From Kevin Kelly’s Excellent Advice for Living
The following derive from the book of that title.
Learn from smart people who disagree with, even offend you.
After someone you respect has finished an utterance, ask, “Anything more?”
Instead of a grand plan, which could encourage procrastination, try an easy version first.
An oldie but a truey: The best way to learn is to teach.
Want to choose to not be outraged today?
A habit avoids your needing to make a tough decision, e.g., whether to take drugs or have that second helping.
Promptness and not-ghosting are signs of respect.
Think while you walk — More oxygen flows to your brain.
Think twice about taking a job because it pays the most.
When you lose something, it’s usually within arm’s reach of where you think it should be or normally is.
You don’t want to be famous — The glory is momentary, the obligations to others and yourself large and persistent.
It isn’t a compliment if it comes with a request.
You are not what you say, believe, or vote. You’re what you spend your time on.
Experience is overrated. Hire for aptitude and attitude, train for skills.
Take a nap without embarrassment.
Outsourcing is often a high-ROI use of your money.
When you disagree but don’t want to engage, say, “I understand.”
Contemplate your weaknesses. Want to change anything?
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Things needn’t be perfect, especially weddings.
If you take just three bites, you can eat any dessert.
People rarely remember more than three points from a talk. Curate your content.
Learning probability and statistics are far more useful than algebra or calculus.
When you feel like quitting, do just five more minutes.
When speaking, especially to an audience, pause often, especially after saying something hard or important.
Craft your subject line to honorably get the email opened and the response you’d like, for example, “Insert name, this X (insert something of value to them) might help.”
People rarely give negative references, even if deserved. Workaround: Call four references after hours and say, “Call back only if you think the person would be excellent in this position. (Describe it in a few words.) If you don’t get at least two callbacks, beware.
In negotiating, you might start with, “What do you think is fair?”
You can’t get smart people to work hard just for money.
Look for common ground and build on that.
Don’t wear clothes or makeup that have more character than you have.
Do more of what’s easier for you than for most.
Pay attention to what you pay attention to.
Do <2-minute tasks now rather than put them on your to-do list.
When giving a talk, look a person on the far left in the eye for one second, then the adjacent person. When you reach the far right, reverse. They’ll feel cared about.
Trust 3-star reviews. Not only do they tend to give pros and cons, they’re more credible than five- and one-star reviews, which are often borne of irrationality or having been co-opted.
To explain something hard, pretend you’re talking or writing to a bright 6th grader.
If your goal doesn’t have a schedule, it’s a dream.
Anything you want to do or change in light of this list?
I read this aloud on YouTube.
Marty Nemko is a career and personal coach, and author of 36 books including How to Do Life. You can reach him at mnemko@gmail.com
