Occasionally I run across things in my travels down the info superhighway that deserve more than a repost on social media. Obviously I’m an opinionated guy, and self reflection is a pseudo hobby. Ol’ Blue Eyes once sang “Mistakes…I’ve made a few, but then again, too few to mention”. Well, good for him. As for me, I’ve made much more than a few errors, and, while it doesn’t do much good to dwell on such things, when I engage in an exercise like this it is unavoidable. I feel confident in opining that most of us wish we had the kind of knowledge at the age of 20 that we possess a few decades later, but let’s see how many of these particular nuggets of wisdom I perceive as authentic.

1 When you think something nice about someone, let them know right then.

Okay, I can get onboard with that. Being a nice person is generally a wise idea, although I believe the issue being referenced is the reticence many of us that are more reserved might feel in being that open, which I understand.

2 Never think twice about investments in yourself. They pay dividends for a long time.

If you were raised a certain way this advice may be perceived as selfish. I get that, but the difference between 20 & 50 is realizing that taking care of yourself isn’t a bad thing because most of the time you are the only person you can count on.

3 Put your alarm clock in the bathroom. If you have to get up to turn it off, you won’t snooze.

Not bad advice at all. The snooze button is one of the more low key wicked inventions of all time. Don’t be lazy…get your ass out of bed!!

4 If you want to get better at anything, do it for 30 minutes per day for 30 straight days.

Author Malcolm Gladwell wrote about his 10,000 Rule, which essentially means you need to practice something for 10,000 hours to become truly proficient. If you practice 30 minutes per day it would take you almost 55 years to really become great using Gladwell’s rule, so that math ain’t mathin’. There’s got to be a happy medium, right?? Having said that, I think 30 minutes for 30 days is atleast a good start.

5 Hire a writer to document your parents’ childhood stories. Print it with old photos.

It’s a fantastic idea, not only for parents but grandparents too. Realistically though, no one does that. Life gets in the way. We get busy. However, if I knew then what I know now (which is kind of the point of this project) I think I’d use technology to do something akin to it. How cool would it be to have a bunch of video of long gone loved ones?? Younger generations have a leg up on us older folks with social media & smart phones. They document everything anyway, so why not “interview” your parents & grandparents while they’re still around?? Trust me kids…you might think it’s silly in the moment, but decades from now you’ll be so happy you did it.

6 Write down three things you’re grateful for before bed. Read them out loud when you wake up.

I could get onboard with something like that. Just forcing yourself to reflect on what you should be grateful for is a worthy use of time.

7 Go for a 15 minute walk every morning. It has a positive impact on your mood, sleep, metabolism, digestion, and more.

Well, I can’t walk ♿️, but otherwise I agree. Exercise & fresh air are never bad ideas, and I wish that had been ingrained into my lifestyle many years ago.

8 Always pursue the path that has the larger luck surface area.

I had no idea what that meant, so I looked it up. Luck surface area is “the amount of exposure an individual or organization has to opportunities & resources that can lead to success. The larger the luck surface area, the more opportunities & resources one is exposed to and the more likely they are to experience good luck.” If I’m reading that correctly it boils down to networking, putting yourself out there, taking chances, & engaging with others as much as possible. I didn’t realize until I was in my 40s that I’ve been in survival mode my entire life, taught to play it safe & not take chances. Consequently I’ve lived a very small, ineffective, hollow life. Nothing I’ve done really matters. I’m not blaming anybody…I take responsibility for my own shortcomings. That being said, I encourage anyone to mostly do the opposite of what I have done.

9 Tell your partner one thing you appreciate about them every single day.

If I had a significant other I would happily do just that.

10 Do a few things that you’ll be excited to tell your kids about someday. Create stories worth telling.

Sadly I don’t have any children, and I wouldn’t have any cool stories to tell them anyway. I haven’t gone anywhere or accomplished anything noteworthy. Good advice though.

11 Spend 15 minutes every evening preparing for your first focus tasks the next morning.

That sounds very…corporate.

12 If someone tries to put down your accomplishments, cut them out of your life.

No worries there…on multiple levels. In a vacuum though I will agree with the sentiment. If you have people in your life trying to tear you down get rid of them. That doesn’t mean you want a bunch of sycophants who coddle you, but it’s possible to be forthright with constructive criticism without being a douchenozzle.

13 Take yourself out for a meal alone once each month. It’s an insanely freeing meditative experience.

Thankfully I’ve never minded going out to eat by myself. Actually that’s been the prevailing circumstance in my life.

14 When you’re starting your career, swallow the frog for your boss to get ahead. Observe your boss, figure out what they hate doing, and take it off their plate. Easy win.

That’s not bad counsel. Just don’t become an asskisser. No one likes that, and ultimately the boss won’t respect you.

15. When someone is going through hell, just say “I’m with you.’ Advice is minimally impactful. The notion that someone is with you is 10x more powerful.

Absolutely. Most of the time people just need someone to listen while they vent and agree with their emotional ranting. It’s a pretty easy gig, yet so valuable.

16 If someone regularly brags about their wealth, income, or success, just assume the reality is about 50% of what they say.

No one likes a braggart.

17 Reread your favorite books annually. You may read thousands of books in your life, but there will only be a few that deeply change you. Reread them every single year.

I’m not sure I totally agree, but neither do I disagree. It’s comforting to read your favorite books again just as we enjoy watching the same movies & TV shows repeatedly or listening to the same music over & over. However, whenever I’m re-reading a book part of me feels guilty for not investing that time in a book I’ve not read yet.

18 Never delay difficult conversations. If you’re nervous, do it on a walk, it makes it much easier.

Attack the issue. Don’t procrastinate. Deal with it. That’s what adults do.

19 Do the “old fashioned” things well. Look people in the eye, have a firm handshake, and always stay true to your word.

Absolutely!!

20 If you’re about to say yes to something on the assumption that you’ll have more time for it in the future, say no instead.

YES!! Don’t be so quick to get yourself into a situation you’ll regret. Your time & energy are precious commodities. Learning to say “no” is powerful & pragmatic.

Let’s take a break & finish up in a couple of days.