The best career advice is don’t accept career advice! At least, not from just anyone and everyone. The problem is, you shouldn’t trust just anyone’s advice – it may put you in a worse position.

Besides it possibly being terrible advice, it may be overwhelming if you hear conflicting opinions – one person may say “go for that job,” and another may say, “you’ll pay more taxes and get less money out.” So how do you navigate all these comments and opinions?

Simply put, you shouldn’t listen to it if you don’t want to. For example, reportedly, a college professor advised her macroeconomics student not to take a higher paying job, since she would pay more in taxes when it is (at least for the United States) untrue!

If you need advice or help, you can find valuable advice from people. However, make sure they have credible sources for their advice. And, most importantly, it’s not coming from their heart but their mind.

The Signs of Good Advice

Good advice can be implemented immediately. It’s something that won’t put tremendous stress on yourself and will result in a sizable difference in your career. This, for example, can be, arriving 10 minutes earlier and checking all backlogged emails before the phones start ringing off the hook.

Another sign of good advice may be adaptable in different fields and different professions – this will ensure you always keep good habits when you change positions, or better, get promoted!

It sparks joy – this one is important! Good advice should not leave you stressed and wondering where to go and who to listen to. It should feel doable and inspire you to implement it! Lastly, the best advice is always easily passed on to others. This ties into the second requirement where it should apply to other professions. It is good advice if you can implement this advice and inspire someone else to follow it. Plus, you have a success story to tell them!

Repeat After Me

Here are a few tips that are sure to make a difference in your career when accepting the right type of advice.

Don’t Be Afraid To Speak Up 

Sharing it with a colleague might earn them the credit, and keeping quiet won’t help you learn either! Share your opinions and ideas – who knows? Maybe you have the next million-dollar secret to success!

Avoid Perfection

It’s always great when you are invested in your job and have pride in what you do, but it’s important to remember you can make mistakes. You can’t learn if you never do anything wrong – make sure to take note, remember to keep your head high, and try again!

Put Yourself First

You can’t help others if you can’t help yourself! Sacrificing a comfortable and efficient work environment won’t do you any good. Ensure your equipment is in working order. Ensure your stress levels are manageable and your physical health is taken care of!

Don’t hold off on your optometrist appointment because you have deadlines – having progressive glasses for computer work will save you loads of headaches and stress down the line!

Ask For Help if You Need It

If you don’t, you will only suffer. Sure, the internet has a lot of answers, but do you know who has experience? Your co-workers who have done this before – ask for their help and move on to the next problem! Easy peasy! Just don’t get lazy and rely on them every day.

Embrace Failure and Do Better

Everyone learns from their mistakes. You can’t get better without trying again, and you won’t do any good by feeling discouraged and leaving it up to the future you to solve. Get right back into the problem and try again. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Always Be a Team Player

You need a support system at work, and you need your team to be on your side, and you on their side. If you can’t work together, you are working against each other. Make an effort to be a team player and see the work get easier!

Listen to Your Head

If you feel the advice you have been given isn’t good, then trust your mind to say no thanks. Feeling bad for not taking lousy advice will be your downfall.

If you can’t seem to figure out if it’s good or bad advice, speak to someone in the field see if it is applicable to other people and professions too! Never jump at any advice too quickly before you do some research of your own. After all, it’s your career, not theirs.