I wrote down one thing I learned every day for 10 years. And I’m still writing…
The Host Can’t Leave the party
It’s about to be a long holiday weekend, which for many of you will include a party or a barbecue or two. Remember, the host can’t leave the party, so here’s a tip for preserving your independence if you are hosting this holiday weekend!
Lessons in work - For the Recent Graduate
Graduation season is one of my favorite times of year. It always reminds me of who I was when I was 21, an eager recent graduate with a head full of dreams for who I would become. As I sit here twelve years later, I can tell you that the role of work in your life is a most excellent teacher. And while there are things you simply have to learn for yourself, here are some important lessons I’ve learned in work that I wish someone had shared with me.
take the free samples
You might have to try a variety of different jobs or career paths in order to figure out the best one for you. While you are young, with fewer obligations or costs to worry about, explore as many opportunities as you can in order to figure out what you love to do. Don’t worry about wasting time or tasting too many different things.
write the book
“Write the Book.” It became more of a mantra than an item on a to-do list. It became something I’d write down for motivation, a reminder that this life is too short to not do the things you’ve always felt called to do and to contribute to this world.
Surround yourself with people who are willing to lift as they climb
You want to work, live, and surround yourself with people who are always working to improve themselves or others for the future, while still giving everything they have to the present. This kind of drive and care for others, it’s contagious.
Two Truths for Each Lie: How I (Finally) Quieted My Inner Critic
Many of the greatest aspects of my life might not exist if I had done any one thing differently. And so, to officially quiet this not-so-kind voice in my head that too often asks "what if?", I made a list. A new spin on two truths and a lie, I wrote down two truths for each of the biggest lies I tell myself.
Make your own “30 Under 30” List
It’s that time of year again… friends are asking for your address to send you a holiday card and Forbes just announced their 2022 30 Under 30 List. Both of these events can make you feel like you are behind or that you haven’t “made it” yet. But that’s not true, so hang in there and hang on.
You’re not here because you’re like everyone else…
In the early years of adulthood, it can be too easy to prioritize success and achievement and lose sight of who you are. You may quickly, and without even realizing it, find yourself working toward becoming someone you read about in a magazine or saw on LinkedIn.
No one warns you about the feelings of your late twenties
Trying not to disappoint your twenty-one-year-old self while also making decisions that your forty-year-old self can live with is a heavy weight to carry. At this age you might find yourself thinking about who you were, who you are and who you want to be all at the same time.
Don’t Wear shoes You Can’t Walk In: About the title lesson
Of course, this lesson speaks to more than just literal shoes. It’s also about being true to yourself and not trying to be someone you are not. It’s a lesson that sums up so much of the decade that is your twenties.