Assorted wisdoms and where I (try) to apply it

1. Don’t let the actions of others dictate how you act.

People who don’t sign off emails properly are nitwits, but no matter what I always sign off - kind regards (or something related).

2. Be comfortable with your own thoughts.

When we workout we always listen to music, I try to do a few sessions without being plugged in and break down any thoughts I have. This works great especially during repetitive or steady state exercises like cardio.

3. Time left mental exercise.

Not sure exactly what this is called, I’ll try explain anyway. We have a finite amount of conversations, events to meet others or catchups with the most important people in our life. For me that’s my family and close friends. Acknowledging and prioritising this is a great grounding and gratefulness exercise.

4. Knowledge and learning is never a wasted endeavor.

“Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.” I find this particular applicable to learning, so many things I read in the past, podcasts or events I listened to or classrooms sat in - at times felt irrelevant, however it always ended up being useful. As long as you feel like this is a net new experience, it’s likely worth the time.

5. Optimise for learning.

I job hopped almost every year whilst at uni except my last gig before going into my own startup to build up enough boot strapped capital. It helped me accelerate my learning greatly and whenever I felt my rate of learning dipped below my own threshold which I deemed acceptable I moved onto something else.