Advice for our FE Intern

[smujd]

Excellence is the only standard

When you make a mistake, let your superiors know. Almost anything can be fixed if people know as soon as possible.

Details matter. When people screw up the small things, I have to wonder if they’ve missed big things, too.

Be the guy who gives credit to his team.

You can’t teach give a damn.

Hard work pays off. Hard work usually trumps intelligence in the long run. I’ll take a C student who works hard over an A student who coasts on his smarts any day.

You can make almost any mistake once. Make sure you don’t keep making the same mistakes, though.

Be the guy who comes with solutions, not just problems and excuses.

The reward for winning the pie eating contest is usually more pie.

The dildo of unintended consequences rarely arrives lubed.

 

[YETI]

Look people in the eye when you shake their hand and don't limp-dick the grip.

People don't stop playing because they got old; they get old because they stopped playing. Never stop having fun and being curious

 

[hbabin]

My kid is our FE intern. He's 18yo, and about to graduate high school. What kind of life advice can you give him? I'd like to get a leather bound notebook and write all of this down as a graduation present. Any pearls of wisdom someone shared with you or you learned yourself... wise words for a tough day... a joke that would make him smile. Anything you would pass along to just a really good kid. Thanks!

Take advantage of all green lights in life! Plus learn all you can as you go.

 

[benton.frisse]

One of my favorite quotes an old man shared with me shortly after I turned 18 "don't do meth and pay your taxes"

So far its worked out.

 

[Chip Hunnicutt]

Job advice: Opportunities don’t always come neatly wrapped with a bow. Say yes, even if you have no idea how to do the fucking thing. Figure it out. Make an impression, move ahead.

life advice: It’s ok to be scared. Just don’t be afraid. There’s a difference.

 

[Dave Costarella]

Listen. Observe. Ask clarifying questions - understand your tasks and deliver on time.
Trust but verify.
Confidence is built with knowledge. If you don't truly know, you're just cocky.
Earn accolades but don't always expect them.
Be humble and smile.

 

[Wiley Watson]

Stay out of debt. If you get in to debt, get out of it. Not talking about mortgages per se, personal debt, credit cards and car loans.

Own your shit. When you fuck up, own it. Don't beat yourself up for it. Learn from it and drive on.

Keep your circle small, and allow them to hold you accountable. When those closest to you stop telling you the truth, that's a bad place to be. Be the same for them.

Never miss a chance to tell those you love that you love them, you dont know if it might be the last time.

Character matters. And its built in the small decisions you make everyday. Everyone thinks they will make the right decision "when it matters" but if you've built a habit of making the wrong decisions when it doesn't, then you will revert to those habits. Its an application of we all rise or fall to the level of our training, just applied to character decisions.

I will hire for character and capacity everyday over capability. I can teach the skills/capabilities, but character and capacity are yours.

Self awareness is key, emotional intelligence is a super power.

Learn to outwork and out hustle your peers.

There is value in choosing to do hard things. Less so stupid things.

All four of my kids interned at my company. All 4 were the lowest paid employees when they were here. All 4 learned quickly that everybody watched them to see if they thought they were special, or if they realized they needed to work harder to prove they deserved the chance they got. I was proud of them.

A lot of good inspo here. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Cagney]

These are all so good. I hope this means as much to him as it means to me.

 

[les]

It's more important to do things than to to be somebody. If you do things, and do them well, you'll become somebody, in time.

Fail fast, start over. Few errors are truly fatal.

You live and you learn, or you don't live long.

Never let a man waste your time twice.

Focus on process. Outcome will take care of itself.

Rub her feet.

 

[Rokks]

Get to work early. Stay late. And always wear tight pants. Always.

 

[Milo'sSyndicate]

Join the Coast Guard, grab a PHAT signing bonus for getting out of the civillian corps of engineer retards.....GO!!! Sea the World! https://www.gocoastguard.com/hiring-incentives

 

[Steve Johnson]

Keep it simple.
Spend wisely. - Time and money.
As you associate; you will become. Surround yourself with quality humans and never hesitate to delete a contact.
Choose a job you're good at, and figure out how to be the best. (If you do what you love, it will turn into work.)
Invest early and invest often. Never touch what you invest.
Do your best. Do what is right. Treat others the way you want to be treated.

 

[rtraendly]

Lots of great feedback. Here are a few extras that I will add:

One of the best quotes that I have borrowed is "Your Performance is your Job Security - JV quoting JV’s Dad." @Jason Vincent - please correct me if I have butchered this quote.

"Don't Make Excuses Why YOU Can't - Find Ways YOU CAN" - my own personal quote.

Here are a few others that I have borrowed and frequently use in the office:

"First, do what is necessary. Then, do what is possible. And before you know it you are doing the impossible." - Saint Francis Assisi
"Those who cannot risk cannot win." John Paul Jones
"Success is like being pregnant, everyone says congratulations but nobody knows how many times you were fucked."
"Never go to war without a weapon."

10 things that require zero talent:
1. Being on time
2. Work Ethic
3. Effort
4. Body language
5. Energy
6. Attitude
7. Passion
8. Being coachable
9. Doing extra; and,
10. Being prepared