No one asked for advice, but you get it anyway...

Congratulations to our recent Colorado Mountain College graduates and to our upcoming high school graduates. What an accomplishment! You should take pride in your achievements and hard work.

With graduation comes my annual unsolicited advice column. I hope you find some value in the life lessons that follow; learning, after all, is a life-long endeavor and we all have a long way to go. That said, here’s some unsolicited advice for our graduates:

Watch out for those who talk the talk but don’t follow up with action. These people are toxic. Try to avoid them.

Don’t cut corners. Remember that rules are rules; they don’t change based on your whims or your opinion. Work within the rules, or work to change the rules, but don’t cheat the rules.

Don’t be afraid to try new things and do so often. Be curious, open-minded, and a lifelong learner.

Be kind to yourself and to everyone else.

Use this simple decision-making lens: Doing what is right is good.

What others think of you is none of your business. Do you and be kind.

When you come to a fork in the road, take it. If you don't like the fork you took, don't go back. Instead, find a new fork and make your choice based on what you've learned.

College is the only time in your life where you are an adult, but your job is to learn and have fun. Don't forget the learning in the having fun - you will need that information in the future. And don't have so much fun that you forget what you did - your kids need those stories of days past to remember you were young once.

Praise in public. Criticize in private. If you are going to complain about something, finish your complaint with a solution.

Work doesn’t have to be painful. If your job is not good for your mental health, get out.

And take your vacation days, really take them. Disconnect when given the opportunity.

You will reflect those who surround you, so choose your friends well.

Always be on time, or better yet, be five minutes early. But sometimes things happen, so if you are running late be sure to tell people you're running late.

Invest in yourself…self-development, spiritual growth, and compassion towards you, are deeply underrated.

Do not believe the “you can do anything if you work hard” message. If you are 5’2” tall and never played sports, you’ll never play for the Nuggets; if you can’t hit a curveball, you’ll never play for the Rockies. Winning a Nobel prize is not attainable for everybody who puts their mind to it. Work hard, aim high, and set aspirational goals – but do so within the realm of reality.

When working in a group and everyone is under stress, try to be the calm one, the encouraging one, and the one who is the helper. No one will even remember the particulars of the stressful situation in five years. They will remember your support and empathy.

The grass is not always greener because it is a better environment, it is often because there is more fertilizer being spread.

Boundaries are necessary, and no is an acceptable response.

Remember to floss.

Most importantly, you are in the business of you! Not your school, not your employer, not your friend group. Learn to set boundaries and do what is best for you. You are the only one in charge of your life. I cannot wait to see where you end up and am confident the best is ahead.

Chris Romer is president & CEO of Vail Valley Partnership, the regional chamber of commerce. Learn more at VailValleyPartnership.com