1. Friends really do come and go. Some come back. Some don’t. That’s OK.
2. It’s OK to be different
3. Smoking is disgusting. Kissing a smoker is even more disgusting. (True story)
4. You will make mistakes. So what? (just make sure you learn from them)
5. Being an adult can be fun when you are acting like a child.
6. It’s OK to feel sad. (But be awesome instead!)
7. Successful people read books.
8. Nobody cares what kind of car you drive. If they do, they’re not worth your time.
9. It’s not so much what you say and do that counts, its how you make people feel.
10. (a) Define your own rules for success. It’s a lot easier to rule your world than someone else’s world.  (b) In work and business, when they need you more than you need them, you have succeeded.
11. If an apple a day doesn’t keep the doctor away, have a banana instead J
12. If you wear the same pants to work every day nobody will notice. (True story)
13. Don’t let the dog lick your face, because he licks his own butt.
14. If you help people get what they want, you will “miraculously” get what you want. (True story)
15. Stop watching so much TV. It’s a waste of time…seriously!
16. Don’t listen to anybody who tells you “you’re missing out” by not going somewhere or doing something. You’re only missing out if you believe you’re missing out.
17. Don’t think of cost. Think of value.
18. Do what you love even if you don’t get paid for it.
19. Everybody lies. Trust people anyway.
20. Prayer is powerful…
21. P.U.S.H. (Pray Until Something Happens)
22. Don’t wear your heart on your sleeve, it will get broken. (True story)
23. Love has nothing to do with looks, but everything to do with time, trust, and interest.
24. Bad things do happen to good people.
25. Time heals all wounds… regardless of how you feel right now.
26. Most of the time what you are looking for is right in front of you.
27. Motivation comes in short bursts.  Act while it’s hot.
28. Live your life as if Jesus was coming today…but plan your life as if He’ll never come in your lifetime.

Related posts:

1. Life’s Lessons
2. Lessons Learned from My First 10K Race
3. A Life-Changing Procedure

Julian Smith, a very bright, young filmmaker, did a video tribute to the device last year when it initially came out. He’s a really funny guy and I thoroughly enjoyed his video. Enjoy!

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1. Just start. All the planning in the world will get you nowhere. You need to take that first step, no matter how small or how shaky. My way of motivating myself to run or exercise is: Just put on my shoes and get out the door. The rest takes care of itself.

2. Forget perfection. Perfectionism is the enemy of action. Kill it, immediately. You can’t let perfect stop you from doing. You can turn a bad draft into a good one, but you can’t turn no draft into a good draft. So get going.

3. Don’t mistake motion for action. A common mistake. A fury of activity doesn’t mean you’re doing anything. When you find yourself moving too quickly, doing too many things at once, this is a good reminder to stop. Slow down and focus.

4. Focus on the important actions. Clear the distractions. Pick the one most important thing you must do today, and focus on that. Exclusively. When you’re done with that, repeat the process.
5. Move slowly, consciously. Be deliberate. Action doesn’t need to be done fast. In fact, that often leads to mistakes, and while perfection isn’t at all necessary, neither is making a ridiculous amount of mistakes that could be avoided with a bit of consciousness.

6. Planning isn’t action. Sure, you need to plan. Do it, so you’re clear about what you’re doing. Just do it quickly, and get to the actual action as quickly as you can.

7. Sometimes, inaction is better. This might be the most ironic thing on the list, but really, if you find yourself spinning your wheels, or you find you’re doing more harm than good, rethink whether the action is even necessary. Or better yet, do this from the beginning — is it necessary? Only do the action if it is.

Question: Do you use any of these rules to spur you to action? What other rules do you have?

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1. Understanding discipline and the efficiency curve

Make sure you watch the video through to the end. Brilliant I tell you!

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His mind is still as sharp as ever—alert, inquisitive, and focused. He’s also a good teacher and does a weekly seminar at church on Bible Prophecy. I really enjoy engaging him in conversation and when he speaks wisdom drips from his mouth like honey. What amazes me is that even at the age of 84 he still has a zeal for life. He mentioned to me the other day that he would like to buy a computer and learn how to use it. Being very interested in music he also wants to learn how to play the piano and is considering taking some lessons. Wow!

He asked me what I thought about his plans. I said to him: “Go for it Grandpa!” After that conversation I began thinking. What if grandpa is still alive today because he still has a contribution to make—he still has more to offer, more to do—unfinished business.

A lot of people my grandfathers age (older and younger) feel that they have nothing left to contribute. They are living lives of quiet desperation and fading away quickly.

In the book, The Noticer by Andy Andrews, Jones, the personification of wisdom, makes six points to Willow, a seventy-six year old lady, who had given up hope that she had anything left to contribute.

1. God has a purpose for every single person.
2. You won’t die until that purpose is fulfilled.
3. If you are still alive, then you haven’t completed what you were put on earth to do.
4. If you haven’t completed what you were put on earth to do, then your very purpose hasn’t been fulfilled.
5. If your purpose hasn’t been fulfilled, then the most important part of your life is still ahead.
6. You have yet to make your most important contribution.

You may be sick. You may be old and frail. You may be broke. You may be divorced. You may not have any friends at all. You may be depressed and discouraged.

But you’re still alive!

And that my friends, is proof that you have unfinished business. You have not completed what you were put on earth to do.

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

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