33 things I’ve learned so far
Today is my 33rd birthday, so I made a list of some things I’ve picked up along the way.
Here they are, in no particular order — I’ll do my best to credit people appropriately, but hey, everything is a remix when we stand on the shoulders of giants.
1. Wear sunscreen
The long term benefits of wearing sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.
2. All I see are green lights
This is the title of a book I’m (very slowly) writing about entrepreneurship and the magnetic power of risk taking. After years of being asked what makes entrepreneurs different this has become my stock explanation:
Most people stop and wait at the traffic lights, even when there is clearly no traffic. In terms of risk minimisation, this is smart, but slow. Entrepreneurs, on the other hand, only see an opportunity to get ahead or save time.
3. You only need to learn two words in each language
These two words will change everything for you. Forget lame phrases like ‘is this poison?’ or ‘excuse me, which way to the ladies room’ — the only thing you need to learn is how to say ‘thank you’. Locals in almost every country on earth will light up when they hear you say thank you in their local dialect for something silly like holding the door open or giving you directions.
But to be honest, that’s not the point. It’s simply the act of ‘attempting’ to sound like a local, or asking their opinion on your terrible Thai accent that will endear you to the natives. There is no greater hack I have found than asking and re-asking with a stupidly big smile ‘how do I say… Thank you?’ to citizens of each country, it’s such a simple icebreaker and so clearly demonstrates a) you’re not from around here but more importantly b) you come in peace
4. Choose music for the feeling you want to have, not the feeling you have right now
I’m hyper aware that the music (or sounds) I listen to will colour my mood, so I always try to choose wisely.
If I’m bored of washing the dishes, I play Daft Punk’s Tron soundtrack to make it seem like the most important work I’ve ever done.
If I’m nervous about a big client meeting, I’ll listen to Rise Against so I can remember exactly how I felt coming up with the original concept and be prepared to sell it all over again.
If I’m angry at my wife (or kids or myself), I listen to a podcast that takes me out of my own tiny world for a few minutes and remember how important it is to view the world through through other people’s eyes.
“Life is a comedy for those who think and a tragedy for those who feel” — Horace Walpole
6. Consistency is the key
Not my strong point. Always trying!
7. Even Anarchists need a to-do list
Revolutions don’t run themselves, man.
8. Goals are great. Guiding principles are better
We live crazy lives. Things change, people get pregnant and priorities shift. Goals can be powerful tools, but sometimes goals can hang over us well past their use-by date, making us miserable instead of motivated.
The best alternative I’ve found is the methodology created by the brilliant Salim Ismail, encouraging people and organisations to develop their ‘Massive Transformational Purpose’ or MTP. If this interests you, I highly recommend his life changing book ‘The Exponential Organisation’.
“The saving of our world from pending doom will come, not through the complacent adjustment of the conforming majority, but through the creative maladjustment of a nonconforming minority” — Martin Luther King Jnr
10. Play is the most important time of the day
When was the last time you let your mind wander? We used to do it all the time, in lines for the bank, riding the bus and pretty much anytime the tv wasn’t on. Daydreaming is important for problem solving and helping your mind unwind, not to mention the awesome ideas you can come up with if you turn your phone off and look out the window for 10 minutes on the train home.
Times that by a million when you’re raising kids who just want to watch Ninja Turtles on demand. Encouraging play needs to start early and happen often to build better brains!
11. Think like a pirate. Act like a scientist
People really seem to connect with this idea… By far and away the most popular slides from my creative keynote presentation at Pause Fest 2014.
12. The mind is infinitely suggestible
We can convince ourselves of anything.
As George Costanza says “It’s not a lie if you believe it”.
“For most of us the problem isn’t that we aim too high and fail, it’s just the opposite, we aim too low and succeed” — Ken Robinson
14. There is no substitute for creating something you’re proud of
I’m not sure if this is the case for everyone, but for me, life begins and ends with the act of creation. If I’m not building something or discovering a new technique or idea, I start to get ugly.
If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail — Abraham Maslow
16. It’s not easy turning soft skills into hard cash
One of my closest friends once described me as ‘like Neo from the Matrix, but with people instead of the internet’, which I still hold as one of the highest compliments I could ever receive from another human being. But despite this comparison, Keanu Reeves never struggled to keep his kids in clean nappies like I have. If we are ever going to level up as a species, men will need to appreciate the importance of ‘softer skills’ (or EI), just as women will need to understand the value of task-oriented behaviour (or GSD).
17. Everyone is the 1% of something
Check your biases, before you wreck yourselves.
“Chop your own wood, and it will warm you twice” — Henry Ford
or, said another way
“It is the leap, not the look, that generates the indispensable understanding” — Ron Baker
19. Life is never as sweet without the sour
The hard stuff really, really sucks. But without it, we’d never appreciate the good stuff. Case in point, my thoughts on the experience of miscarriage
20. Everyone poops
You can connect with literally anyone these days. Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn have made it scarily simple for everyday people to reach out to their heroes (and vice versa). So if we are all the same, and we can connect with anyone in the tribe… What will you do with that ability?
21. The power of the pitch lies in the art of the ask
This is one of the most difficult lessons I’ve had to learn… But so valuable.
22. Religion doesn’t kill people. People kill people
Say or believe whatever you like about organised religion, but as someone who grew up in the eye of that storm, it’s so much more than what outsiders can comprehend. Religion is family. Religion is memory.
23. Righty tighty, lefty loosey
Truth.
24. If you want people to believe your lies, put them to music. If you don’t have any music, use a celebrity endorsement
Or, if you’re Donald Trump running for President… Do both.
25. Quitting before you have something else to focus on can be just as dangerous as staying where you are
Try Steve Sammartino’s ‘de-risking’ approach instead.
26. Know your limits.
Sometimes asking for help is the bravest move you can make. I’m honoured to be a member of the Healthy Dads Advisory Board on behalf of Beyond Blue, and this is KEY.
“People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it… And what you do simply serves as the proof that you believe — Simon Sinek
28. Build things that scale.
I’m a people person, so I naturally tend to build business ideas around services. Sadly, services have a very low ceiling on their revenue, so I’ve trained myself to look at business opportunities through this lens.
29. Do things that don’t scale.
Call it love, or brand… But very soon, user experience will become the only differentiator between most things we use every day. Uber isn’t just a a great idea: They nailed the UX of ordering a lift from day 1.
30. Fat body, fit mind
I have a high ‘mental pain’ threshold. Sadly, this has not translated to a powerful or even vaguely strong body. I have a long, long way to go on this lesson.
31. Eat that frog.
Do the worst, first. Time (not money!) is the most precious resource you have, so prioritising your attention on the most important things is the equivalent of creating a budget for your brainpower.
32. Complacency is toxic
33. Everything is awesome
I recently gave this keynote presentation about ‘How to be more creative’ in Seoul Korea. Would love to get these ideas out there in Australia more this year.
