# If you had ONE piece of advice to give to others based on a mistake what would it be? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 9, 2008, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-one-piece-of-advice-to-give-to-others-based-on-a-mistake-what-would-it-be/467224 "2008-10-09T20:34:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Frustrated\_Wonderer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a4c791/32.png) [@Frustrated\_Wonderer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frustrated_Wonderer)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-one-piece-of-advice-to-give-to-others-based-on-a-mistake-what-would-it-be/467224/1 "2008-10-09T20:34:55Z")
My advice would be: Avoid making assumptions. What would your advice be? ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-one-piece-of-advice-to-give-to-others-based-on-a-mistake-what-would-it-be/467224/2 "2008-10-09T20:45:38Z")
Your relationship with your employer is as follows: you work, they pay. No one at the company you work for gives a shit about you. Not your boss, not his boss, not HR, no one. If they can make a single cent more by firing you then your employment will last until your boss can get to your desk. They demand loyalty and hard work and all that other stuff from you because it helps them make money. You owe them no more actual loyalty then they owe you: none. ---
**Author:** ![Some\_FNG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/48db29/32.png) [@Some\_FNG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Some_FNG)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-one-piece-of-advice-to-give-to-others-based-on-a-mistake-what-would-it-be/467224/3 "2008-10-09T20:48:48Z")
Don’t leave physical evidence at the scene. ---
**Author:** ![Stauderhorse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Stauderhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stauderhorse)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-one-piece-of-advice-to-give-to-others-based-on-a-mistake-what-would-it-be/467224/4 "2008-10-09T20:55:16Z")
Don’t assume that anyone is going to take responsiblity of your life for you. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-one-piece-of-advice-to-give-to-others-based-on-a-mistake-what-would-it-be/467224/5 "2008-10-09T20:55:23Z")
Somebody has to say it: \* “Never get involved in a land war in Aisia.”\* ---
**Author:** ![PeskiPiksi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e495f1/32.png) [@PeskiPiksi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PeskiPiksi)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-one-piece-of-advice-to-give-to-others-based-on-a-mistake-what-would-it-be/467224/6 "2008-10-09T20:57:31Z")
Trust your instincts. If you have a feeling he’s cheating on you, even if you have no concrete proof, he probably is. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-one-piece-of-advice-to-give-to-others-based-on-a-mistake-what-would-it-be/467224/7 "2008-10-09T21:07:54Z")
I don’t care how you do it, be it racking up gobs of loans or what, but finish college and get a degree in SOMETHING. Anything! It will open more doors for you. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-one-piece-of-advice-to-give-to-others-based-on-a-mistake-what-would-it-be/467224/8 "2008-10-09T21:11:58Z")
An appropriate one for the times (but I’ve been saying it for years) - DON’T GET INTO DEBT! I don’t care if you have to work two jobs and it takes you six years to finish university, don’t start your adult life with the albatross of high debt around your neck. Debt is like a steep, slippery slope - so easy to get into, and so hard to get out of. Live within your means. If you can’t afford it yet, save up until you can. ETA: Sorry, **Shirley** , stepped on your point a little. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-one-piece-of-advice-to-give-to-others-based-on-a-mistake-what-would-it-be/467224/9 "2008-10-09T21:15:57Z")
Keep track of your bills and a running total of what you spend every day / week / month. Trust me, the little stuff _really_ adds up. ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-one-piece-of-advice-to-give-to-others-based-on-a-mistake-what-would-it-be/467224/10 "2008-10-09T21:17:38Z")
Don’t be afraid to tell someone you love them. Whether that’s your mom, or your best friend, or your boyfriend. You won’t regret it. But you might regret it later if you don’t. And that sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-one-piece-of-advice-to-give-to-others-based-on-a-mistake-what-would-it-be/467224/11 "2008-10-09T21:43:36Z")
Do not make decisions from fear. This has tripped me up more times than I can count. Fear of being exposed; fear of being rejected; fear of looking ridiculous; fear of other peoples’ anger; fear of losing the girl; fear of finding the girl; fear of not living up to expectations; fear of success; fear of this, that, and the other thing: all of these have led me to making most of the worst decisions of my life. Fear. It’s the internal terrorist. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-one-piece-of-advice-to-give-to-others-based-on-a-mistake-what-would-it-be/467224/12 "2008-10-09T21:46:27Z")
If you walk through a forest of red flags for love, you’ll be beaten with every single one of those red flags on the way out. ---
**Author:** ![Dervorin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-one-piece-of-advice-to-give-to-others-based-on-a-mistake-what-would-it-be/467224/13 "2008-10-09T21:48:21Z")
Take responsibility for your own life, but appreciate what other people do for you. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-one-piece-of-advice-to-give-to-others-based-on-a-mistake-what-would-it-be/467224/14 "2008-10-09T21:52:07Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > An appropriate one for the times (but I’ve been saying it for years) - DON’T GET INTO DEBT! I don’t care if you have to work two jobs and it takes you six years to finish university, don’t start your adult life with the albatross of high debt around your neck. Debt is like a steep, slippery slope - so easy to get into, and so hard to get out of. Live within your means. If you can’t afford it yet, save up until you can. Amen, **featherlouu**. I rid myself of my debt in a struggle that lasted six years ago. Of course, I had no idea that today’s conditions would happen, but I am so so so glad that, if the worst happens, no-one is going to come after me for my stuff. I have monthly bills that I can terminate (some at some penalties), but that’s it. I may not have a lot, but what I have, I actually have. ---
**Author:** ![Jelly\_Roll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Jelly\_Roll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jelly_Roll)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-one-piece-of-advice-to-give-to-others-based-on-a-mistake-what-would-it-be/467224/15 "2008-10-09T22:08:16Z")
Yes-get a degree!! Don’t marry before 30. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-one-piece-of-advice-to-give-to-others-based-on-a-mistake-what-would-it-be/467224/16 "2008-10-09T22:21:25Z")
Don’t quit a job in anger until you have a better one lined up. The worst time to negotiate the package at a new job is when you HAVE to get a paycheck, vs. wanting a better paycheck. ---
**Author:** ![Influential\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Influential\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Influential_Panda)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-one-piece-of-advice-to-give-to-others-based-on-a-mistake-what-would-it-be/467224/17 "2008-10-09T22:21:36Z")
Start going to the gym. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-one-piece-of-advice-to-give-to-others-based-on-a-mistake-what-would-it-be/467224/18 "2008-10-09T22:46:31Z")
Don’t trust anyone completely, including yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-one-piece-of-advice-to-give-to-others-based-on-a-mistake-what-would-it-be/467224/19 "2008-10-09T23:10:04Z")
> [@niblet\_head](#): > > Don’t be afraid to tell someone you love them. Whether that’s your mom, or your best friend, or your boyfriend. You won’t regret it. But you might regret it later if you don’t. And that sucks. QFT I know my father loves me, but he’s not said so in over 25 years and that _hurts_. ---
**Author:** ![counsel\_wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/65b543/32.png) [@counsel\_wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/counsel_wolf)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-one-piece-of-advice-to-give-to-others-based-on-a-mistake-what-would-it-be/467224/20 "2008-10-09T23:24:57Z")
Do not be afraid to seek advice and help from people. Your problems may seem insoluble to you but chances are that someone can help. Do it before things get completely unfixable. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-one-piece-of-advice-to-give-to-others-based-on-a-mistake-what-would-it-be/467224.md?page=2)