One of my coaching clients recently turned 51 and, upon my encouragement, prepared a list of lessons he’d learned in the “school of hard knocks.” With his permission, I present below a distillation of his wisdom.
- Measure twice, cut once
- Learn to see the extraordinary in the ordinary.
- Life is not about finding yourself, it’s about creating yourself.
- The best vengeance is living life well.
- Don’t smoke. Don’t abuse alcohol. Don’t do drugs.
- Love your country and fellowman.
- Don’t let misfortune steal your dreams.
- Things could always be worse.
- Don’t be afraid to fail. Keep in mind that mistakes are stepping stones to triumph.
- Don’t worry. Everything eventually works out.
- Don’t be resentful. Don’t take anything personally.
- You can always get more money, but you can’t get more time.
- Ask not for an easy life. Ask for the vigor to endure a difficult one and persevere.
- If you risk nothing, you risk even more.
- Never underestimate yourself or take your abilities too lightly.
- Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
- Never say die. Never say never.
- Don’t worry about what people think, they don’t do it very often.
- Live within your means.
- Give people the benefit of doubt.
- Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth
- Clean up your own mess.
- Develop a healthy cynicism.
- If everyone says you’re out of your mind, you just might be onto something.
- If you have extra, give.
- With sorrow comes the opportunity for growth.
- Don’t let time pass. Grab hold of it and make your mark.
- Don’t overestimate or overstate your ability to influence.
- There’s nothing wrong with being mediocre in something as long as you become an expert at something else.
- If you don’t have anything nice to say about someone, don’t say it at all.
- You are not that good, they are not that bad.
- Hold your head high and look the world straight in the eye.
- Be as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are of your own.
- Believe in yourself
- Have a good time. All of the time.
- Believe that everybody has the power to change the world.
- Do something that they don’t expect you to do.
- Friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on.
- Don’t be reckless with other people’s emotions.
- Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults.
- Speak the truth in love.
- Learn something new every day.
- Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. Find it.
- Never underrate the power of accessibility.
- Acknowledge those who have helped you.
- Sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind.
- Pardon your enemies, don’t forget their names.
- Just start. Just take that first step and get started.
- Don’t expect of others what you don’t demand of yourself
- Don’t expect anyone else to support you.
- Friends may come and go, but enemies accumulate.
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