Each year, on my birthday, I share lessons that have either played a prominent role in the previous year or ones I’ve recently learned.
I’d choose the number of lessons that corresponded with the birthday I was celebrating…when I turned 50, I passed along 50 lessons.
Well, this year I’m going to shake things up a bit.
I’ll just share the lessons I’ve kept in my notes, with no specific number in mind.
Admitting that “I don’t know” about many things is a skill I should have developed sooner and many people have yet to discover.
Who you surround yourself with makes a massive difference. Jim Rohn often talked about us being the average of the 5 people we’re around most.
I’m not sure there is any magic in the number 5, but I am sure that who you’re around is as important as any other factor when it comes to your personal and professional success.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve spent a higher percentage of my time around people that lift me up in one way or another…
…and it’s life changing.
The more value or energy ‘adders’ that are taking up the space in your life and the fewer ‘extractors’ there are…the happier and more successful you’ll be.
Investing in experiences and personal improvement are investments rarely regretted.
Closer Is The Way. I’ve pursued more and bigger time and time again, but the most fulfilling pursuits have always been about being or doing better and moving incrementally closer, day after day.
Better to define yourself by the things you love rather than the things you hate.
Quit Trying To Avoid Change. Everything is continually changing around us. Sometimes it’s more noticeable than others – but it’s always changing.
Embrace it and keep evolving.
Consuming information isn’t what leads to success. Applying it is.
If Your Path Is Simple, Clear & Obvious, It’s Probably Not Your Path. Life doesn’t happen in soundbites. Choices are complex. Each of us is unique. If you want to create the path that is best for you, it won’t happen by following the well-worn path someone else carved.
Do stay attached to a mistake just because you spent a lot of time making it.
Relationships are the biggest difference maker. If I look at pretty much anything positive in my life, it’s hinged on relationships.
Spending time with the people I care about and enjoy.
Being supported by others, personally and professionally.
Investing in others to pay it forward.
It’s all a wonderful reminder that life is a team sport.
Someone else’s success isn’t your failure.
Each Season Is Its Own. Your teens should be different from your twenties. Your thirties should not be the same as your forties. Each season should be appreciated for what it is and not lamented for what it’s not.
I’ve enjoyed the ‘hustle & grind’ stage of my entrepreneurial life and the one that has been more laid back and operated around family. I’ve enjoyed both coaching college baseball and t-ball.
The happier we are where our feet are, the better off we’ll be.
Time is Life. Plain and Simple. It’s often said that you can tell what’s important to someone by checking their bank statement and their calendar…and it’s true, but the calendar is 80% of it. Money is a renewable resource. Time is not.
That’s at the core of why I started my Ideal Business and then started teaching that concept. I didn’t want to miss my kids growing up. Their growth feels like it happens in the blink of an eye and if I missed it – I wouldn’t get a ‘do over.’
So when I’m not interested in something or someone…they just no longer get any of my time because that’s time I could be spending on people and activities that are important to me.
We need to spend more time catching people (including ourselves) doing things right rather than punishing their / our failures.
Find Gratitude In Challenging Times. When we’re grateful, our problems don’t disappear – but they do occupy less space in our lives.
Stop Blaming Others. Sure, others play a part in everything we do, but until we take responsibility for everything we can, we are perpetuating the problem.
It’s common to see a person blame someone for a hurdle along the way while simultaneously creating a dozen other hurdles themself.
Don’t be that person. Control what you can control.
No One Succeeds Alone. Life is a team sport.
Most skills of significance require us to earn the right to be good at them. It’s not easy.
The pursuit of efficiency as the goal is the usually wrong one. Effectiveness and enjoyment are much better things to aim for.
Most of us should think of ourselves less, not less of ourselves.
You can do almost anything you want…but you can’t do everything you want…at least right now.
Any achievement of significance requires focus, so you have to dedicate the time and effort needed to make it happen.
That doesn’t mean you can’t accomplish everything that you want to…you very well may be able to…but you just may just have to do some things sequentially instead of simultaneously.
Take Small Actions Toward Your Big Goals Daily. We’re either getting better or worse…every day. Small actions compounded over time will guarantee your success.
It doesn’t matter what you know…It matters what you do.
If you don’t apply something it’s wasted knowledge. Action is critical for success. The most successful people often aren’t any smarter or more talented. They just actually do the things everyone else just talks about doing.
Do the same thing you’ve always done and you’ll get the same thing you’ve always gotten.
The people I’ve enjoyed watching achieve tremendous growth all have stepped out of their comfort zone to get there.
Never compromise your integrity, for anything or anybody.
Saying ‘no’ to most things allows you to say ‘yes’ to the best things.
But the truth is that success comes far more often to those who are great at a few things rather than those who are jacks-of-trades.
Consider saying no to more things to do the things you say YES to better.
I fight this one all the time.
Fear failing less and stagnation more.
We are a Product of our Choices. Everything matters. It all adds up. Big choices, little choices. We’re a product of all of it.
Self-made is a myth. Success is a team sport. Find good teammates. Be a good teammate too.
Not having the time for something is just another way of saying it’s not important.
Your Next Act May Be Your Best Act. Nick Saban was 56 when he was hired at Alabama. No one was calling him the greatest of all time before his Alabama tenure. John Wooden was 53 when he won his first National Championship.
Those are some of the things I’ve been thinking about over the past year. They’ve helped me and I hope some of them are of help to you too.
Dedicated to Your Success,
Pat
