My son recently celebrated his 18th birthday. Since this is often seen as the age of transition from boyhood to manhood, I wrote him a letter with life lessons I wish I had known at his age and that will serve him well in the years to come.
- Never lie, cheat, or steal, and don’t tolerate anyone in your life who does.
- Do something every day to impact someone else’s life in a positive way.
- Prioritize your health. There’s no amount of money you won’t spend to regain it once gone.
- Make and keep ethical, loyal friends. Women will come and go, but friends are for life. Spend time with them regularly.
- When making a decision, ensure your head, heart, and gut are in alignment. Always trust your intuition, even when it doesn’t make sense.
- Stay curious and question everything. Ask, “Is this true?” whenever something seems definitive.
- Prioritize those who prioritize you. Invest in people who invest in you. Effort equals interest.
- Proper prior planning prevents piss poor performance.
- Focus on quality over quantity.
- The secret to success is to do the right things long enough, consistently.
- It takes years to build a reputation, but only a day to destroy it.
- Under promise and over deliver.
- Gratitude rules all. No matter how hard things are, you can always find something to be grateful for.
- Always be kind while maintaining strong boundaries.
- Never compromise on your values, ethics, or morals. Write your ethics in stone, and your opinions in sand.
- Instead of asking “Why is this happening to me?” Ask, “Why is this happening for me?”
- Never stop learning. When we do, we die.
- Take (calculated) risks. Be bold. Nothing risked, nothing gained.
- Be where your feet are. Be fully present wherever you are.
- When things are hard, get into nature. It’s the best way to reset and figure things out.
My son, I love you more than words can convey. I’m proud to call you my son, and thank you for making me a father. Happy 18th birthday and welcome to manhood!