This post, “6 things I Wish I Knew when I Started Working” is great.  It’s never too late.

Out of all six, here are the two that really resonated with me.

3. “Taking notes never hurt anybody.”- Always bring a notebook with you into a meeting. Put the date, the name of the meeting on the top of the page. Actively listen, but write down things you need to remember. I don’t often look back at my notes, but sometimes I do, especially when there are things I am responsible for which I highlight so I don’t forget. It’s easy to forget how many things get assigned to you in the course of a day, so writing it down is key. When people come into my office without a notebook, they make me nervous.

Actively listen, but write down things like:

-Key facts and figures that you won’t remember once you walk out of the meeting, but will want to refer back to.

-Key dates that will define next steps.

-The next steps everyone agrees on.

6. “No one is thinking about you as much as you are.”

Personally, still working on this one. If you’re self-critical, it means that you think a lot about what you do. Good news? They probably won’t notice what you are beating yourself up about.