- Speak Your Mind Without Self-Defense
- Ask for What You Want
- Build a Strong Foundation for Growth
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Career success often hinges on the wisdom we gather along the way. This article delves into invaluable advice from seasoned mentors that has proven transformative for professional growth. Drawing from expert insights, readers will discover key strategies for effective communication, assertiveness, and laying the groundwork for long-term career development.
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Steven LowellSr. Reverse Recruiter & Career Coach, Find My ProfessionOne piece of advice I received came from a former Chief Communications Officer, who worked with a very large bank but also had a side gig teaching improvisation classes and executive presence courses.
His advice was simple: Do not defend yourself!
It is common nowadays to hear someone start a sentence with phrases like, "I think you already know this, but..." or "I'm not saying this to make you upset, but..."
This little piece of advice, "Do not defend yourself," opened up a world of opportunities for me. Once I stopped defending myself and spoke directly about what was on my mind, people started to see what I was really passionate about and would get out of my way.
Moreover, when interacting with leadership, mentors, or even public figures, they enjoy my candor and blunt way of communicating. They can always trust that I will speak what I am thinking, instead of defending my own thoughts before I share them. This behavior has allowed me to help start up three companies, work in six industries, and work in four countries.
In today's world, you will see professionals make statements like, "I know this isn't the news you're looking for, but here goes."
My mentor's advice was simply to say, "I have some news for you." This communication trick can help a leader save time, show your grit, and help one be more concise, which is a form of sophistication.
To this day, my mentor's advice has helped me work in several countries and industries. Companies really do like to work with people who listen!
Aldrich ObachICF Coach & Enablement, Aldrich ObachThe best piece of advice I ever received was also the simplest: Ask for what you want.
A mentor told me this early in my career when I was doing good work but waiting—waiting to be noticed, to be promoted, to be offered opportunities I hadn't directly asked for. I believed that if I worked hard enough, people would just know what I wanted. I thought effort alone would speak for itself.
It doesn't always.
I remember talking to this mentor about feeling stuck. I was working long hours, going above and beyond, and watching opportunities go to others who were no more qualified, just louder about what they wanted. That's when he said it: "You have to ask. Don't wait for someone to read your mind. Be clear. Be direct. Own what you want."
It felt uncomfortable. I didn't want to come off as demanding or entitled. But I took his advice. The next time I met with my manager, I said out loud, "I want to move into a leadership role in the next year. What do I need to do to make that happen?" That single sentence changed everything.
I didn't get the role right away. But I started getting invited into conversations I'd previously been excluded from. I got clearer feedback. I got support. And eventually, I got the opportunity I asked for—not because I waited long enough, but because I spoke up.
Since then, I've used that advice over and over. I've asked for raises. I've asked for mentorship. I've asked for flexibility when I needed it. And most of the time, the answer is either "yes" or "not yet," but always followed by a path forward.
Closed mouths don't get clarity. If you want something, say it.
George YangFounder and Chief Product Designer, YR FitnessA mentor once told me, "Don't rush growth; build something that lasts."
That advice helped me slow down, focus on quality, and grow YR Fitness with a long-term mindset.
In my first year of business, I was eager to scale. We had just landed our first few clients, and I was already thinking about expanding production and chasing overseas orders. I told this to an older friend who ran a successful manufacturing company. He then said to me,
"You can grow fast or you can grow strong; choose one."
That stuck with me. Instead of rushing into more markets, I spent the next 2 years improving our designs, tightening our supply chain, and training my small team as if they were staying for the long haul. We tested machines ourselves, lifting, pressing, and adjusting until the design worked perfectly. Our returns dropped by over 30% just from this phase alone.
When we did expand later, we had a product line that could speak for itself and a team ready to support it. That early decision slowed our short-term growth, but it made the business stronger. We've now served more than 8,000 clients in 80+ countries, and our reputation was built one solid step at a time.