Advice That Changed Me

On Relationships and Personal Life

• Never put your family, friends, or significant other low on your priority list
• Cultivate deep friendships over numerous acquaintances
• Maintain connections with old friends
• Avoid negativity and cut negative people out of your life

On Life Philosophy

• Life is not a dress rehearsal—this is probably it. Make it count.
• Aim to do something big, new, and risky every year in your personal and professional life
• Don't let yourself make excuses for not doing the things you want to do
• Be a doer, not a talker
• If you think you're going to regret not doing something, you should probably do it
• The days are long but the decades are short

On Success and Career

• Pick the right thing to do and work hard
• Believe in yourself, even when others doubt you
• Develop a personal productivity system—don't waste time being unorganised
• Take calculated risks, especially early in your career
• Aim to be the best in the world at whatever you do professionally
• Don't chase status

On Personal Growth

• Minimise distractions and cognitive load
• Go out of your way to be around smart, interesting, ambitious people
• Learn voraciously

On Well-being and Health

• Exercise, eat well, sleep, and spend time in nature
• Be kind to others, including strangers
• Don't worry so much. Things in life are rarely as risky as they seem.
• Most things are okay in moderation. Almost nothing is okay in extreme amounts.

On Money and Freedom

• Focus on having enough to avoid stress, rather than extreme wealth
• Whether or not money can buy happiness, it can buy freedom, and that's a big deal

On Emotional Intelligence

• Think before acting, especially when angry
• Be grateful and keep problems in perspective. Don't complain too much.
• Don't judge other people too quickly. Be empathetic.