value of a scientific career. My advice to an early-career scientist is to remain true to your passion and curiosity and that sense of mission to discover knowledge and uncover innovation. It's also very important to be using the tools of the moment, of the century. There are a lot of new tools to uplevel our own scientific research and scientific quest.
Recorded Published Q&A, Yahoo Tech source ↗
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 ↗
Frank M. Johnson Jr. United States district judge, Middle District of Alabama, 1955–1979; judge of the Eleventh Circuit
Study. Be honest. Don’t violate the laws and get in trouble. Get you a good spouse that will support you, because you never stop working and studying. The fact that you get the place just means you’ve started as far as the work and the pressure is concerned. That’s the only advice I’d know to give.
Recorded Academy of Achievement recorded interview, American Academy of Achievement, 16 March 1991 source ↗
Wayne Rooney English former footballer and manager; record goalscorer for Manchester United and England
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.
Recorded The Boot Room, The FA, 11 June 2021 source ↗

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Question What made you decide to stop something you were known for, and how did you know it was time? Time & hindsight
It’s very easy to get caught up in a habit of work hard and play hard. I couldn’t tell you how much I used to drink in a week – I haven’t got enough fingers. I own two pubs and had built up a reputation of being the best party person in the industry. It got to a point where I realised I was getting too old to be that guy. Now I enjoy the challenge of being on a stag weekend for three days, but drinking Diet Coke and coffee.
Recorded Katie Forster, The Observer, The Guardian, 12 December 2015 source ↗

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