People Share The Worst Career Advice They've Ever Received And It's Awfully Inspiring

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AmyBrown
Jul 16, 2019 1:30 PM EDT

Sometimes, it's totally OK not to heed the advice of friends and your superiors -- especially when they're limiting your full-potential! Don't let anyone stop you from trying and doing what makes YOU happy! 

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  • 01
    career advice - Text - Adam Grant @AdamMGrant What's the worst career advice you've ever received? Mine: (1) Don't waste your time helping others (2) Drop 90% of your projects, because you do one at a time (3) Don't write a book 17.8K 2:27 PM - Jul 13, 2019 5,952 people are talking about this
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 02
    career advice - Text - Jennifer Riel @JenniferRiel Replying to @AdamMGrant Mine: You are too ambitious. Lower your expectations 73 2:38 PM - Jul 13, 2019 See Jennifer Riel's other Tweets
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 03
    career advice - Text - Raq @RaqWinchester Replying to @AdamMGrant Mine: you have to choose between your career and your family. And your family is not the right choice. 218 2:41 PM - Jul 13, 2019 See Raq's other Tweets
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 04
    career advice - Text - Motivational Speaker. Pierre Hnoud @PierreHnoud Replying to @AdamMGrant If you work very hard, your boss will recognize your efforts and worth 795 2:48 PM - Jul 13, 2019 35 people are talking about this
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 05
    career advice - Text - Tracy Reilly @tracysreilly Replying to @AdamMGrant "Don't leave a job without another one lined up." My breaks and open searches have led me to great opportunities and afforded me rare recovery time with my family, and were 'career risks' I'll never regret. 418 2:48 PM - Jul 13, 2019 39 people are talking about this
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 06
    career advice - Text - Aman Gill @GillNurseMom Replying to @AdamMGrant -Don't quit your full time retail job to go to nursing school, buy a house and get settled, you will not be able to buy a house later as home market is getting hot. -settle down Now, I'm a registered nurse with a full time job that love and my own house #followyourheart 170 3:02 PM - Jul 13, 2019 See Aman Gill's other Tweets
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 07
    career advice - Text - Jacqueline Nicholas MD MPH @DrJNicholas Replying to @AdamMGrant Don't waste your time educating students, residents, fellows, NPs, PAs...you won't make any money doing it. The least financially rewarding aspects of my job bring me the most happiness #medtwitter 79 3:02 PM - Jul 13 , 2019 See Jacqueline Nicholas MD MPH's other Tweets
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 08
    career advice - Text - John Bruno @johnFBruno Replying to @AdamMGrant "John, science is hard and your'e not smart enough to be a marine biologist" - Mr Williams, Jupiter High School Career Councilor 174 3:28 PM - Jul 13, 2019 See John Bruno's other Tweets
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 09
    career advice - Text - Kelly Palkowski @a2kelly Replying to @AdamMGrant "Don't get a history degree, there are no jobs." My history degree gave me the ability to read, write critically think, & evaluate information, all skills essential to the job I love - fundraising for nurses and creatively showing donors their life-changing impact. 465 3:28 PM - Jul 13, 2019 41 people are talking about this
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 10
    career advice - Text - kiersten kaye @klkaye Replying to @AdamMGrant When I was 22 a woman in her 60s (my boss) told me: "you bring too much urgency to your work.. you need to learn the tempo here." Which I decided meant, "slow down you're making us look bad!" 186 3:52 PM - Jul 13, 2019 See kiersten kaye's other Tweets
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 11
    career advice - Text - Ashley N Santos @AshleyNSantos Replying to @AdamMGrant Worst Career Advice- "Don't be so ambitious. When you're so career focused guys will see you as a threat, and won't see you being open to marriage and a family." 78 4:22 PM - Jul 13, 2019 See Ashley N Santos's other Tweets
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 12
    career advice - Text - christine minas @christineminas Replying to @AdamMGrant At age 26 a headhunter told me, "you're too old for a career change." Now at 42 I've had a number of career transitions and own my own business. 230 5:53 PM - Jul 13, 2019 See christine minas's other Tweets
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 13
    career advice - Text - Zoe Keating @zoecello Replying to @AdamMGrant Don't quit your tech job for music, it's too risky This cello music doesn't have any potential, consider adding vocals You have to stop touring when you become a mother Now that your husband is dead maybe you should change careers to something more reliable 248 5:57 PM - Jul 13, 2019 23 people are talking about this
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 14
    career advice - Text - Kia Richards @KiaRichards_ Replying to @AdamMGrant Don't make friends at work. That's false! My favorite people in the world who ended up becoming one my closest friends were people I met at work like @DrKatAndrews! 241 6:14 PM - Jul 13, 2019 16 people are talking about this
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 15
    career advice - Text - Kat Andrews, Ed.D, CRC @DrKatAndrews Replying to @AdamMGrant @KiaRichards_Worse career advice I got was to stay at a new job for at least a year. Truth is you'll can see the real company culture within a month & if it's toxic you should leave. The 90 day probation period isn't just for the employer folks. Toxic work space bad health 566 6:34 PM - Jul 13, 2019 73 people are talking about this
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 16
    career advice - Text - Tami Sweitzer @tamara0715 Replying to @AdamMGrant When starting community college at 43 and taking a double degree in web dev and software dev, advisor said, "Just pick one or the other. You're already too old anyway so none of this matters."#PumpedForSuccess 44 6:35 PM - Jul 13, 2019 See Tami Sweitzer's other Tweets
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 17
    career advice - Text - Rebecca Skvorc @rebeccaskvorc Replying to @AdamMGrant "You want to be a CFO? You'll need cut your hair short or you'll never get there" - ex boyfriend's mother who was a tenured CFO advice given to my 23 year old self I'm now a CFO. With very long hair. #badcareeradvice 103 6:59 PM - Jul 13, 2019 See Rebecca Skvorc's other Tweets
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 18
    career advice - Text - Angela Champ @angela_champ Replying to @AdamMGrant "Never ever ever give up." Sometimes it is better, healthier and more productive to just cut your losses and move on 84 7:06 PM - Jul 13, 2019 See Angela Champ's other Tweets
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 19
    career advice - Text - Jonathan P. Braman @shouldergeek Replying to @AdamMGrant The worst advice I have received: Don't mentor women. It's too risky. Absolute hogwash 75 7:24 PM Jul 13, 2019 See Jonathan P. Braman's other Tweets
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 20
    career advice - Text - Celia Kitzinger @KitzingerCelia Replying to @AdamMGrant "Don't do your Psychology PhD on lesbian issues you'll never get an academic career that way" (it was 1979) from an otherwise supportive senior female academic. 100 9:21 PM - Jul 13, 2019 See Celia Kitzinger's other Tweets
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 21
    career advice - Text - Jordan A. @Jordanandrel Replying to @AdamMGrant Stay at a job for a decade and work your way up You need that stability to be a success. Instead I've chased passion and taken incredible risk to do what I love. I've advanced further than I ever could at that job. Years later old coworkers are still in the same role 2,229 11:40 PM - Jul 13, 2019 250 people are talking about this
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 22
    career advice - Text - janevlyang @janevlyang Replying to @AdamMGrant "If you don't work past 5pm, you're not a team player." Over the years, I've learned that longer hours don't necessarily produce better work. And that no company is worth risking your health & well-being over. Seek work/life balance. Find meaning outside of work. 665 12:59 AM - Jul 14, 2019 63 people are talking about this
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 23
    career advice - Text - José Vicente Rojas @RealloseVRojas Replying to @AdamMGrant Mine: (1)Withdraw from the university. With your grades, you'll never be a professional. (2)Remember, Hispanics have limited upward mobility. (3)Shave your mustache. You won't advance in leadership looking like that. 34 3:28 AM - Jul 14, 2019 See José Vicente Rojas's other Tweets
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 24
    career advice - Text - Monica Lewinsky @MonicaLewinsky Replying to @AdamMGrant an internship at the white house will be amazing on your resume. 161K 10:15 AM - Jul 14, 2019 39.2K people are talking about this
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 25
    career advice - Text - Alex Alamri @AlexAlamri Replying to @AdamMGrant "If you try to get into #neurosurgery twice and you don't get it, you're probably not right for the speciality" (Failed selection twice then ranked 5th nationally on third attempt. Now a 5th year trainee.)#perseverance 169 2:04 PM - Jul 14, 2019 See Alex Alamri's other Tweets
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 26
    career advice - Text - ROME @romemcelroy Replying to @AdamMGrant I wanted to be a private investigator when I was young but was told girls can't be PI's bc we can't pee in bottles 430 2:52 PM - Jul 14, 2019 See ROME's other Tweets
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 27
    career advice - Text - Rebecca Slatkin @RebeccaSlatkin Replying to @AdamMGrant If you want the all male 60+ engineering team you're joining to like you, bake cookies and bring them in to work on your first day. 40 3:21 PM - Jul 14, 2019 See Rebecca Slatkin's other Tweets
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 28
    career advice - Text - Dushka Zapata @DushkaAmateur Replying to @AdamMGrant The worst career advice I ever received was "your coworkers are not your friends". What a waste. What a colossal waste I would have suffered if I had listened to that. 470 3:25 PM - Jul 14, 2019 27 people are talking about this
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 29
    career advice - Text - Dr. Mike @EmergMedDr Replying to @AdamMGrant "You will never become a doctor, have a rethink." My biology A-level teacher, supporting dreams and pushing students....NOT 44 3:32 PM - Jul 14, 2019 See Dr. Mike's other Tweets
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 30
    career advice - Text - Alena Vranova @AlenaSatoshi Replying to @AdamMGrant You're doing an amazing job, BUT you gotta drink coffee with your female colleagues and chitchat about fashion crap, otherwise you not gonna blend in. I resigned 87 3:50 PM - Jul 14, 2019 See Alena Vranova's other Tweets
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 31
    career advice - Text - GAIL SIMONE is MY LITTLE SIMONEY @GailSimone Replying to @AdamMGrant An early DC editor for me, one of my first (he's no longer there) told me, when I was writing my first DC pitch for a short story, "don't do anything too interesting." 209 4:06 PM - Jul 14, 2019 15 people are talking about this
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 32
    career advice - Text - HVoice @HeartandVoice Replying to @AdamMGrant "If you're not about to collapse, you're not working hard enough" Take care of you're health everyone Can't get work done if you collapse and/or die. 3 7:29 PM - Jul 14, 2019 SeeHVoice's other Tweets
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 33
    career advice - Text - Lyre Lyme Disease Advocate Warrior @AdvocatLyme Replying to @AdamMGrant Don't take Engineering... it is for boys. This was from School guidance counselor and Math teacher. Happy I didn't listen! 3 9:57 PM - Jul 14, 2019 See Lyme Disease Advocate's other Tweets
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 34
    career advice - Text - Jane Black @AmethystMimosa Replying to @AdamMGrant This is going to sound counterintuitive, but it would be "do what you love." If what you love becomes your job, what you love is ruined by your job. Do what you like. Protect what you love. 29 10:06 PM - Jul 14, 2019 See Jane Black's other Tweets
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 35
    career advice - Text - Ali R. Naqvi @AliNeedsHelp Replying to @AdamMGrant "Never chase a hobby. Build a stable career, and dabble in hobbies on the side"- a bunch of passionless drones who never took their own advice 15 10:34 PM - Jul 14, 2019 See Ali R. Naqvi's other Tweets
    via @AdamMGrant
  • 36
    career advice - Text - Indy Sen @indysen Replying to @AdamMGrant (1) You are too collaborative (2) This is life in the jungle. If you don't screw people over you won't make it (3) You need to be more like so and Spoiler: I would not be where I am, doing what I love if I heeded any of this advice. 4:15 AM Jul 15, 2019 See Indy Sens other Tweets
    via @AdamMGrant

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