From rising political superstars to disgraced possible convicts.

In late January, former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, were charged with taking bribes from a dietary supplements maker. The couple is accused of accepting, among other gifts, a $6,500 Rolex engraved with “71st governor of Virginia,” $15,000 in catering costs for their daughter’s wedding and a shopping spree worth $20,000 (see everything they bought).

Reuters reports Bob and Maureen have pleaded not guilty and now await a trial that begins in July. They could face prison time and over $1 million in fines.

Someone should have told the McDonnells: if you (allegedly) accept bribes, you will get caught and your career will fall apart.

What else should we know as we navigate our 20s and beyond? Below are 24 things we ALL need to realize about the real world.

1. (**Message to all future politicians**) No matter how important you think you are, you’re not above the law. 

2. A flimsy handshake and poor eye contact make you look weak and unsure of yourself.

3. There is absolutely nothing standing in the way of what you want to accomplish. The only roadblock, of course, is you.

4. If you say you’ll do something and then you don’t, you will lose a person’s trust. And it’s really hard to win that back.

5. When someone asks “Hey, how’s it going?”…they don’t actually want to hear all of your problems. Just say “Fine” and move on.

6. Nowadays, people have extremely short attention spans. So whenever you have a choice between being brief or drawn out, choose the former and leave the rest alone.

7. If you’re not willing to fail, then you’re not willing to succeed.

8. You’re struggling to find a job because you’re not being memorable. This is the smart way to stand out.

9. No one cares why you were late to work or missed a deadline. We all have issues to deal with. Handle your business.

10. Stars don’t align. Happy coincidences are a myth. Only through grit and determination will you put yourself in a position to be successful. It’s scientifically proven.

11. At a networking event, if you wait for someone to come over and talk to you…you might as well have stayed home. And don’t forget about the firm handshake.

12. Professional growth today is all about personal branding. The smartest way to separate yourself: a personal blog, and here’s why.

13. The stuff that matters is often really, really difficult to achieve. If you’re truly passionate about something, prove it.

14. The real world isn’t interested in your unnecessarily long two-page resume. Just answer this: what are your relevant skills?

15. Change jobs to further your career: legitimate. Quit because things got tough: you’re a stereotype. Thanks for making the rest of our Millennial generation look badly.  

16. It’s difficult to learn anything new if you’re always the one talking.

17. Go ahead and pass on that golden opportunity. Because those come around every day.

18. Talk is cheap. Don’t tell me — SHOW me.

19. If you say to yourself, “I will go above and beyond today,” you’d be amazed how many opportunities present themselves to do just that.

20. If all you do is take, take, take…you won’t get very far.

21. Plenty of 24 year olds are viewed in the office as too young to have big responsibility. Plenty others are rising stars with management written all over them. The difference? Initiative.

22. It’s not “How can this job help my portfolio?” It’s “How can I help the company prosper?” The resume building will take care of itself.

23. Sometimes you get sent to the big industry conference in sunny San Diego. Other times you get to empty all the overflowing office trash cans. Smile during both.

24. A list post like this is only worthwhile if you take it to heart. Otherwise, it’s mindless scrolling. And in the real world, wasted time won’t get you anywhere.

What else do we need to realize about the real world?

Share below!

Feature photo: markn3tel (Flickr)