What Is the Best Piece of Advice You’ve Ever Received?

2020 Commencement Quotes

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received and why?


Mikey Tanha President The Madera Group  Tocaya Organica   Horizontal BW

When I was a student-athlete at UCLA, Coach John Wooden used to occasionally come and talk to our team before games. One of his most well-known mantras, and something he used to tell us, was, “Make each day your masterpiece.” I’ve always taken this mindset to heart and have applied it to everything I do, including business. 

—Mikey Tahna, president of The Madera Group and Tocaya Organica


Jason Khoo BW

I read this advice from Reid Hoffman: “If you’re not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you’ve launched too late.” Whenever I catch myself having too much doubt or worrying too much about things looking a certain way, I think of this quote and move forward. 

Jason Khoo, founder and CEO of Zupo


Michael Indelicato BW

Work on the business, not in the business. Taking a step back to gain a 360-degree view provides a CEO with the opportunity to see things differently and therefore lead more effectively.

Michael Indelicato, Founder and CEO of RDI Diamonds, Inc.



Bill Plovanic Headshot 2 ADJ 1

There is no right or wrong decision. Make the best decision possible with the information you have available. There are very few decisions that you cannot change if new information becomes available–upon which you can then make a different decision.

—William J. Plovanic, president and CEO of Obalon Therapeutics


This article originally appeared in the July/August 2020 issue of SUCCESS magazine.
Photo by GaudiLab/Shutterstock.com

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