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Friday, April 1, 2011

One Piece of Advice

In celebration of the early release of Christine Fonseca's 101 Success Secrets for Gifted Kids, I'm offering up some advice today.



If I could give a child one piece of advice for life, it would be: Take many classes, explore many options, travel many roads so you can find what it is you like. Then do what you like.

What would you say?

Grab the graphic if you want, post on your blog!
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45 comments:

  1. Emily WhiteApril 1, 2011 at 5:08 AM

    That is such great advice! I wish someone had told me this when I was younger. Luckily, I learned it on my own (eventually), but sometimes I feel like I wasted too many years trying to do something I thought I should do rather than what I wanted to do.

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  2. Andrea MackApril 1, 2011 at 5:19 AM

    My advice is not to worry too much about what other people are doing. Sometimes kids think they have to follow the same plan as everyone else (graduate the same time, go to university at the same time). But everyone's pace and path are different.

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  3. Natalie AguirreApril 1, 2011 at 5:19 AM

    That's such great advice. It's so important that kids experience a lot to find what they like and then focus on it. That's what I've told my daughter and what she's doing now with her love of swimming and science.

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  4. Theresa MilsteinApril 1, 2011 at 5:30 AM

    I'd say:

    Don't let one person's negative comment sear into your brain. If you want something, work hard at it. Believe in yourself.

    Have a great weekend.

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  5. Vicki RochoApril 1, 2011 at 5:37 AM

    Always be proud to be yourself.

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  6. Karen BaldwinApril 1, 2011 at 5:39 AM

    "Your thoughts and words are the most powerful ones you'll ever hear. Listen closely, and you'll find your truth."

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  7. LM PrestonApril 1, 2011 at 5:53 AM

    I love it! Great advice and wisdom.

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  8. Matthew MacNishApril 1, 2011 at 6:53 AM

    I would say: Live, love, and always tell the truth. Life is too short for anything else.

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  9. B.E. SandersonApril 1, 2011 at 6:53 AM

    Awesome advice, Elana. If I could give one piece of advice, it would be: Don't worry so much about what other people think or whether they'll like you.

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  10. EllaApril 1, 2011 at 6:54 AM

    Great post, I so agree! I think it is important to follow YOUR dream, but have plans, A, B and C.

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  11. Christine FonsecaApril 1, 2011 at 6:56 AM

    OOhh...GREAT ADVICE! Thanks for starting this Elana! Hope you're feeling better.

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  12. Jessie HarrellApril 1, 2011 at 6:59 AM

    great advice! I think I'd say (learning from my own mistakes) - don't be in such a rush to grow up that you miss out on opportunities that you'll never have again.

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  13. LizaApril 1, 2011 at 7:03 AM

    Do not cave in to mediocrity.

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  14. UnknownApril 1, 2011 at 7:10 AM

    Great advice! Figure it out while you're young so you're not floundering as an adult! Hehe!

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  15. MaryApril 1, 2011 at 7:25 AM

    Such great advice from you and commenters!

    My advice: Be bold enough to try new things, brave enough to accept failure, flexible enough to change, and open enough to accept possibilities.

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  16. kahApril 1, 2011 at 7:38 AM

    Wee said. My advice is a quote (just can't remember who said it) but it would be: Whether you think you can, or think you can't, you are right.

    Happy Friday!

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  17. Buffy AndrewsApril 1, 2011 at 7:39 AM

    This is from a column I wrote but I think it sums up my advice. Here's the column link if you want to read it (http://buffyswritezone.blogspot.com/2009/08/we-learn-from-our-failures.html)

    Failing is OK. We learn from our failures. They make us stronger and more determined to succeed. Force us to admit our shortcomings and figure out how to overcome them. We have only truly failed when we allow the Monster of Defeat to overpower us and hold us down.
    We don’t always understand the defining moments of our lives as they are happening. But when we look back, we can clearly see that along with the hits and home runs there are some strikes and strikeouts and that together they make the game. In the end, the winner is one who learns to deal with both.

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  18. AnonymousApril 1, 2011 at 7:43 AM

    Never give up. Never ever give up!

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  19. AE RoughtApril 1, 2011 at 7:54 AM

    Be grateful, and whenever possible pay it forward. Positive energy creates more positive energy. Being a whiner only makes things worse. (a little preachy this morning--giving myself a scolding via your blog.)

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  20. UnknownApril 1, 2011 at 8:10 AM

    Great advice. It is great for kids and adults too.

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  21. Deni KruegerApril 1, 2011 at 8:14 AM

    It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer.

    -Albert Einstein

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  22. Tracey NeithercottApril 1, 2011 at 8:15 AM

    Great advice, especially for kids today who seem to be so eager to grow up--to high school or college or a job. I love the idea that it's okay not to know what you want to do with your life at the age of 14.

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  23. Elana JohnsonApril 1, 2011 at 8:16 AM

    Wow, so much great advice today! Thanks everyone! I love the "whether you think you can or think you can't" one. Brilliant!

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  24. Carolyn VApril 1, 2011 at 8:19 AM

    Don't forget the important things.

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  25. Michelle MerrillApril 1, 2011 at 8:23 AM

    Great advice! I've always loved the saying, "Stand for something or you'll fall for anything."

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  26. UnknownApril 1, 2011 at 9:42 AM

    Good Advice. I tell my grandchildren to never let fear stop them from trying something new!

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  27. KrispyApril 1, 2011 at 10:07 AM

    OH, I love this advice! I'd say, Never give up! :)

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  28. Sara B. LarsonApril 1, 2011 at 10:34 AM

    Hope you are feeling better, E! And what great advice. So excited for Christine and her new book. :)

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  29. HannahApril 1, 2011 at 11:41 AM

    Follow your dreams. Work hard to get them! Great post.

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  30. Marsha SigmanApril 1, 2011 at 1:26 PM

    My one piece of advice would be...don't drink the Kool-aid.

    Think for yourself.

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  31. kathrynjankowskiApril 1, 2011 at 1:30 PM

    Trust your instincts. They're usually right. ;-)

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  32. AnonymousApril 1, 2011 at 1:38 PM

    Everyone around you who seems self-confident is probably as insecure as you are or maybe more. They're just better at faking it.

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  33. Corey SchwartzApril 1, 2011 at 5:59 PM

    Don't sweat the small stuff! (something I have failed miserably at myself and have not successfully imparted to my own kids!

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  34. Anita SaxenaApril 1, 2011 at 8:17 PM

    I 100% agree. Too often do people commit to careers and realize when it's too late that it's not the right career for them.

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  35. Jemi FraserApril 1, 2011 at 8:36 PM

    There are a couple of things I always tell my students:

    Find your joy & you'll find your job.

    Don't close any doors on yourself.

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  36. AnonymousApril 1, 2011 at 9:20 PM

    Don't eat yellow snow.

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  37. PeggyApril 1, 2011 at 10:17 PM

    That's some excellent advice! I think I'll pass that right along to my kids.

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  38. Corinne OApril 1, 2011 at 11:56 PM

    Excellent advice Elana... will add to mine:

    Treat others the way you wish to be treated.

    and

    Be Kind.

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  39. Lenny LeeApril 2, 2011 at 8:56 AM

    hi miss elana! my mom gave us kids lots of good advice stuff. heres the one i remember most. always do you very best in everything you do.
    ...hugs from lenny

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  40. Valerie IpsonApril 2, 2011 at 9:17 AM

    I would say, "Everyone has a gift (actually gifts plural) and though it may take awhile to discover yours, it's there, and it will bless your life and the lives of others when you share it."

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  41. Author Joshua HoytApril 2, 2011 at 10:19 AM

    I think that I would tell a child to relax. Forgive your parents they are new to the job. Work hard and play just as hard. And most importantly go after your dreams, don't let people tell you that you can't.

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  42. AnitaApril 2, 2011 at 12:53 PM

    Love people.

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  43. LTMApril 2, 2011 at 8:57 PM

    don't be so afraid to try something new. Or to go it alone.

    Those two fears kept me paralyzed for a long time... :o) <3

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  44. amberargyleApril 2, 2011 at 9:01 PM

    Learn to be happy.

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  45. amberargyleApril 2, 2011 at 9:02 PM

    Changed my mind: Love yourself. Respect yourself. Cause if you don't, no one else will.

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