Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of speaking with thousands of professionals across Facilities Management, Property, Estates, Workplace, Health & Safety, and the wider business community.
Recently, we asked some of them a simple question:
The answers ranged from practical career guidance to life lessons, leadership wisdom, and a few humorous reminders that have clearly stood the test of time.
Here are some of our favourites.
If you don’t know the answer, say so.
One senior CEO summed it up perfectly:
“Don’t try to bluff your way through. Most of the time, the person asking the question already knows the answer.”
People respect honesty. They rarely respect excuses.
This was one of the most common responses.
Authenticity builds trust, strengthens relationships, and makes leadership far easier. Pretending to be someone you're not is exhausting.
The best professionals don't try to imitate others. They focus on becoming the best version of themselves.
Great careers are rarely built alone.
Seek out people who challenge your thinking, broaden your perspective, and raise your standards.
As the saying goes:
“If you're the smartest person in the room, you're probably in the wrong room.”
Experience often speaks quietly.
While important decisions should always be supported by facts and evidence, many successful leaders acknowledge that intuition has played a significant role in some of their biggest decisions.
Listen to your gut - particularly when something doesn't feel right.
One respondent shared:
“Making a bad decision is often better than making no decision at all.”
Many people spend so much time seeking the perfect answer that they never move forward.
Good organisations learn, adapt, and improve. They don't stand still.
When facing a difficult conversation, challenging meeting, or unexpected problem:
Pause.
Take a breath.
Think before you speak.
The ability to remain calm when others are panicking is one of the most underrated professional skills there is.
The world changes quickly.
Technology evolves.
Industries evolve.
Jobs evolve.
The people who continue to learn continue to grow.
Whether it's a book, podcast, article, conversation, or new skill, commit to improving a little every day.
Good feedback feels great.
Constructive feedback often doesn't.
Both are valuable.
The most successful people aren't those who avoid criticism. They're the ones who learn from it.
As one leader put it:
“Whether it's good, bad, or indifferent - feedback is feedback. Use it.”
Before making a decision or taking action, ask yourself:
“What outcome am I trying to achieve?”
This simple question can cut through noise, politics, distractions, and unnecessary complexity remarkably quickly.
Whether you're managing a facilities budget, running a business, leading a project, or planning your career, understanding the numbers matters.
Data drives better decisions.
The best leaders balance intuition with evidence.
One piece of advice appeared in different forms multiple times:
“Be careful who you upset on the way up. You may meet them again on the way down.”
Professional reputations take years to build and moments to damage.
Respect costs nothing.
Kindness is remembered.
Relationships matter.
Praise people publicly.
Coach people privately.
Recognise effort.
Celebrate success.
The strongest teams are built by leaders who make others feel valued.
One contributor offered this gem:
“Stay away from people who think they know everything. Spend time with people who want to learn everything.”
Curiosity is often the difference between stagnation and growth.
The best professionals never stop asking questions.
Perhaps the most powerful submission was:
“IF IT IS TO BE, IT IS UP TO ME.”
Ten simple words.
A powerful mindset.
While we can't control everything that happens to us, we can control how we respond.
Ownership is often the foundation of achievement.
One response stopped us in our tracks:
“When you die, they'll send flowers. Go home.”
A reminder that careers matter.
Success matters.
Achievement matters.
But family, health, friendships, and experiences matter too.
Work is part of life - not the whole of it.
Some advice needs no explanation:
“Never sit down before checking for toilet paper.”
And:
“Don't eat yellow snow.”
Not all wisdom is corporate.
Advice is powerful because it is usually earned.
Behind every lesson is a mistake, a success, a challenge, or an experience that taught someone something worth sharing.
Some of the advice above may resonate with you immediately.
Some may only make sense years from now.
But if there is one message that connects them all, it is this:
What is the best piece of advice you've ever been given?
