Lately, I (the Writerbabe) have been overly interested in talking about professional development and doling out semi-modern career advice. Of course, this endeavor is fine by itself – but I’m really doing a disservice to my readers by focusing so generally on things like professional karma and the differences between backstabbers and gossips.

While those posts are fun to read, I think I can do a little bit better.

So, I’m gently switching the conversation, so to speak. I want to become even more engaged with my readers about whatever advice I can give (and whatever insight my readers are willing to exchange with me as well).  In this case, I’m interested in knowing about lessons. I thought this would be an apt post because, right now, the news is flooded with information about the financial hardship in which the economy is faced. Wall Street and Main Street are both swallowing a huge, bitter pill that deals with the consequences of arrogant hubris, the perils of blind greed and a whole bunch of other things too numerous to mention here.

Such lessons reminded me of one of my favorite books, The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. My favorite character (and with whom I indentifed with the most) was the capricious, self-indulgent Mr. Toad. Why? Because he was completely at ease with doing what he wanted when he wanted – even at his financial and personal detriment. Granted, those aren’t particularly positive traits, but they described me at time in my life when I didn’t account for my mistakes, just like Mr. Toad. 

I did things without thinking and had very little foresight for consequences. I relied too much on friends and family (like Mr. Toad) to come to my rescue. I wouldn’t say my attitude was that of the Cinderella syndrome because I had no expectations of being rescued by circumstances. In fact, I had very little thought about circumstances (present or future).

Where has this capricousness and self-indulgence served me positively? Oh, I was just getting to that. They taught me some very hard and very real lessons. I’m sure everyone has had their school of hard knocks lessons to share. I am no different. Not one to try and repeat myself, I make sure that I stick to the lessons that I’ve learned over the years. My ever growing list of “Lessons Learned & Learning” is still a work in progress (and always will be), but here are the ones that are (so far) the most important to me:

• Stop being so self-conscious
• Do not think you are exempt from being lied to or lied about
• Happiness and satisfaction are not necessarily the same thing – but one does feed the other
• Your ideas are good – stick to them, but don’t be afraid to improve upon them
• Show up – no matter what
• Don’t take snubs personally, they say more about the other person than they do about you
• Trust your instincts and (educated) guesses
• Be judgmental only when it serves well to do so
• People who habitually make snap judgments do not make the best acquaintances – neither do insecure people (you know who they are)
• Don’t think you are weird because you didn’t like college or high school (or both)**

**OK,that last one isn’t an actual lesson – but a realization of sorts (but aren’t all lessons just realizations – they keep cropping up until you get it – that elusive epitome?). I wouldn’t say I’m still like Mr. Toad: indulgent, self-centered (and a little more than reckless). But I do appreciate the lessons that have been produced from his extremities. After all, my Inner Mr.Toad made me a lot smarter than I was before, but I can only hope that he doesn’t keep getting me into trouble.