Few people in racing have achieved as much at such a young age as Joseph O'Brien. A Classic-winning jockey who has gone on to become one of the leading trainers of his generation, O'Brien has enjoyed top-level success across the world.As part of TDN's Words to Live By series, Gary King asks him about those who have shaped his career, the advice he received from his father Aidan, and the lessons he would pass on to the next generation.TDN: Who has been the most important mentor in your career, and why?Joseph O'Brien: I suppose it would be impossible for me to pick anyone outside of Mum and Dad. They have both been the most significant mentors to me, in racing and in life. Having never worked for anybody other than them, I simply wouldn't be able to choose anyone else.TDN: What is the best piece of advice you've ever received, and who gave it to you?JOB: A key piece of advice Dad gave me when I started training was not to make the horses any worse than they naturally are, but to allow each of them to achieve the best possible result, rating and grade they are capable of. That will be different for every horse, but if we can get the best out of each individual, then we feel that's our job done.It is about not overcomplicating the process or doing anything that could have a detrimental effect on their career.TDN: What advice would you give to a young person starting out in the Thoroughbred industry today?JOB: My advice would be not to be afraid of making mistakes and to be happy to make plenty of them. Ask lots of questions, be inquisitive and think outside the box. Get stuck in, get your hands dirty and gain as much experience as possible, whatever part of the industry is for you.The post Joseph O’Brien: ‘Don’t Be Afraid of Making Mistakes’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.