If I knew then what I know now...

the very cool word visualization of dominant/recurrent words/phrases across all responses, created by wordle

A few months ago, I posted a question on Linkedin:

If you could go back and tell yourself one thing at the start of your career based on what you now know, what would that be?

Here are some of my favorite responses:

Be bolder.
 - Jann LaGoy Mirchandani
Online Marketing Specialist at Marketing Cafe

I would tell myself to ask questions until I had the answers, then go for it and expect to learn along the way.
 - Debi Davis
Host of Mind Your Own Business Radio on WLOB

To not worry about what other people think is possible or impossible and to know in yourself that if you have a huge enough desire and passion for your goals, you will find a way of achieving them. Always think big! 
- Audra Weir 
Entrepreneur, Success Educator & Lifestyle Mentor, Personal Development, Business Owner www.FlexYourSuccess.com

Put yourself in a place, where opportunity can see you.
 - Xuan Tran
Entrepreneur, Business Development Manager at Advance Vision Technology.

Find good mentors. Look at big picture. I ...had to figure out everything on my own. There is no reason I couldn't have started my own "godaddy.com" or paypal, I was just thinking too small. 
 - Kaki Flynn
Global Basecamp for Guides, Founder

Know what you want to achieve and be relentless in pursuing your dreams. You have the wheel.
 -Kieran Major
Financial Analyst, The Williams Company

Overall, the theme in the responses was self trust, big think, and less deference to the opinions - particularly the limiting opinions - of others.

What are we missing?

(side note - with the sad news of Steve Jobs' death just upon publishing this article, I have included a Steve Jobs quote that is also on point to the theme above:

'Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice.

And most important, have the courage to follow your own heart and intuition. They already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary'.

 - Steve Jobs