26 harsh truths I will teach my son as he grows up:
1. Avoid loser friends.
Some "friends" are just along for the ride when it’s fun & convenient. Some “friends” will try to hold you back when you make strides to improve your life.
Real friends are the ones who build you up, no matter what.
Some "friends" are just along for the ride when it’s fun & convenient. Some “friends” will try to hold you back when you make strides to improve your life.
Real friends are the ones who build you up, no matter what.
2. Failure doesn't always lead to growth.
We like to say say “failure leads to growth”. But sometimes failure just leads to pain. Sometimes you just fall on your face. That’s all there is to it. You don’t grow. You just failed.
So get back up and try again.
We like to say say “failure leads to growth”. But sometimes failure just leads to pain. Sometimes you just fall on your face. That’s all there is to it. You don’t grow. You just failed.
So get back up and try again.
3. Nobody will care about you.
Your mother & I love you unconditionally. That’s it. Nobody else in the world will ever truly care about you unless you give them a reason to.
How do you do that?
Solve their problems. Make their life easier. Make them feel good.
Your mother & I love you unconditionally. That’s it. Nobody else in the world will ever truly care about you unless you give them a reason to.
How do you do that?
Solve their problems. Make their life easier. Make them feel good.
4. Hard work and consistency aren't always enough.
People love to say “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard”
But the truth is..
If talent works hard: talent wins every time. If you want to get to the top of the mountain, you need talent AND work ethic.
People love to say “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard”
But the truth is..
If talent works hard: talent wins every time. If you want to get to the top of the mountain, you need talent AND work ethic.
5. Being “busy” is for losers.
If you find yourself saying “oh I’m just soo busy” like it’s a badge of honor…
All you’re saying is you don’t know how to prioritize. You're saying you don’t know what’s ACTUALLY important.
Being “busy” just means your time isn’t your own.
If you find yourself saying “oh I’m just soo busy” like it’s a badge of honor…
All you’re saying is you don’t know how to prioritize. You're saying you don’t know what’s ACTUALLY important.
Being “busy” just means your time isn’t your own.
6. EVERYTHING is your responsibility.
What happens to you isn’t always your fault. But it IS always your problem. And you’ll never overcome your problems with a victim mentality.
Whatever problems you face, stop blaming others. Suck it up, and deal with them.
What happens to you isn’t always your fault. But it IS always your problem. And you’ll never overcome your problems with a victim mentality.
Whatever problems you face, stop blaming others. Suck it up, and deal with them.
7. Make yourself a weapon
Physically & verbally.
Lift weights, practice martial arts, read books & practice speaking.
(One day you might whoop your old man for real)
Physically & verbally.
Lift weights, practice martial arts, read books & practice speaking.
(One day you might whoop your old man for real)
8. The world only cares what you can DO.
If you want to be valued, you need to become valuable. I don’t make the rules. Stop waiting for the world to give you what you want just because you’re a “good guy”. That’s not how it works.
Go get some skills and put them to work.
If you want to be valued, you need to become valuable. I don’t make the rules. Stop waiting for the world to give you what you want just because you’re a “good guy”. That’s not how it works.
Go get some skills and put them to work.
9. The more you force relationships, the weaker they become.
Never chase. Always attract. Forcing a relationship is a surefire way to push people away. People need to CHOOSE to be with you.
Your job is to make that choice a no-brainer.
Never chase. Always attract. Forcing a relationship is a surefire way to push people away. People need to CHOOSE to be with you.
Your job is to make that choice a no-brainer.
10. Don't take time for granted
My father is 70. We meet twice a year (unfortunately).
Realistically, I’ll see him another 20 times. And then never again.
Your time is the most valuable resource you have. Spend it wisely.
My father is 70. We meet twice a year (unfortunately).
Realistically, I’ll see him another 20 times. And then never again.
Your time is the most valuable resource you have. Spend it wisely.
11. Avoid excuses like the plague.
Oh you’re too busy? Oh you just don’t have time? Oh you didn’t really want it? NO.
Those are excuses. If you want something, go get it. Say it out loud. Make it real and own it. If you fall short? Own that too.
Oh you’re too busy? Oh you just don’t have time? Oh you didn’t really want it? NO.
Those are excuses. If you want something, go get it. Say it out loud. Make it real and own it. If you fall short? Own that too.
12. You will never be 100% satisfied with your life.
Chasing satisfaction is a loser’s game. There will always be another step. Another rung on the ladder. Another peak on the mountain.
Being happy during the journey is a separate skill - practice it.
Chasing satisfaction is a loser’s game. There will always be another step. Another rung on the ladder. Another peak on the mountain.
Being happy during the journey is a separate skill - practice it.
13. The past is already written.
There’s no changing the past. I hate to break it to you. What happened happened. It’s written in stone. All you can do is learn from it. The past is data.
This means it’s smart to visit the past but very stupid to live there.
There’s no changing the past. I hate to break it to you. What happened happened. It’s written in stone. All you can do is learn from it. The past is data.
This means it’s smart to visit the past but very stupid to live there.
14. You are going to die.
The mortality rate for all humans is 100%. And when that day comes, you’ll regret the things you DIDN’T do way more than the things you did.
I want you to be the strongest man at my funeral, as I will be at my father's.
The mortality rate for all humans is 100%. And when that day comes, you’ll regret the things you DIDN’T do way more than the things you did.
I want you to be the strongest man at my funeral, as I will be at my father's.
15. You can’t control most things in life.
You're a tiny bag of flesh on a massive rock spinning through a universe of trillions of other rocks orbiting incomprehensibly large balls of gas.
Your sphere of control is SMALL. Accept it. Only focus to control what’s controllable.
You're a tiny bag of flesh on a massive rock spinning through a universe of trillions of other rocks orbiting incomprehensibly large balls of gas.
Your sphere of control is SMALL. Accept it. Only focus to control what’s controllable.
16. Money CAN buy happiness.
Money is a tool. It makes you more of who you already are. If you’re miserable without money, you’ll be miserable with it.
If you're happy without it - it'll be a hell of lot easier to find happiness when you aren’t worried about your next meal.
Money is a tool. It makes you more of who you already are. If you’re miserable without money, you’ll be miserable with it.
If you're happy without it - it'll be a hell of lot easier to find happiness when you aren’t worried about your next meal.
17. People you love will hurt you.
People make mistakes. They say and do things they don’t mean. Even the ones closest to you. If you choose to love someone you choose to open yourself up to being hurt.
Love is still worth it. Always.
People make mistakes. They say and do things they don’t mean. Even the ones closest to you. If you choose to love someone you choose to open yourself up to being hurt.
Love is still worth it. Always.
18. Avoid creating arbitrary timelines.
Things like:
• X title by X age
• Y salary by Y age
Figure out what you want. Figure out the steps necessary to get it. And put in the work every single day.
It will take however long it takes.
Stop putting deadlines on your success.
Things like:
• X title by X age
• Y salary by Y age
Figure out what you want. Figure out the steps necessary to get it. And put in the work every single day.
It will take however long it takes.
Stop putting deadlines on your success.
19. Trying to FIND happiness is preventing you from FEELING happiness.
Happiness is always present in your life. It’s all around you. Right now. Happiness is a choice that’s easy to make.
You just have to choose it.
(ps. your mother's the expert in this)
Happiness is always present in your life. It’s all around you. Right now. Happiness is a choice that’s easy to make.
You just have to choose it.
(ps. your mother's the expert in this)
20. Good things don’t come quickly.
Lottery winners are miserable. Trust fund kids are disasters. We can’t value that which is easily given. It’s not in our nature.
I've suffered to provide you the life you have - and you will do the same for yours.
Lottery winners are miserable. Trust fund kids are disasters. We can’t value that which is easily given. It’s not in our nature.
I've suffered to provide you the life you have - and you will do the same for yours.
21. Life will be painful.
There is no growth without pain. Building muscle. Learning a skill. Maintaining a relationship. Raising a family. Growth hurts. By definition. And that’s a good thing.
Because if you never felt pain, you’d never be growing.
There is no growth without pain. Building muscle. Learning a skill. Maintaining a relationship. Raising a family. Growth hurts. By definition. And that’s a good thing.
Because if you never felt pain, you’d never be growing.
22. There’s always someone better than you.
Stop comparing yourself to the 1% of the 1%. There’s always someone richer. There’s always someone smarter. There’s always someone more talented. There’s always someone more handsome.
Compare yourself to you. Nobody else matters.
Stop comparing yourself to the 1% of the 1%. There’s always someone richer. There’s always someone smarter. There’s always someone more talented. There’s always someone more handsome.
Compare yourself to you. Nobody else matters.
23. There’s a lot you don’t know.
Stop thinking you know everything. You don’t. Nobody does. Accept that much of life will always be a mystery. Marvel at its vastness. And go focus on what you can control.
Stop thinking you know everything. You don’t. Nobody does. Accept that much of life will always be a mystery. Marvel at its vastness. And go focus on what you can control.
24. There’s no security working a 9-5.
A 9-5 is not safe. That’s an illusion. If you die tomorrow, your 9-5 replaces you before your body is cold in the ground.
Stop betting on OTHER people to fund your life (including me). Go out and fund it yourself.
A 9-5 is not safe. That’s an illusion. If you die tomorrow, your 9-5 replaces you before your body is cold in the ground.
Stop betting on OTHER people to fund your life (including me). Go out and fund it yourself.
25. Embrace your duties
I dreamt that life was joy. I woke up & found - life was duty.
I acted, and behold: duty was joy.
I dreamt that life was joy. I woke up & found - life was duty.
I acted, and behold: duty was joy.
26. Know I'll always be by your side, son.
Loading suggestions...