• Don’t chase, attract — What you chase eludes you. What you attract pursues you.
• Reinvent yourself — If your old clothes no longer fit, get rid of them. This will solve the temptation to slip back into them when you are looking for something comfy and familiar. Finding new clothes may be difficult, but in the long run, you’ll be happier in your new skin. H/T to Derek Sivers
• Self-awareness — It is important to take the time to figure out who you are, then, unapologetically be that person. It took me years to learn this.
• Circumstances — Every person should make a list of circumstances they find unacceptable. Not only circumstances that are unacceptable in life, but also things like careers, your significant other, etc. Keep the list handy. Revisit it often.
• Reputation — It takes years of work to build a good reputation. And it can be destroyed in less than 5 minutes. Don’t do dumb things that will erase the trust you have spent years building.
• Quality over quantity — Keep your possessions few and only buy things you love. Keep your life compact — think ‘nimble living’ — remain lean and agile.
• Choosing a spouse — It is the most important decision you will make along with where to live and what to do. Choose wisely.
• You can’t sell sameness — Be authentic and true to yourself. Acquire a unique set of skills and experiences. This is how you become a person who stays in demand.
• Have uncomfortable conversations — The more of them you have, the more successful you will be. H/T to Tim Ferris
• Decisions — Make personal and financial decisions that allow for increased freedom. Do things that make it so you can control your time.
• Focus — Focus on the things you want, not on the things preventing you from getting what you want.
• Strength training — Lift heavy things. Building muscle is an investment that pays off throughout your life. Lifting weights not only builds muscle but also strengthens tendons and bones while making your body more metabolically expensive. Plus you’ll look good naked.
• Live wide — Aside from living a long life aim to live the full width of your life. I can’t remember where I heard this.
• Streamline — Simplify your life as much as possible. Create personal systems to be a productive and organized human.
• Talk to strangers — Make small talk with strangers. Everyone has a story and you never know who you are going to meet. A 5-10 minute conversation is an investment into your knowledge of the world.
• Don’t leave people hanging — Always get back to someone who is waiting for a response from you. A simple “Thanks, but this project isn’t for me.” allows others to move on with their life.
• Assume you know nothing — You’ve likely experienced a minuscule fraction of the world. Don’t make assumptions about other people, cultures, etc.
• Do it well — Always tip well, dress well, travel well, and speak well of others.
• Take the stairs — If it’s less than 4 flights, skip the elevator and take the stairs.
• Manage your energy — Make a list at the end of the day of the things that drained you of energy. People, tasks, and situations. Avoid those things. Inversely, make a list of the things that energized you and do more of them.
• Parking — Avoid parking next to other vehicles, even if you have to walk farther. Door dings are expensive to fix.
• Don’t upgrade — Never upgrade electronics that don’t need to be replaced. The newer features rarely outweigh the cost.
• Worry — Most problems can’t be solved in the middle of the night. Get some sleep.
• Call your friends out — If you’re not being honest with your friends, do you even have a friendship? Good friends are honest with each other. They tell them things they may not want to hear but need to.
• Don’t skimp — Comfortable clothes, shoes, bedding, and mattress are must-have items. We spend our entire lives using these things.
• Make the call — Make a choice and act on your decision. Don’t waste time waffling about what to wear today.
• Take the plunge — If you are thinking about leaving your spouse or quitting your job, you probably should. On average, people that take the plunge wind up happier.
• Money — Every penny spent is a vote towards the quality of life afforded later.
• Emphasize your quirks — Some people won’t like them but others will find them fun and interesting. Make friends with the latter.
• Remember where you came from — Never forget the people who made you feel confident, loved, or supported.
• Ignore politics — You have very little political influence and every moment spent thinking about politics could better be spent taking a walk, or nap.
• Maintain your privacy — Your entire life doesn’t have to be online, nor should it.
• Make rules — Make rules for yourself instead of relying on willpower. In the hierarchy of good habits, a rule like ‘no alcohol on weekdays’ is more effective than self-discipline alone.
• Clutter — “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” — William Morris
• Practice the Ten-Minute Rule — If a task will take less than ten minutes to complete, do it immediately. If it will take longer, schedule it.
• Practice the 24-Hour Rule — When making a purchase, wait 24 hours to make sure you truly want/need the item. The bigger the purchase, the more time you should wait.
• Make words — Writing is the most powerful way to clarify your thinking. You don’t have to publish, but there is no downside to writing.
• Spend time in nature — It is the quickest way to realize it’s not all about you.
• Practice regret minimization — You only live once. Make every decision with the idea that you don’t want to die with regrets.
• Don’t take it personally — People aren’t thinking about you as much as you think about yourself.
• Will this matter — If something upsets you ask yourself: Will this matter in 5-10 years? If the answer is no, don’t let it ruin your day.
• Desperation — If you look hungry, you’ll starve. This applies to careers, the opposite sex, and many other areas of life.
• Don’t give unsolicited advice — It is probably a waste of your time.