40 Things I've Learned in 40 Years

Today is my birthday and it is a significant one - 40. I am in Colorado looking out over the Rocky Mountains this morning and reflecting on 40 years of life.  I felt a post about what I have learned over my life appropriate and maybe you can take a few things from it for your life regardless of age.  These are in no particular order and are a bit scattered but hope you enjoy!

1. Run - it doesn't matter how far or fast but get out there and do it.  Both your body and mind will benefit.  At a minimum, do something to get your heart rate up for 20 minutes per day.
   
2. Have goals - don't make them complicated but have directional goals.
3. Keep goals in perspective - they are not the end.  As with most things, it is the journey that matters.
4. Make goals matter - I had two financial goals - one for age 30 and one for age 40.  I have met them and it doesn't matter.  Make them matter.
5. Savor the moment - celebrate your success and be proud of your accomplishments.  Don't pass up a little glory by looking to the next thing.
   
6. All glory is fleeting - it might be because you are awesome or because you are lucky or benefit from the work of others.  Keep this in perspective.
   
7. Take advantage of the time you have with others - the older you get, the shorter the time slots will be to develop and grow friendships.
   
8. Follow up - simple but so important...and so few do it.  Most of getting things done is the follow up.
   
9. Don't compromise yourself - know your boundaries and what makes you tick.  Be flexible but don't cross them to please others.
   
10. Have shared expectations in any relationship - personal or professional.  Without a shared set of expectations on what is going to happen, you are in for a rough ride.
    
11. Do 50 push ups a day - or at least do your age everyday.  You always have the exercise equipment with you and I believe everyone should be able to pick themselves up off the floor with ease.
12. Get a dog - or a pet of some kind.  Everyone needs to experience unconditional love.
13. Tell your Mom & Dad you love them everyday - they need to hear it and you need to say it. 
    
14. Make decisions that alter your life path - it is refreshing to be reminded just how much you can control what happens in your life.  Don't be a spectator.
15. Ideas are cheap, actions count - get off the fence and get involved.  It is comfortable but also intellectually corrupt to criticize from the sidelines or simply dwell on what is possible.
16. Always think the best until proven otherwise - snap reactions without all the information can cause more damage than the original action.  Get the information to prove the negative before reacting.
    
17. Forgive but do not forget - maybe a bit harsh but life is too short to be filled with spite.  That said, patterns repeat so be wary of those who have crossed you.
18. Be generous - give freely of your time, expertise, and resources to help others without compromising yourself or your goals.
19. Drink water - lots of it. 
    
20. Get up early - get up 15 minutes earlier every morning until you hit 5am.  You will find yourself refreshed and ahead of the day.
21. Don't have conversations in email - if it goes more than two rounds, get on the phone.
22. Remember when you were a moron and learn from it - we all were at some point. Reflect on those times, don't do it again, and move on.
23. Learn to cook - no one's life should be dependent on fast food and prepared meals.  If you cook it, you know what's in it.
24. Always do the right thing - a simple statement but ask yourself this question in any situation and you should get a good feeling for what is proper and what is wrong.
25. Meet new people - everybody you meet adds richness to your life
    
26. Go new places - you will never have seen enough, keep going.
27. Be happy when others are successful - hard to do sometimes, but celebrate the success of those around you like it was your own.
28. Unplug - often.  Get away from gadgets, email, status updates and listen to the silence.  This is essential to keep you balanced.
29. Be patient - I continue to suck at this and need to improve.  We all can.
30. Try everything once - you can't say you don't like it unless you've tried it.
31. Drive across the U.S.A - this country is huge, the sites amazing, and people gracious.  Do this in your life - I have done it twice.
32. Visit big cities like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, & Houston - you need to understand the mass and speed of places like this. Good and bad.
    
33. Visit small towns - you need to understand this way of life
34. Mentor someone - whether they know it or not, work to help someone become successful at their job, hobby, or passion.  One of the most rewarding things you can do.
35. Go to New Zealand - a long way from here, but worth the trip
36. Don't text/email/surf while driving - this is crazy dangerous and only getting worse.  Whatever it is can wait or just pull over
    
37. Always be polite and say "sir" when pulled over by the police - even if you think you were doing nothing wrong.  They are doing their job and deal with crap you can't imagine.
38. Always thank the pilot when you get off an airplane - we all have bad days at the office. I want to make sure those are few and far between for the pilot of my plane.
39. Don't make broad generalized statements - they make you look stupid and things are rarely that black and white.  Know the gaps of your knowledge and seek to fill them.
40. Write (or blog) - this continues to be one of the most rewarding things I do to help structure thoughts, connect with new people, and create a living, breathing record of my life and thoughts.  It doesn't have to be public like this, but do take the time to write down your thoughts and perspectives.
    

Feel free to add your thoughts and comments below. I'd love to hear them!

Comments

[Doyle Long]

nice post Robert. Enjoyed reading it. I'll think about some of those things as I approach 60! Enjoyed seeing your Dad, Greg and Stef in Nashville a couple of weeks ago!

[MatthewTrifiro]

Loved this list, Robert. Your writing reminds me a lot of Peter Zaballos, back when he was blogging and a partner at Frazier Technology Ventures.

My favorite post of his is http://openambition.com/2009/05/13/ambiguity-and-alignment/ and it reminds me of your #24.

Matt Trifiro

[HeinzMarketing]

Great list, and happy birthday. Looking forward to reading your bucket list next...

[Vibhor_chhabra]

Great list. Thanks for sharing. Happy B'Day!

[John A. Hudson]

Excellent list, Rob. Shared it with my team and as a team of nearing and post 40 professionals, we agree.