"Use the right tool for the job."

That one is from Dad, who's easily the smartest all-around technical person I know. This one has been proven over and over, no matter if I'm doing A/V work, or trying to pull the pilot bearing out while doing a clutch job.

"Make double payments."

My former boss told me this right after I bought my first place. He said that despite 'having' a lot of stuff, he didn't actually own *anything*. The idea was to build some personal wealth early, for long-term stability. I paid the first place off about 5 years ago (in my early 30's), and that one was a game-changer. It's not industry specific advice, but if you have an aspirations of starting a business, any business, it's *extremely* helpful to have low personal overhead.

"If you're standing still, you're moving backwards."

This was actually the wife of a different boss, and that's something she said as I was leaving the company. But it's true - maintaining your position, over time, is a losing position in the field. You have to keep learning and adapting, all the time.

"Fortune favors the bold."

OK, well maybe that was on the Guinness truck, but I still took it as advice. And it's true. You can be a kick ass employee, but unless you have the stones to take the leap and try for greater things, you'll probably only ever be a great employee.