I posted the first part of some career advice that I’ve developed after 50+ years of working.  I’m not an expert, but I’ve worked in private, public, and my own business and have learned a few things.  Here are my ideas–

1.  Career Advice—stay healthy.  When you’re younger health usually isn’t an issue.  As you age, your education and work experience come together to produce “wisdom” and you become very valuable as a result.  But if your health isn’t good, it’s going to crunch your career.  Obviously, if you’re healthy you’ll live longer, have a better quality of life, but you will beat most of the competition in your age range.  In my experience these health problems start in late 40’s and into your 50’s.  Poor health can stop a couple decades more of productive and fun work.  Don’t let it happen to you.
2. Career Advice—attitude matters.  Stephen Covey in his book, “Seven Habits of Highly Successful People,” teaches us that we really can’t control many things in our environment (even though we think we can) including our careers.  All we can really control is our response to the environmental changes.  Or, as Buddhists teach: everything changes all the time.  How you react to change and your attitude about it makes all the difference in your career.  In my experience, most people see (life) the “glass as half empty.”  They focus on all the things they don’t have or things that have gone wrong.  What a depressing and limited attitude to have!  You must practice (because it doesn’t come naturally to any of us) a positive attitude that the glass is half full—and getting more full all along.  Whatever happens in your environment, be flexible, look forward to change because it always offers new opportunities for progress and growth.
3. Career Advice—stay flexible and continue to learn.  Your ultimate value is an ability to think quickly and well.  To keep and improve that skill you must change and stay educated.  Get as much as you can—not only about your job and industry but also about your own, personal growth and how you can improve that.  Your greatest asset will always be your brain.  Don’t sell you career short by starving it.
4. Career Advice—push the envelope because it’s only paper, anyway.  An older man once told me: “I don’t regret the things I did; I regret the things I didn’t do.”  Most people understand this, but year after year they don’t take any chances.  But by my age, you realize what opportunities you’ve lost.  So, why don’t people take more risks?  It’s fear, mostly.  We all have it, but the courageous thing to do is work through it and take thoughtful action.  It will feel uncomfortable—I guarantee that.  But this is the best proof that you’re winning the fight against fear.  And when you get through it, the feeling of mastery over yourself is tremendous.  Then, try it again and again until the fear pretty much disappears.  Can you imagine living such a life full of self-determination, freedom from fear, and success?  Try something new and uncomfortable today.  You’ll become a new and fascinating person!