20+ years into my career (now Director at Amazon), here are 3 things I wish I’d known earlier:
They would've saved me years of trial and error.
1/ Your Words Are Your Leverage
You can be brilliant, but if you can’t explain your thinking, pitch your ideas, or navigate tough conversations—you’ll be underestimated or overlooked.
Learn to write clearly.
Speak with structure.
And tailor your message to the room.
2/ Feedback Is How You Steal Experience
Don’t wait for feedback—hunt for it.
Get your work torn apart by people smarter than you.
Early on, this feels painful.
But it’s how you close the gap between “good” and “excellent” fast.
3/ While Others Network Up—Network Across
The people next to you today?
They’re tomorrow’s hiring managers, VPs, founders.
Your early career cohort becomes your long-game leverage.
Support them. Stay in touch.
It’s a power move most ignore.
These lessons took me a decade to learn the hard way.
If you're just starting out: screenshot this.
If you're not: pass it to someone who is.
What career advice do you wish you got earlier? 👇
My colleagues Rajdeep Saha, Steve Huynh, Sundas Khalid, and Ethan Evans are all sharing insights on early career advice. Check out their perspectives.
