What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20 by Tina Seelig - Outline and Reflection

A little over a year ago I started really getting into listening to interesting entrepreneurial podcasts. Since then I have listened to many excellent speakers and used much of the advice that I’ve learned from the podcasts. However, there are only a few of these entrepreneurial podcasts stand out in my mind in their entirety. One of which is from Stanford University’s impressive collection of Entrepreneurial podcast.

Tina Seelig’s Things I wish I knew when I was 20 is one of those exceptional listens. Tina Seelig is the Executive Director for Stanford’s Technology Ventures Program and an excellent speaker. If you haven’t listened to it, I would highly recommend doing so. Her advice translates well to any old or young professional, even if you never plan on opening up your own business.

One of the reasons I find her talk so powerful, is because most of the entrepreneurial speakers that I’ve heard speak, mention one or more of the things she speaks of in her lecture. Therefore, I feel that her speech is one of the best advice summaries for entrepreneurs. I listen to this podcast and review my notes each time I am preparing to start a new project to get motivated right from the begining. I would recommend the same for anyone else.

Although my outline and reflection of her talk cannot do proper justice on the podcast, it might be useful for a quick reference.

Tina Seelig’s “Things I wish I knew when I was 20″ summary and reflection.

1. Every problem is an opportunity for a creative solution
The bigger the problem, the bigger the opportunity. No one is going to pay you to solve something that doesn’t need to be solved. In other words, if it is not broken or cannot be improved upon, then don’t fix it. Many ideas are good but great ideas create value for others. Those are the ones that succeed.

2. The harder I work, the luckier I get
Lucky people put themselves out-there at every available opportunity, therefore generating more opportunities to be lucky. For example, you can’t win the lottery if you never play in the first place; and furthermore your probably not going to win the lottery if you just play once.

3. Find an intersection between your passions, your skills, and the market
Just because your passionate about something, does not mean it is profitable. Know your passions, polish your skills, and keep an eye out for opportunities in the market.

4. Try lots of things and keep what works
If you always do things the same way you have no basis to say that there isn’t a better way. Things always can be improved so live a little, try something new.

5. You don’t have to wait to be anointed
Entrepreneurs are generally very self-driven people. Do the work, then you get the title. Not the other way around.

6. Don’t burn bridges
It is a small world. Karma comes back around. In business, your not expected to like everyone you come in contact with, and don’t expect that everyone will like you. However, if you treat everyone with respect, you are more likely to get it in return in the future.

7. You can do it all, just not at the same time
Pick a few things in your life that you want to excel at and focus only on those things then reassess those things often. Also, try to balance your life on a longer term to keep from being bored.

8. It’s the little things that matter most
Don’t take the little things for granted. Always say thank you and learn how to give a firm handshake.

9. When in a team, the key is to make everyone else successful
When you help others, chances are it will return to you many times fold.

10. Never miss an opportunity to be fabulous
You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Work at 110% at everything you do.

I hope this advice is as valuable to others as it is to me.

-E

What you wouldn’t want to hear on an airplane

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