33 Things I've Learned
Tuesday, May 5 marks 33 years I have been in this world. Instead of a typical post, I want to share 33 things I’ve learned over the years.
Communication skills are like a language – you can use them or lose them
Trust, but verify – this goes for people, news articles, stories, and anything that claims to be “truth”
Busy and productive are not the same – aim to be productive, never busy
Read, read, read, read, and read more
A life without hobbies is no life at all
Feel your emotions, then process them as quickly as possible
Don’t be afraid of negotiations. They are just conversations with a win-win outcome
Pay off debt. Save money. Invest in retirement. Repeat in that order
Spend money on what you love. Don’t get sucked into others telling you what to love or how to spend money (assuming you’re already spending responsibly)
Buy high quality whenever possible (see number 2 to ensure you’ve verified what “quality” is to you for the item)
Spend money on experiences over stuff
Few things in life are all-or-nothing. Do what you can, where you can on big issues on the environment, world hunger, etc.
Practice cooking and baking at home – the results are nearly always better than store bought
Eat healthily and mindfully six days per week. Go nuts on day seven
Not all physical fitness delivers the same results for everyone. Be active in ways you enjoy.
Write thank you notes for all your gifts (from outside your immediate family)
You don’t need multiple sets of dishes or “good” china
Try new things & embrace new ideas regularly
It IS possible to make new friends in your 30s
Back all your digital stuff up in the cloud
Shop local & independently owned whenever possible
99.99% of meetings should have been an email
Know when to speak up and know when to shut up
Don’t keep people in your life who don’t want the absolute best for you
Your grades in high school don’t matter in college. Your grades in college don’t matter in the workforce
Anger isn’t a real emotion – anger is a mask for things like shame, embarrassment, jealousy, and fear
It’s okay to be bored – you don’t need to fill every moment with your phone or with tasks
It’s okay to be quiet – you don’t need to fill every silence with noise
“No” is an answer. Get comfortable hearing it and saying it.
Behave like everything is being recorded.
Don’t become complacent – you should never stop growing and learning as a person
Take the time and be picky about where you work. Make sure the company where you work has the same values and ethics as you. Don’t change your values and ethics to fit a workplace
Change your mind when presented with new facts. Aim to be smarter today than you were yesterday
Stay well & be happy, friends.