Harper Lee was once quoted as saying, “Many receive advice, but only the wise profit from it.” And while that’s likely true, we still decided to ask some of our readers what the best piece of advice they’d ever been given–and we’re very impressed with what they had to say... 36 • <strong>April</strong>/<strong>May</strong> <strong>2016</strong>
Michelle Bernard One piece of advice that has stuck with me over the years is from my mother. Her words to my sister and me were, “Stay in a child’s place and enjoy being a girl for as long as you can. If you’re blessed to continue living, you will be a woman a lot longer than you will be a girl.” Clay Jones “You can’t blame a hammer for being a hammer. It is what it is” To me, this quote sums up the importance of understanding personality types and reaching authenticity, and how it can be used in the real world. First of all, a hammer is a hammer, and it will never fundamentally be anything else, and such is the case with human personality to a certain extent. John Gough The best piece of advice that I’ve ever received was told to me by a senior NCO in 1985 while serving in the Army on the DMZ in South Korea. “It’s only a thing.” I have used that throughout my life and feel it has been a guiding light for my success. No matter how hard we try or how bad conditions may be, we will always have ups and downs. Knowing that “it’s only a thing” means that life will always move forward and the “thing” will eventually be part of the past. Courtney McGee The best piece of advice I have ever received was given by my mother-in-law, a former teacher. She said, “Courtney, leave work at work. It will be there when you get back.” Being a first-year teacher, I am always concerned with whether I am doing enough. I would often bring work home and spend hours stressing over getting everything right. One day, I finally listened to my motherin-law and left work at work. I am now able to live a balanced life of work and family. Rachel Clay One of the best pieces of advice I have received as a first year teacher is to trust in yourself and be confident in your ability to teach. A veteran teacher once told me, “You can not let the fact that you are new teacher be a barrier to success as a educator. Celebrate every small accomplishment, no matter how small it may seem to others around you.” Leisa McCool When asked to give the best advice that I have ever been given, of course I thought of my parents. Without actually “giving” me advice, they showed me in the way that they lived. It would be very difficult to answer this question in one sentence, so I will use a Bible verse that portrays their lives, and I hope that my children can say the same for me one day. “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” Proverbs 3:3-4 Nathan McLaurin I have been given a lot of good advice over the course of my life from family, teachers, and coaches. Two things have really stuck with me and have been the most helpful to me in my personal life as well as business. The first piece of advice is, “work hard and do what’s right!” I have always been taught that there is no substitute for hard work and to always do the right thing, even when it’s hard. Secondly, “treat others how you want to be treated.” This is based on a biblical principle that I was taught early in life from Luke 6:31. “Do to others as you would like them to do to you.” This is a philosophy that I try to live by daily. I feel that these principles have helped shape me into the person that I am today. I try to instill these values into my children everyday. Kevin Williams “Never Question God.” From my mother. <strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 37