23 lessons from 2023
Sometimes you win. Sometimes you learn.
In a world obsessed with making “data-driven decisions,” don’t forget to listen to your gut and instinct - the most underappreciated decision-making tools.
Develop your first principles. This will make decision-making easier and helps you prioritize when life feels muddy. (Read: Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order: Why Nations Succeed and Fail by Ray Dalio)
Good things take time and patience. I’m talking years and years of time and patience.
When one door closes, another door opens. (Cliché, but it is a universal law.)
… and when that door closes, don’t regret it. Even the toughest moments can teach us something if we let them.
They say time is money, but money can’t buy you time.
Work hard to be less busy. Creativity and great ideas can’t happen if you are stressed, busy, and rushed. Carve out empty space so you can think. The empty space is where great ideas are born.
A calm mind, a fit body, and a house full of love. These things don’t just happen. You must work for them.
Be aware of when you have outgrown the game. Don’t keep playing just because you’ve gotten good at it. Don’t get stuck on the treadmill.
There is way more joy in the journey than in the destination. The journey is the fun part. Don’t wait until you arrive to realize this.
Figure out what is truly essential and do those things better. Less is always more.
What got you to where you are won’t necessarily get you to where you are going. When you can see something is no longer working, let it go so you can experiment and try new things.
No one is perfect. We all have bad days. Acknowledge when you aren’t at your best and make moves to repair, but don’t dwell on it.
The two best things to do when you are in a bad mood: get out in nature and move your body.
Always fight for what is right and what is fair. Don’t worry about causing a stir by advocating for yourself.
Take great care of your body. It is the only place you have to live.
On that note, take great care of your family and your people. You’ll never regret being kind and caring.
Surround yourself with people who support you and have a point of view. You can’t do it alone.
Just say it. Practicing radical candor builds trust, mutual respect, and better relationships. (Read: Radical Candor by Kim Scott)
Don’t take things personally. This is one I need to constantly work hard at!
Do the right thing. It is simple. You can make better decisions by asking, “What is the right thing to do?”
Don't get trapped by dogma - a principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true.
The secret to having everything you want in life is realizing you already do