Table of Contents
DEAR GRADUATE:
IF I ONLY KNEW THEN…
A Life Handbook for the
Young Graduate or Professional
_________________________
Timothy J. Deyton
Dedication .................................................................. 3
Table of Contents ....................................................... 5
Foreword .................................................................... 9
Preface ...................................................................... 11
QUOTES ..................................................................... 12
CHAPTER 1: SUCCESS .............................................. 15
The Golden Rule ........................................................ 15
Attitude ..................................................................... 19
Details ....................................................................... 22
Failure ....................................................................... 24
Persevere .................................................................. 27
Organization .............................................................. 30
Intangibles ................................................................ 34
Dress and Interview for Success ............................... 38
Confidence & Humility ............................................... 41
Showing Up ................................................................ 44
Courage ..................................................................... 47
Continuous Improvement .......................................... 50
Think Independently .................................................. 54
Goals ......................................................................... 57
A Lifelong Learning Lifestyle ..................................... 60
CHAPTER TWO: COMMUNICATION & RELATIONSHIPS....64
Listen ........................................................................ 64
Encourage ................................................................. 67
Perception ................................................................. 70
Therapy ..................................................................... 75
Understanding Others ................................................ 78
Family ........................................................................ 81
Admit mistakes .......................................................... 86
Narcissism ................................................................. 89
Healthy Confidence .................................................... 92
Tough Conversations .................................................. 95
Grief ........................................................................... 97
Accepting Others ....................................................... 103
Language ................................................................... 106
Taking Responsibility ................................................. 108
Suicide ....................................................................... 112
Old People ................................................................. 116
Impressing Others ..................................................... 120
CHAPTER THREE: FINANCES .................................... 123
Money ....................................................................... 123
Budgeting .................................................................. 125
Debt ........................................................................... 129
Taxes ......................................................................... 133
Retirement Principles ................................................ 136
Retirement Vocabulary .............................................. 139
Compound Interest .................................................... 148
Insurance .................................................................. 152
Buying a Car .............................................................. 156
CHAPTER FOUR: LEADERSHIP .................................. 159
Leadership, Part I ...................................................... 159
Empower ................................................................... 163
Leadership, Part II ..................................................... 165
Expectations and Boundaries .................................... 168
Mentoring .................................................................. 171
Emotional Intelligence ............................................... 175
Adaptability ............................................................... 180
Identifying Weaknesses ............................................. 183
Building Trust ............................................................ 186
Building Teams .......................................................... 187
Be a Reader ............................................................... 191
CHAPTER FIVE: MORALS, ETHICS, & VALUES .......... 194
Know Your Why ......................................................... 194
Mental Conversation ................................................. 197
Ethics & Values ......................................................... 202
The Truth .................................................................. 205
Right Choices ........................................................... 208
Take a Break ............................................................. 211
Gratitude .................................................................. 214
True Wealth ............................................................... 217
Wisdom ..................................................................... 220
Joy ............................................................................ 223
Self-Control ............................................................... 227
Good Advice .............................................................. 231
Problems ................................................................... 234
Finding a Spouse ....................................................... 237
CONCLUSION ............................................................ 240
EPILOGUE: FAITH ...................................................... 242
TIM’S TOP TEN TIPS FOR AN EMPOWERED LIFE ....... 246
RECOMMENDED BOOKS ............................................ 246
ENDNOTES AND CITATIONS ...................................... 251
