10 years ago today was my first day at @Octagon.

I have now been a full-time sports professional for an entire decade, which feels impossible to believe.

Here are a few pieces of advice I would tell 23-year-old me if I could go back in time

1. Never assume someone who has more experience than you is always right, or more qualified than you to execute.

Do, however, understand that experience often gives you more context to help determine how pieces fit together.

Seek out experienced view points whenever possible.

2. If you are jockeying for leadership to allocate you more opportunity, you’re doing it wrong.

Your opportunity lies in the unknown. Run toward it. Demystify it.

You can more easily put yourself at the front of a line that doesnt exist, in the process you get 10X experience.

3. The work you put in does not equate to the hours you put in.

You should be eager to earn your stripes and prove yourself. But effective time spent is way more helpful to the company than total time spent.

Work HARD, but don’t live in the office to prove you did.

4. Done is better than perfect, but do not rush things.

I spent so many years trying to please my manager by getting something done as quickly as possible without taking the time to be truly thoughtful on what was needed.

This is an athlete’s mentality you need to unlearn.

5. To quote Jeff Goldblum:

“You were so wrapped up on whether or not you could, you didn’t stop to think if you should”

Don’t do all the things. Do the absolute best few things. If you need to take time to figure out what they are, take the time. The 80/20 rule is real.

6. Most important of all:

- You belong here

- You can do this

- Everything will work out as it should