10 Life Lessons - observations from the journey

Herbert Henry Asquith wrote "Youth would be an ideal state if it came a little later in life".  The words were nothing more than a pithy quote when I was younger, but life has a funny way of revealing life's most valuable lessons.  We start down the path thinking we understand, but in youth, what is there to understand?

The great sages of old have said the same thing in many different ways. "Man knoweth thyself".  Without question this is timeless, but how can one know without living?  It seems that for most we don't really know ourselves until we get well into the second half of our lives.  It would have been nice to have figured this out years ago, but I'm a slow learner.

There certainly are lessons I wish I had learned when I started my journey in this world, but sometimes life isn't supposed to make sense. If everything made sense, life would be half as interesting Every turn in life reveals a lesson; it would be impossible to share them all.  However, here are 10 that hopefully can make a difference in someone's life.

One point before anything else; nothing here has not been said before, by others far wiser than myself.  In our journey through life, we learn from experience, and from others.  We also learn when we share the lessons that have come into our lives.

1.  Determine your learning style; learn how to learn

Each person learns differently.  Some are auditory learners, some tactile, some visual.  Each person is different.  Good teachers know this; great teachers leverage this, but ultimately learning is a personal responsibility. Take accountability for your own learning.

The point is that to stay current, to survive, and to exceed, we must never stop learning.  Knowing how to learn, knowing how to leverage one's own learning style makes all the difference. If you "learn how to learn", you're a step ahead of the pack. Why waste time with learning styles that don't fit; figure out what works best for you, and leverage it to your advantage.

2.  Never underestimate the power of tomorrow

Life has its ups and downs; no one has a perfect life. No one should expect to have a perfect life.  Life is like the weather; it changes.  Could you imagine a reality where every day was scorching hot sun, or endless rain?  It would be hell. It takes, sun, rain, snow, and wind for life to prosper: we are the same.

Some days may be blue, we may not like them, but if not for bad days, how would we know good?  Without some darker days, what would give the push to reach higher?  I've seen some darker days in my life, but when I look back and put everything into perspective, I have to say that never has a "tomorrow" failed to be just little bit brighter than its preceding "yesterday".  Trust in "tomorrow";   in the due course of time, tomorrow can be trusted to bring a new day.

Be patient - some "tomorrows" aren't fully appreciated until the afternoon.

3.  Action cures fear and worry

Mark Twain is quoted as saying "I've had a great many fears in my life, most of which never happened".  Some people worry more than others, and those fears and worries can paralyze a life. Take action - fears and worries can be conquered by taking action.

4.  If you receive an email - open it

This may be a tough one for some people, but it really isn't that difficult.  If an email is from a human being, open it.  It only takes a second, you don't have to read it in detail, but at least you know where it ranks in the priority of life.  Having hundreds of unopened messages in your inbox is like a sink full of dirty dishes.

The lesson here isn't just about email, it's about communication.  Not every email is worthy of a response, but many are.  It is better to dash off a short reply - even if it is three or four words - than to leave someone waiting.  This is also about respect.  If someone took the time and effort to send you something, at least acknowledge their efforts. "Busy" is never an acceptable excuse - people who like to use "busy" as an excuse, not only fail to respect others, they usually don't accomplish much either.

Perhaps this should have been a separate point, but this is list of 10 not 11 - The phrase "Sorry, I've been so busy" is just lame: delete it from your vocabulary.

5.  Set 15-30 minutes aside each day for learning or reading

We don't live in a static world, and the rate at which change is increasing. Making time to learn is essential for survival, and in today's world, we have a wealth of information at our fingertips. Whether it is watching a TED Talk, reading a book, or just keeping up with the latest news in your trade - do it! If you don't stay ahead of the curve, you are falling behind.

Sometimes a dead horse is worth beating - don't be too busy to learn.

6.  Skip the elevator and take the stairs

Some people love going to the gym: some don't.  Sometimes finding time to exercise can be a challenge, but one easy way to get more "steps" into your day is to skip the elevator, and take the stairs.

Typical office life is a literal killer.  We sit too much and move too little.  Park as far away from the door as possible - when it comes to exercise, a little bit of something beats a whole lot of nothing.

7.  Learn from the mistakes of others

There isn't enough time to make all the mistakes personally, so watch others and learn from their mistakes.  This is actually one of the least utilized ideas, and perhaps the most powerful.  Lots of people study the success of others: be different and study failure instead.

Many pundits have made a study of successful people and have written about doing the things successful people do. The catch-22 however is that we are not all alike.  What may work for one person, may not work for another.  That isn't to say that we shouldn't completely ignore the successful, but we shouldn't put all our eggs in one basket either.

Mistakes can kill a life and a career, so avoiding them just seems logical.  And the best part is, that often we can just look at others and observe. Where successful behaviours may be unique to an individual, mistakes tend to be universal.  Watch the idiots, and don't do what they do.

8.  Being a leader means everything is your fault

The mark of a true leader is accepting full responsibility for not only your actions, but also the actions and outcomes of the entire team. That is the price of leadership.  A true leader never takes reward for success - success belongs to the team. If something goes wrong, or if failure is the end-result, the leader accepts full responsibility.  Yes it is a high price.  If you don't like the price, you can't be a leader. 

9.  You must give before you get

Nothing in life is free.  Success comes at the price of giving in many different ways. Napoleon Hill (1883-1970) presented this principle repeatedly in his various works, writings, and lectures.  Go the extra mile,  Give generously without expectation of reward. Think of giving as a very long term investment.  

In the end the rewards will come, but only when you stop waiting and looking for them.  Napoleon Hill explains this far better than anyone - read the book "Think and Grow Rich".  Here are some hints - the book isn't about money, it isn't about hard work, and it may take 5, 10, or even 20 years to fully understand the hidden message beneath Hill's classic words.

10.  Treat everyone with the greatest of respect

When I was in university, I thought I understood and practiced this, but youth clouded my perception and actions.  "Respect" is also a key theme in Napoleon Hill's teachings.  From the beggar on the street corner, to the janitor, to the most senior executive in your company, they are all worthy of the same respect.  When you start to look at people differently, and with humility, something changes.  I'm not far enough down the path to fully understand the power and wisdom behind this thought, but I'm starting to think it is far more important than I had ever guessed. 

There is also a lesson here about humility. If you want respect, start by being humble.  Those that are absorbed in self-importance, and power may sometimes be feared, but that is far different than respect.

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These are but 10 lessons, presented in no particular order, and chosen from a sea of possibilities. There are always more lessons to learn, and more thoughts to ponder.  Great teachers and thinkers are all around us.  We need but open our eyes, our ears, and our minds.