The smell of crisp, spring air means graduation season is upon us. The Class of 2015 is ready to march down the aisle, diploma in hand, energetic and ready to take on the world.

I was no exception at age 22. I graduated from a prestigious university, certain of my ability to thrive in the business world.

Since then, I’ve endured my fair share of professional highs and lows, appreciating the many lessons those experiences have taught me. In no particular order, here is a list of 22 nuggets of wisdom I wish I had acquired along with my diploma:

There are no absolutes; everything exists on a scale.

Neither failures nor successes are distinct states but varying degrees on the same scale; you are only more or less successful at any given time. Set your sights on the positive end of the scale, and visualize it every time you have the opportunity to push yourself, or your team, closer to a goal.

Acknowledge your weaknesses, but focus on developing your strengths.

Focusing on curing weaknesses is costly. It requires a significant commitment in time and effort to reduce your weaknesses, even marginally. On the other hand, you will flourish if you focus your efforts (and your team’s) on developing and leveraging your natural strengths. Manage weaknesses, and develop strengths.

Seek out criticism.

Growing up as a competitive athlete, criticism, for me, was abundant. Feedback from coaches, friends and parents flowed freely and helped me fine-tune my skills. In the business world, I was surprised to discover how much effort I had to put into acquiring criticism — constructive or otherwise. There is a deluge of reasons why people are averse to delivering criticism in the business world, but commit to seeking it out. Learning how to accept criticism gracefully and build confidence in your ability to sort through the good and the bad are incredibly liberating experiences.

Travel as much as possible.

In addition to providing unforgettable memories, travel broadens your perspective, refines your tastes and provides you with fodder for meaningful conversations in all settings. Yes, traveling can be expensive for most 22 year olds. As cheesy as it sounds … if you can’t afford to travel, travel with your mind. I’ve realized profound personal growth from reading the philosophies of other cultures and other generations, something business books and listicles fail to deliver. Pun intended.

Be compassionate, but don’t crawl into a hole with someone.

For empathetic types like me, this is a difficult but critical lesson to learn when you transition into a leadership role. When someone falls into a hole and cries out to you for assistance, you serve them best by staying outside and extending them a ladder, not by crawling into the hole with them. Stay objective, understand the problem, and provide advice rather than becoming part of the problem.

Rise from the pack.

The first step is to stop seeing yourself as “one of them.” Find something that makes you different. Don’t stop when you meet resistance. Recognize you can achieve this and still be a team player.

Always be changing.

Don’t anchor your definition of self to time and memories. Each day is a new opportunity to be better than the day before – make it your mission to be the best at progress.

Find humility.

Stop thinking you deserve something because you’re (insert: good, smart, kind, whatever). This is key to building the right relationships early in your career.  If you need help finding humility, see #3.

Focus on your personal rate of growth.

Make this your #1 priority in the early years of your career. Don’t exhaust yourself looking for the perfect job. Instead, look for the one that rapidly accelerates your growth. Once you stop growing, move on.

Strategically pick your battles.

Ugh, I was naive in my early days. I thought any battle was worth fighting if my position was better, more correct or more than just the decision at hand. Don’t do this.

Develop T-shaped expertise.

Demonstrate broad knowledge with deep expertise in your field. If you are good at everything, you might achieve the reputation that you aren’t great at anything. On the other hand, if you’re too specialized, you limit your opportunities.

Become an expert in identifying the 3 percent; 97 percent won’t matter.

This is true for your inbox, meetings, relationships and pretty much anything that demands your time each day. Learn to sort through the clutter, and identify the 3 percent of things that truly add value to your company, your career and your relationships.

Ask for help.

You really can’t do it all on your own. Don’t be afraid to ask others for help, and clearly state what you want and why. Give back generously.

Be vulnerable.

Putting yourself in a vulnerable position requires courage, but it builds trust, and it has a positive snowball effect, giving others permission to take risks and be brave (See this Ted Talk).

“No” is the most important word you will speak.

Learn to use it. Others will respect your decision, and you won’t regret it.

Cultivate your own happiness.

Happiness is a personal responsibility; no one can take it from you, and no one can give it to you.

Learn to deal with critics.

Remember your fans want you to succeed, so don’t worry about the critics. Don’t judge your self-worth on what the critics think or, more importantly, on what you think they think.

Ask questions, then shut up and listen.

If you want to focus on your personal rate of growth, you need to be listening far more than talking.

Don’t take yourself too seriously.

A wise old man once told me this, and it always makes me chuckle at just the right time.

Be great at what is assigned to you, and be greater at what is not.

Take initiative, and surprise and delight your boss and coworkers. In the business world, there are few things more disappointing than someone who does exactly what they are told.

Impressions still matter.

Despite the trend in increasingly casual work environments and dress codes, impressions still matter. The good news is that this trend makes it easier than ever for you to make a good impression. Dress well. Be clean. It’s simple.

Don’t put it in email.

I could provide 100 examples of things that should never go in an email, but there is one easy rule. If you ever find yourself questioning, “Should this be in an email?” the answer is a firm NO.

Bonus tip: Despite my enthusiasm for sharing advice, I’m an advocate for learning from your own experiences rather than heeding the advice of others. Enjoy the journey, and don’t worry about having good or bad experiences – just have experiences. You will find your way.

How about you? What would you tell your 22-year-old self?