You cannot and should not try to please everyone. Make sure that the right people like you, and it will be expected that others will not. That's how the world works.

When did you feel most fulfilled? When did you impress yourself, or otherwise feel most proud of yourself?

Believe passionately in what you do, and never knowingly compromise your standards and values. Act like a true professional, aiming for true excellence, and the money will follow.

I will accept your influence, guidance and direction if (and only if) I believe that you and I share similar goals.

What is important is what inspires persistence and determination- in other words what you care about.

Don't get stampeded by what people around you value. The task is to figure out what YOU value - and value highly enough to throw yourself into with unqualified passion.

No one can manage you if you don't give them permission to do so. But if you are interested in accomplishing as much as you are capable of, then I believe there are good reasons to grant that permission.