10 Life Lessons From TV's 'Survivor'

4. Be adaptable

Sandra Diaz-Twine will compete against other winners from the past two decades on "Survivor: Winners at War."

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Flexibility can go a long way for enabling your success. Despite her age and lack of physical strength, Sandra Diaz-Twine became Survivor's only two-time winner (Survivor: Pearl Islands, Season 7, and Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, Season 20) by quickly, consistently and wisely shifting alliances as old ones were shattered by tribal council votes. This strategy could work at your office, as well as at home.

5. Finish what you start

Quitting is not an option if you want to be respected. Although physically strong and well-liked by his tribe, Osten Taylor (Survivor: Pearl Islands, Season 7), didn't enjoy camp life and decided to go, becoming the only contestant ever to quit the show. He didn't even get the honor of getting voted off. That's a claim to fame nobody wants. On the flip side are contestants who stay in the game with injuries, like Rupert Boneham, who broke his toe in the very first challenge of Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, Season 20, and pressed on. Or Missy Payne, who suffered an ankle injury during a reward challenge late in Survivor: San Juan del Sur — Blood vs. Water, Season 29, convinced the medics to bandage her up and stayed on even after they recommended she leave the game.

6. Be prepared

Like a good Girl or Boy Scout, show up ready to rock. If you get a new job, you'd better show up on the first day knowing what's expected — otherwise you'll end up like Garrett Adelstein, Survivor: Cagayan, Season 28), whose lack of knowledge of the game did him in on just the second vote. He was blindsided even though he had an immunity idol — which was not even in his pocket but back at camp — on the sixth day. Who goes to tribal council without their idol? Emulate Survivor: Caramoan, Season 26 winner — by a unanimous vote — John Cochran, who had a weak physical game but was prepared mentally. How? By learning Survivor's life lessons, having watched the show since Season 1. He even wrote a law school paper comparing the jury system of Survivor to the American jury system. His senior-year law school yearbook quote? “The tribe has spoken.”

7. Don't mix business with pleasure unless you're sure the feeling is mutual

"Boston Rob" Mariano proposed marriage to Amber Brkich, which she accepted, on the set of the "Survivor: All-Stars" finale at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

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This will leave you not just exposed but weakened. Billy Garcia of Survivor: Cook Islands, Season 13, professed his love at first sight for fellow contestant Candice Cody — who unfortunately did not reciprocate, leaving him to unleash some harsh words when he was voted out. Not a pretty memory. Then there were “Boston Rob” Mariano and Amber Brkich, who were each other's sidekicks throughout Survivor: All Stars, Season 8. He took her to the finale, where she ultimately won both Survivor and the guy, as Rob proposed during the live airing. Married since 2005, these parents of four kids will both compete again on the upcoming season.

8. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again

Mariano proves that persistence pays: It took him until his fourth Survivor season to clinch the sole survivor title on Survivor: Redemption Island, Season 22.

9. Find your people

Create bonds and alliances to ensure that you've got support. Otherwise you might end up like Sean Kenniff of Survivor: Borneo, Season 1, who never made any deals or any alliances with anyone. He voted with an “alphabet strategy,” based on what letter the contestants’ names started with, and contestants voted him out as the alliance outsider. An AARP study found that social isolation poses big health risks for older Americans — here are some scientific treatments that may be even more effective than learning from Survivor.

10. If you're going to fire (or break up with) someone, don't tell them before you do

Kassandra "Kass" McQuillen, J'Tia Taylor, Latasha "Tasha" Fox and Spencer Bledsoe of the Brains Tribe at Tribal Council of "Survivor: Cagayan."

Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty Images

Contestants on Season 28, Survivor: Cagayan, learned the hard way that telling someone they're going to be voted out isn't always the best idea. Spitfire J'Tia Taylor got so angry, she poured all of the tribe's rice supply into the fire. Remember: A family (or work team) survives best by surviving together.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story said the writer had seen all 40 Survivor seasons, but she only saw the 39 already aired.