Life Lessons
Life Lessons From My Grandfather
Some things become more important over time.
My Grandfather was a businessman. I spent a lot of time with him, both at work and otherwise.
I was a horrible student in school, and he spent a lot of time teaching me how to get by in the world. What follows are the key concepts that he was able to drill into my head before he died, right before my 17th birthday.
Learn how to make money. Think of something you can do that solves a problem, and find people that have that problem. Run an ad, put flyers on bulletin boards, stuff mailboxes, put business cards on windshields. Learn how to hustle.
Learn how to make money appear out of thin air.
Get a job. While you are working your hustle, having a regular old job can be a good thing. You will either love it or hate it. Learning how to work in a team environment is a good thing. A lot of times working on a team sucks because someone, or a few someones, won’t carry their load. Learn to pick the chumps out of a crowd. Learn how to suck up to a boss without being a loser.
Learn a little bit about workplace politics.
Learn how to identify bullshit. There are a lot of people in the world that will want to screw you out of your money or take advantage of you in other ways. Understand that no one, except for maybe your parents, really gives a crap about you.
Figure out what you want out of life, and go take it.
Learn how to talk to people that you don’t know. This will help you in so many ways. Interviews, networking, sales calls, going on a date. Everything from making money to getting laid.
Being able to communicate with others is essential.
Leave politics out of everything. No one gives a shit, and if they do, the chances of the two of you agreeing on everything is minimal.
Politics and religion: keep them to yourself.
Be interesting. Don’t make things up, but find something to talk about that is interesting to a few people. The weather is old. Everyone usually like sports. Listen to what the other person is saying. You don’t have to do any sorts of tricks, like repeating something they just said back to them, just listen. Think before you talk. I like to pause and think, it makes people wonder what the fuck I’m up to. It also helps me get my shit together in stressful environments.
A lot of people blabber on without saying anything. Don’t be one of them, the world is already full of that.
