*Originally posted August 22, 2011, on my 31st birthday.
Today is my 31st birthday. Yep, I’m on my way to a new decade and I think it is going to be a good one. With that said, I wanted to take the time to reflect on the lessons I’ve learned in the last 31 years of my life. In no particular order of importance…
1. It’s your life. No two people are the same. Embrace the gifts, challenges, and opportunities given to you.
2. Nothing is ever as good or bad as it seems. The bottom is not that low and the top is not that high.
3. Family matters. At least to me. Good, bad, and ugly, I know my family loves me and this gives me strength. Find strength in your family.
4. Find your passion. Branding, fly fishing, water …. Passions make life worth living and people with passions make the world go round.
5. Do what you love. This is generally the easiest thing for you to do. What you think about when you go to bed and what you think about when you get up? Do that.
6. Fill wasted time. Road trip or long commute? Fill your Ipod with audio material you don’t have time to read.
7. Carpe Diem. I’ve heard for years: “you’re young." Don’t wait for the perfect time, because it will never come.
8. Use your words. The brain is a powerful engine and words drive this motor. What you think and say is what you will become.
9. Stay on your feet. Run simple and stand up.
10. Make lists. Simple “to do" lists have become my greatest productivity tool. Email, call, errands, projects, media, etc., all have their own weekly “to do" lists.
11. Buy tickets not toys. I have no shortage of toys, but reflecting back, it’s the trips I remember most, not the “things" I purchased.
12. Nobody is watching you. I’ve always thought people were watching me. What will they think if…? Don’t make decisions based on what other people will think, make decisions for your best interest.
13. Do your best. Win or lose you did your best, what more can you ask for? You gave your best.
14. You grow in the valleys not in the mountains. Times get tough, that is inevitable. As bad as they may be, these experiences craft our character and build our strength.
15. Continuously learn. Read, listen, watch, write. Never stop learning.
16. Everything is relative. Everything. A 15-inch trout is a great catch, until you land one that is 20 inches.
17. Riches have nothing to do with money. For example, I recently took a fishing trip with my dad. At moments, it was impossible to be richer than us.
18. Set Goals. I set about 50 goals a year each divided into six priorities in my life: family, faith, fitness, finances, focus, freelance.
19. Tell someone the goals you set. This will increase accountability and likelihood of achievement.
20. Buy a dog. Health and happiness will follow. For sake of credibility, I didn’t make this up.
21. Eat right and sleep well. I used to think both were a waste of time and resources; I now realize they are two of the greatest inputs to energy and performance.
22. Be spiritual. Not offensive, wacky, sign-holding spiritual, spirituality that gives you peace and purpose. Spirituality that allows you to embrace your blessings.
23. Live where you want. If fly fishing, running, riding, recreation, craft beer, and community are important to you, live there. If they’re not, live somewhere else.
24. Love. Marriage is my most prized possession.
25. Don’t be a critic. It’s easier to be a critic than correct; respect the man in the arena.
26. Find your happy place. Go there when you need to calm the inner beast.
27. Cheer for something. I always assumed I’d quit caring about sport when I hung up my high school cleats. I now relish the opportunity to cheer for my wife and cheer for the HOGS–Woo Pig Sooie!
28. Keep a few friends. You don’t need a thousand friends, just a few really good ones.
29. You lose 100% of the races you don’t start. If you try, you’ll know. The “what-ifs" will haunt you, so you might as well try.
30. Measure. If you don’t determine metrics and measure, its impossible to gauge progress.
31. Have integrity. Without it, what do your really have?
As a kid, I never understood the point in living past the age of 28. It appeared to me all the good stuff occurred before this age. Now that I’ve successfully surpassed this this mark by 3 years, I realize I didn’t know as much as I thought I did. So, take this post for what it’s worth. Regardless, I’m looking forward to the road ahead and would like to thank anyone reading this that has made my life, well, my life.
CHEERS!