This are some of the most important lessons I’ve learned over the years.
- Treat people around you as you would like to have them treat you. I know it is an old adage, however it certainly works and makes your life easier and less complicated. Your life becomes more complex and disheveled when you constantly have people-issues to resolve that you could have averted by treating people in a more civilized manner.
- Develop routines for doing repetitive tasks or chores. Once you develop a routine you can then analyze the components of the task and develop faster, more efficient methods for achieving your desired result. Routines themselves do not necessitate being in a rut, you need to add variety so that life is always invigorating and stimulating.
- Keep a smile on your face as often as possible. Everyone around you responds in a more open and friendly manner if you start by making yourself more approachable. Simplify your approach to others so that you avoid unnecessary conflict.
- It is just as easy being neat as it is to being sloppy. In the beginning it would appear as though taking your time and being orderly would take more time and effort than being untidy. What you need to consider is that all of the time and effort in being neat is up front, such as putting your clothes away when you get home from work. If you are disorderly it is a two stage process. In stage one you have the time and effort involved in creating chaos and disorder, but you then also have the second stage of needing to clean up the mess made in stage one.
- Always look for people who have developed efficient processes for doing tasks in their life and make them your mentor. Everyone can learn something they did not know or realize from others who have already gained that experience. Do not reinvent the wheel unless it is necessary. Most successful people learn from other successful people’s methods for getting ahead in life. Only true entrepreneurs chart a new path for others to follow.
- Determine goals for as many phases of your life as possible and commit them to paper or diskette. This gives you a path to pursue in attaining these goals and makes your decision process easier when you look at life as a never ending road map, but with destinations along the way.
- Don’t waste time worrying over things you have no control over. It is counterproductive and does nothing to solve any problems or issues that you may have. Instead, focus on tasks that you can influence to make your life more fulfilling or that can stop a problem situation before it happens.
- Develop a game plan (schedule of major tasks) for each day. You should do this for both your professional and personal life. Most people like to take time and plan what they do at the office, however they do not list out the important things they should do in their personal lives.
- Develop a sense of balance between all phases of your life. Realize that your job and profession are important, but they are but a means of achieving other things in your life. Discover what is truly important in your life and devote more attention to this endeavor.
- Assess how happy you are in your occupation and why you are in your current profession. Not only will you be more successful if you are working at something you love, but you will make more money and have a more contented life style. Take stock of what you really enjoy in life and learn how you can incorporate these items into what you do to earn income.
- Always look for new avenues of improving yourself. Only through learning something new every day of your life can you make your experience on earth more meaningful and fulfilling. You should always share your new life discoveries with others so they will learn from your hard earned wisdom.
- Live as if this is all there is.
- Live with intention.
- Walk to the edge.
- Listen hard.
- Practice wellness.
- Play with abandon.
- Laugh.
- Choose with no regret.
- Continue to learn.
- Appreciate your friends.
- Do what you love.
- Use the rest of your time to nap.
Send me the lessons you live.