The Wisdom Project

Dr. Mike, age 86

What are the top 1-3 things you would like to pass on to others? How did you learn this?

1. Never carry a chip on your shoulder.  From my experience I have found several people I have worked with have had this chip on their shoulder and become very bitter.  This in turn has affected their careers which also impacted on their personal lives.  You need to deal with things and make a decision whether to do something about it or to let it drop and forget it and move on.  The whole world is not against you, just your mind.
2. Be sociable to everybody from all walks of life – you never know what you may learn.  This has resulted in me having an eclectic mix of friends and acquaintances who all bring something different into my life.
3. Take a real interest in people – it makes them feel good about themselves.  This is the gift you give.

You’ve seen a lot of significant events and changes over the course of your life. What wisdom can you share from your observations and experiences of the world in your lifetime so far?

Go with the flow – don’t fret over things you can’t change or control.  This has been my philosophy during this COVID crisis.

What obstacles and disappointments have you faced that you were able to put into perspective, turn into a positive, and/or contribute to in a way that made things better? What did you learn from these experiences that you can share with those who did not have those same experiences?

When I started my career I was told that I had my work cut out as I was up against scientists from Oxford and Cambridge universities who by their education had a head start on me.  I pressed on regardless.  I have had a very rewarding career that I am very proud of.  At the end of the day it was up to me to take my chances and even risks and they paid off.  Don’t let pseudo obstacles get in the way – they may not be real obstacles.