If I had my own version of the expression “the cobbler’s children have no shoes,” it would go something like: “the writer’s website has no articles.”
My go-to excuse for my idle blog is that I’ve been busy over the past year—which is true, but a lame excuse nevertheless. I wrote a book which was supposed to come out in November but is now slated for September (update: it’s out). Most recently, I left a cushy job to run my marketing business full-time.
Like many idealistic twenty-somethings, I’ve been fighting (often unsuccessfully) the pull towards the digital world that we’ve all become so complacent with over the past two years. That means more traveling, less social media, and working from places that are more than 20 feet from my bed.
Along the way, I’ve picked up some challenging but ultimately helpful lessons from people way smarter than me. As usual, I compiled them into a list—a tradition I started the year after I graduated from college (here are the editions from 2019, 2020, and 2021).
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1. They say your real friends show up when you’re struggling. That’s incorrect. Real friends show up when you’re doing great (or better than they are). If you’re skeptical, post on social media how you’ve been feeling “down in the dumps” then post about achieving a goal that none of your friends have—see which one results in more conversations.
2. Notice that the people who discourage creative projects, taking risks, and buying fun stuff have never done anything creative, taken any risks, or bought anything fun.
3. You can’t call yourself successful until you can tweet without wondering whether you’ll get a strongly worded email afterward.
4. Most manager-types are incompetent and 100% replaceable; they keep their jobs through inertia and politics.
5. Be careful how “productive” you become—it’s easy to turn yourself into a bottomless pit for other people’s tasks.
6. One well-written email to the right person can do more for your career than a four-year degree, MBA, or (God forbid) an online course.
7. “An unbelieved truth is often more dangerous than a lie.” – Luke Burgis
8. Fear, jealousy, and anger are toxic in large doses, but necessary in small doses as fuel to build the life you want.
9. Your parents want what’s safe for you, not what’s best. Those are often extremely different.
10. Don’t ask smart people “What should I do?” Ask “What would you do in XYZ situation?”
11. “Better to stand tall in a mud puddle than lick boots in a parlor.” – W. E. B. Du Bois (paraphrased)
12. A subconscious reason you ask for advice is so you have someone to blame if things go to shit.
13. Obsessing over socio-political drama (transgender swimmers, Joe Rogan’s podcast, etc.) is just an excuse to not focus on yourself.
14. Before you get baited into a political argument, ask your opponent if they can name the three branches of government.
15. Job-hopping is the fastest way to earn more money in your twenties until you can start a viable business.
16. You want to be the loser at a table of winners, not the inverse.
17. Don’t expect anyone to understand, care, or help.
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As I mentioned, my book comes out later this year. In the meantime, you can drop your email below to get a teaser and first dibs on pre-order bonuses as soon as they’re available.
