Life Lessons I’ve Learned Along the Way: Volume 1
After reading Kevin Kelly’s book Excellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I Wish I’d Known Earlier, I decided to create my own list. I loved creating this (I think you should create one too). I generated 96 pieces of advice and I’m releasing them in three volumes.
1. Making it your goal to try and improve 1% every day, even in seemingly small ways. Driving. Writing an email. Making dinner. Folding laundry. Working out. Listening to others. It’ll pay off over time.*
2. Show me your habits and I’ll show you your future. Habits are the compound interest of life.*
3. Engage in various small “life experiments.” Then watch to see what happens.
4. Avoid debt like the plague. If you do, you’ll be better off than the majority of Americans.
5. Never resist the urge to be generous.
6. Change of pace plus change of place equals change of perspective.* That’s why retreats, trips, and getting out of the ZIP code are so important.
7. Take the initiative - to introduce yourself to someone, to meet a new neighbor, to connect with a friend, to apologize. Leaders always go first. Live proactively.
8. Problems are often solved when you leave your phone on your desk and go for a walk. Solvitur ambulando.
10. Faithfulness is massively underrated. It’s not very sexy, but it’s worth it.
11. Live with your arrows pointing out. Rather than walking into rooms and saying, “Here I am!” walk into rooms and say, “There you are!”
12. All of life is either stewardship or surrender. The key is to learn the difference between the two.
13. Grow fruit on other people’s trees.*
14. Sporks are incredibly valuable and wildly underrated.
15. If you’re intentional about your mornings, the rest of the day often works out just fine.
16. To be clear is to be kind.*
17. Culture is created by what you celebrate and the worst behavior leaders are willing to tolerate.* Create healthy cultures at work, in your community, and with your family.
18. It’s only when you’re vulnerable that you grow. Vulnerability always precedes growth.
19. How matters. As the Puritans said, “God loveth adverbs.”*
20. The only true way to live is with purpose and intention.
21. Few things clear your head more than journaling and exercising. You’ll be surprised by what comes spilling out of your mind and heart when writing and sweating.
22. When creating your to do list, don’t just write what needs to be done. Use a strong action-oriented verb, then the task, and when you’ll work on it, followed by how much time do you think it will realistically take to complete the task. “Do report” becomes “Complete the report and email to the team by Wednesday at noon (75 minutes).” It’ll make your tasks more focused, less overwhelming, and easier to get started.
23. In a world of immense distraction, focus is the new superpower.
24. Life is best lived when you live beyond yourself.
25. Never say someone else’s no for them. Ask yourself, “What’s the worst they can say?” No. Can I handle hearing no?” If you can, ask with confidence. Many times people will end up saying yes.
26. Calm is contagious - but so is anxiety. Choose wisely.
27. Leaders are the ones who build trust, bear pain, and bring hope.
28. Strive to be FAT and hungry. Faithful. Available. Teachable. Hungry.
29. Put the phone away. And if you can’t be disciplined enough to do it on your own, hand it to someone you trust and tell them to only give it back when they think you’re ready.
30. Confidence is quiet.
31. Learn to tell engaging stories and ask thoughtful questions.
32. Commit to being a life-long learner. The most practical way to do this is to be a consistent reader.
33. Tears are liquid prayers. When you cry ask yourself, Can I put words to the prayer that my face is praying right now? It’ll help you stay in touch with God, others, and yourself.
*indicates that the thought, idea, concept, or quote – in whole or in part - originated from someone other than me.