In another life, I would listen more diligently and empathetically. The value of an alternative chosen is measured by the value of alternatives foregone. When all is said and done, the old sayings are true: Serving as class secretary and following 600 alumni over 50 years has taught me to become an “info junkie.” I am also a voracious reader of periodicals of all kinds. Our HBS-induced arrogance is demeaning to others and to ourselves. All in all, personal growth comes from looking ahead and giving back as much as one possibly can. The lesson here for young people: Do not hesitate to switch interests, majors, or fields of concentration. Among those lessons: These may seem pretty clichéd, but combined with native intelligence, they went a long way. If I Knew Then. In short, the Class of 1963 is uniquely qualified to dispense advice, because its members have both the experience and perspective that only the long view can provide. In my view, there is no more important decision any of us will ever make. Telling the truth makes it easy to remember what I said. What do you know now that you didn’t know then? Gravitate toward what satisfies your inner self. Doriot’s class on manufacturing was one of the most popular HBS MBA elective courses. It is slow to get established, and can be lost quickly if not nourished at every opportunity. Family vacations are the best times you will ever have. Stay active in something — philanthropy, business, mentoring, teaching. If I Knew Then Advice on careers, finance, and life from Harvard Business School's Class of 1963. Be your own man and don’t get influenced too much by friends and parents. If you take the initiative to show others you mean no malice to them, then they will be more receptive to you. But there is a certain joy that surpasses all understanding. There is no substitute for integrity. It is said that case should be read two times. But it might be said that their greatest contribution is quite recent. Finally, in everything you achieve, take satisfaction from your own efforts, perseverance, mental strength, and judgment. This is what life is about: borrowing enough money to buy a really nice house and then spending the rest of your life fixing it. 0 Comments & 2 Likes Leadership This question was asked the last day at the Harvard Business School 50 years ago, and I still have no other answer than “Set an example.” If Only I Knew Then What I Know Now At some point in our lives, most of us regret something we have done. Mental decay will inevitably set in. Also, note to self: If this subreddit gets huge, awesome, if it does not, I will simply use it to back up my bookmarks! Lead a balanced life between work, family, and friendships. Don’t plan your life or career too much. If I Knew Then (book) - Career & life advice from Harvard B-School Class of 1963 . Try to understand where you came from and how your early experience helped or hurt you. As some of the things you once place great emphasis on slowly fade away, family will be your foundation forever. It is all too easy to rationalize when promotions, bonuses, and perks are being waved in your direction. I’m not sure I would do anything differently in my life. ", To those who see their own 50th class reunion as an imperceptibly distant point on the horizon, this may all sound like trite platitudes. The totality of one’s life is the sum of the many, many choices that one will face and make. In my mind, there is organizational politics in any group with more than three people. Use challenges as the motivation for progress. Don’t be afraid to take a step backward. I loved it, but as a 13-year-old, didn’t really fully focus on its message until many years later. They went to work in the age of secretarial pools and longhand ledger sheets, and led the charge into a digital, wireless landscape. Despite their undeniable success in the business world and government, these 1963 graduates lived the majority of their adult years during much different times. This is a subreddit based around sharing awesome, usually minimal and single-purpose websites and webtools. If you knew then what you know now, how would you go about finding fulfilling work and ensuring success in your career? Achieving and maintaining this balance requires regular soul-searching as well as self-discipline. They will keep you young. They have been a part of both the “before” and the “after” pictures of a world transformed. I switched fields twice in my academic career — I believed the entire experience was part of growing up. << top kek Sure, I'm dissapointed you guys removed my post, I was keen to hear what people on the Internet thought of it. There is no do-over when you lose your integrity and reputation. I knew how fiercely smart and hardworking my brother was. Partake in it with enthusiasm and gratefulness. Finally, community participation and giving back are both very helpful in achieving personal growth. This is the real value of money, as I learned from my father. An optimistic outlook and good luck are invaluable. The world these 1963 graduates entered was also starkly different in terms of technology and culture. So you not only have to excel in the basics of your profession, you also need to be liked and accepted by your peers. I know a lot of people who have more money than I have, but I would not exchange places with them. Initiative and impatience both stem from human drive and energy. Don’t risk everything you’ve saved on any one “deal.”. If I Knew Then… Advice on Careers, Finance, and Life from Harvard Business School’s Class of 1963 Follow me: Be ever skeptical, because BS is everywhere, but don’t pre-judge or jump to conclusions. Overcoming great obstacles in my early career gave me a sense of accomplishment and personal pride. Even if your marriage is blessed with children and happiness, it still presents a challenge and requires a series of adjustments. Having been sober for almost 20 years, I can attest to the freedom and joy that overcoming this illness can provide. Constant and honest introspection and visualization of what you want for your future are important. Jan 6, 2014 - 'If I Knew Then' | Advice on careers, finance, and life from Harvard Business School's Class of 1963 George P. Baker, the dean of Harvard Business School, is seen here at commencement exercises shaking hands with a student. Understand that money is not the end game. Making a contribution to your family, job, or friends is what really drives satisfaction. Sacrifice of family for job achievement for the “long-term good of the family” was a myth. Long, happy marriages are related to many common interests. As Harvard's Dr. Initial reading is to get a rough idea of what information is provided for the analyses. Do not be content to be average. The secret of life is to get lucky and stay there — and make the most of it every day. If I Knew Then What I Know Now: Using the Leadership Competencies Developed by the American Association of Community Colleges to Prepare Community College Presidents Delores E. McNair, Christopher A. Duree, and Larry Ebbers This is a subreddit based around sharing awesome, usually minimal and single-purpose websites and webtools. As the commercial centerfor Cambridge, as well as for students across the Charles River at Harvard Business School, Harvard Square has been a scene of activity day and night for decades. << top kek Sure, I'm dissapointed you guys removed my post, I was keen to hear what people on the Internet thought of it. Time is fleeting. Life is good if you decide that it is. Keep moving ahead. A strong marriage is one of life’s great gifts. So, while all the graduates have their own take on what he or she knows now that escaped them in 1963, there’s a bigger message that those who are still finding their true path should take to heart. 5. I believe that integrity is the most important asset one should foster and maintain. Beware of heroes. Someone who’s made it halfway to the destination? Go with the flow. We’ll know by the end of the day their move. is seen here with students from a project team in 1963. Advice on careers, finance, and life from Harvard Business School's Class of 1963. These statistics probably don’t need reciting again, but for every two marriages performed in the U.S. in recent years, there was one divorce. Feel good about yourself. Invest as much of yourself in your family as in your career — a lesson I had difficulty realizing. Reputations are made slowly and can disappear quickly. The long-term measure of success has less to do, in my view, with monetary achievement and public acknowledgement than with the privilege of being able to provide a path of progress and growth for the family and being part of a loving, supportive family unit. If you can build a good family, it is a blessing. It is, however, a great enabler. Deception in both the public and private sectors seems to be at an all-time high. Know that everything you do will affect those you love the most. Never say an unkind thing about anyone — it will always come back to haunt you. Early on, know your strengths and weaknesses. Keep your sense of humor. Some invaluable lessons can be learned from team sports, such as the interdependence we have on one another and that the whole really is more than the sum of its parts. The most important lessons I learned were from my parents and teachers in my formative years, and during my five years as a paperboy and five years as a drugstore clerk: the importance of integrity, honesty, compassion, diligence, faith in God, and the Golden Rule. If there’s one thing the advice of these 1963 Harvard Business School grads makes abundantly clear, it's that no one is exempt. Start early. The most successful of these alumni — depending on how you define “success” — have still known their fair share of tragedy, illness, and other setbacks. Stay humble. Certain practical lessons I have learned could possibly be helpful to others: First, I would recommend postponing marriage and children until later in life. I came to appreciate more and more Churchill’s admonition to “never give up.” To succeed, we must keep working out solutions to problems that so often seem unsolvable. An important lesson in life is learning whom you can rely on, depend on, and trust, and whom you cannot. The ability to look back on life and say, “I did it the right way” is a treasure. Never forget where you came from, and always remember what you are here for. This 1965 photo shows the dean of Harvard Business School, George P. Baker, with Myles Mace and George Lombard, both longtime professors at the School. We are always indebted to others for our successes, including our strong forbearers — mother and father, members of our family, teachers, colleagues, mentors, and priests. Do not smoke or drink excessively. We will always have people who will deceive others for personal gain. Money helps satisfy your curiosity concerning the world. Travel is another great spur to personal growth. All this information leads one to spot trends and look into the future for new trends — sometimes bad and sometimes good. Do not fool yourself that you can do anything and turn around any product, project, or company without the right people and resources. Ever an opinionated bunch, the 1963 grads had plenty to say. My mother is still alive at 101 and she hasn’t taken a pill in 10 years. It’s about our relationships with each other. Things happen. Someone a few yards away from the trailhead? Treat your body to exercise for an hour each day, every day. Discover 3 alternatives like Irrationally Yours and 80,000 Hours Career Quiz continue introduction. Find your preference or your passion, then focus on it to your heart’s content. My wife Sue and I have visited 168 countries, and have roughly 40 to go to exceed the number in the United Nations and reach what most consider the more civilized world. At the center of Harvard Square is the subway kiosk, now a well-visited newsstand, Out of Town. Lots of opportunities, but in the end, you have only one chance for “a life.” Get some happy, positive ground rules and standards early for your guidance and sanity checks, then go for it. In a world where greed and taking shortcuts seem to be major themes, there is nothing that can replace one’s reputation. What were the turning points in your life — and knowing now what you didn't know then, what would you advise someone to do when one comes along? "Realize that your purpose in this world is, first and foremost, to make a better life for others. For me, there is something I know now which I am allowed to do that I did not know … My career is unique because it spans a half-century — from when there were no business opportunities for a bright female MBA to now, when there is every opportunity for women. 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