…or things I have learned the hard way
Be a man that is calm, capable, and industrious.
You must be the editor of your own life: time, money, and people.
Discomfort is necessary for growth.
Your partner can always use appreciation, encouragement, and admiration.
Life is a messy business, and it will help you tremendously if you can laugh.
Happiness is your choice, and optimism is knowing that you have a choice given the constraints.
Expectations are planned disappointment.
Don’t be infected by somebody else’s mood.
You don’t have to be good at or know everything.
Doing right is better than being right.
Be your own person, and don’t lose yourself in your partner.
Relationships are a choice. Make the choice daily.
Focus on the person you want to be, not the stuff you want to have.
Figuring out what you want in life is often much more complicated than achieving it.
Debt is servitude and avoid it at all costs.
Don’t waste your time with surveys, polls, or marketing calls.
Attitude check: are you running from something or running toward something?
Boredom is always your fault.
Everyone in life is insecure. They either overcompensate or they are shy.
You can give people negative feedback if they are willing and you love them, otherwise don’t bother.
If you are going to be sad or angry, limit it to fifteen minutes, or no more than two days if it is really bad.
The only thing you can change about people is your relationship with them.
It is a waste of energy to regret the past. Spend all of your energy on the present - for your future.
The things that go wrong often make the best memories. Remember this when on vacation.
People don’t notice your mistakes and flaws nearly as much as you think.
When it comes to your kids, remember to go for Principle and not Preferences.
The opposite of depression is not happiness, but feeling like you can accomplish whatever obstacle may come at you.
Being useful will get you farther than worrying about what you want.
Don’t just think it, INK IT!
We suffer into truth.
Everything takes longer than you think, even the things you think will take longer.
Project Management Rule: The quicker you fall behind, the sooner you have to catch up.
As you mature, move from proving yourself to improving yourself.
Keep your work notes at work and your personal notes personal. Always share your notes and show you work with others. No surprises there.
Baseless Speculation is B.S.
Leadership is Momentum
Embrace strategic underachievement of things that don’t add value.
Follow your dreams, if they are hiring.
Never underestimate the man who overestimates himself.
Reality doesn’t need YOU to operate it.