You must learn from your past mistakes, but not lean on your past successes.
Life is a do-it-for-others, do-it-yourself project.
Life is self-fulfilling prophecy.
You must continue to gain expertise, but avoid thinking like an expert.
Identify with excellence, put your name on your work, and both your work and name will stand the test of time.
Don't wait for mentors to seek you out. Don't ever wait for your phone calls to be returned, your letters to be answered, your faxes to be responded to. Keep going out and asking question.