As a 57-year-old convict, What I Wish I Knew When I was 20, by Tina Seelig (2009) immediately caught my attention. I believe I would have done exactly what Seelig suggests if I knew when I was a youngster what the mature me knows — look at the world as “rich and full of possibility.”
Seelig challenges readers to take healthy chances in their lives: “The most interesting things happen when you get off the predictable path,” and to get a fuller understanding of failure: “Failures offer learning opportunities and increase the chance that you won’t make the same mistake again. Failures are also a sign that you have taken on challenges that expand your skills. In fact, many successful people believe that if you aren’t failing sometimes, then you aren’t taking enough risks.”
“Essentially, the goal of this book,” Seelig writes, “is to provide a new lens through which to view the obstacles you encounter every day while charting your course into the future. It is designed to give you permission to question conventional wisdom and to revisit the rules around you.”
Seelig has a trustworthy voice in What I Wish I Knew When I was 20. She asks readers questions to get them thinking about sound choices. She begins Chapter 1 by asking, “What would you do to earn money if all you had was five dollars and two hours?”
The book tackles scenarios that people might consider as problems. She says to view them as opportunities, while recognizing societal limitations.
“These social rules and norms are designed to make the world around us more organized and predictable, and to prevent us from hurting one another,” Seelig writes. However, “Don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone, to have a healthy disregard for the impossible, and to turn well-worn ideas on their heads.”
Seelig tells her readers, “Don’t be in a rush to get to your final destination — the side trips and unexpected detours quite often lead to the most interesting people, places, and opportunities. And, finally, be wary of all career advice, including mine, as you figure out what’s right for you.” Moreover she writes, “You can maximize your chances by being well prepared physically, intellectually, and emotionally. We dramatically increase the chances that we will be lucky by exposing ourselves to as many diverse experiences as possible, boldly recombining these experiences in unusual ways, and fearlessly striving to get to the stage on which we want to play out our life.”
According to Seelig, if you want to be that person leading the charge, then you have to take on that role; “It takes hard work, energy, and drive — but these are the assets that set leaders apart from those who wait for others to anoint them.”
“Protect and enhance your reputation — it’s your most valuable asset and should be guarded well. Learn how to apologize with a simple “I’m sorry.” Keep in mind that everything is negotiable and learn to navigate toward an outcome in which all parties win.”
“Tina Seelig is one of the most creative and inspiring teachers at Stanford. Her book ought to be required reading,” said Robert Sutton, Stanford University professor and New York Times bestselling author.
I wholeheartedly agree.
Juan’s Book Review
