38 things I've learned that I consider important, in business as well as in personal life.

Another year has passed. Full of ups and downs, with a healthy dose of self-doubt as well as huge successes, of laughter and tears. And that's perfectly fine, life can't always be perfect.

And that's the case with everyone else — everyone has some struggles we know nothing about. The only question is how we deal with it.

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My birthday has often been associated with a great deal of reflection. So I've been thinking a lot about it these last few days.

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I dare say I've learned a lot in my 38 years here. There are great many things I have to remind myself of time and again (to be more grateful, for instance), yet many things have already become normal for me. And while I can't always implement all of them, I'm working on it and growing a little more every day.

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Today I want to tell you 38 things I've learned that I consider important, in business as well as in personal life.

Thing is — sometimes you only realize what is really important when you get older. So, if you're still young, you may find this list useful to find your own way faster.

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1.??????????Being an adult is quite exhausting. So, stay a child for as long as you can.

2.??????????Be grateful for the things you already have

3.??????????You don't need a hundred friends, it's about the quality of the relationships you have. The right people are worth everything.

4.??????????Everyone has problems, not just you — don't make them bigger than they really are.

5.??????????No one is perfect, perfection is the enemy of progress.

6.??????????You can't please everyone anyway, so just do your thing.

7.??????????Sometimes good people make bad choices. It doesn’t mean they are bad people. It just means they are human.

8.??????????In order to achieve something, you also have to do something about it. Merely talking about it doesn't help.

9.??????????You have to expect things of yourself before you can actually do them.

10.???????It’s better to shoot and miss than to let the time run out and then wonder "what if".

11.???????Never look at the consequences of missing a “big shot”. When you think about the consequences, you always think of the potential negative result.

12.???????Facing your fears will help you overcome them. Even if it 's not always easy.

13.???????Learn, educate yourself every day and always have a game plan.

14.???????Saying "please" and "thank you" is pleasant to the others — and for you, too.

15.???????Don't always wait for the other person to get in touch, but get in touch if you want to keep in touch.

16.???????If you're unhappy with a situation, change it instead of getting annoyed about it over and over again.

17.???????There is a solution for every problem. Always.

18.???????Money is not everything in life.

19.???????Despite your ambition, you should not forget your free time. Switching off is important.

20.???????Always make time for your friends and your family.

21.???????Limits, like fear, are often an illusion.

22.???????Don’t save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after savings.

23.???????If you have a problem with someone you care about, bring it up. Even if it's hard. It's a lot worse when something goes unspoken.

24.???????You can't blindly trust everyone. Try to believe in the good in people anyway.

25.???????Always believe in yourself, even if it gets harder.

26.???????The harder I prepare, the luckier I seem to get.

27.???????Happiness comes from within. No one and nothing else is responsible for your happiness.

28.???????Hard work is needed, but it is not enough. We must all stand back from our businesses and work smart, not just hard.

29.???????You should only be working “On Purpose and with a Purpose.” Know your “Why.” Why are you doing what you are doing?

30.???????Your ability is not limited to your experiences.

31.???????Hard work beats talent. Always.

32.???????Nothing is as important as your health.

33.???????Don’t be afraid to start small.

34.???????You’re going to fail — it's okay.

35.???????Time is your most valuable resource.

36.???????Communication can prevent or fix almost any problem.

37.???????All good business ideas must be rooted in practicality.

38.???????The journey is more important than the destination.

And a bonus point — take risks, but calculate that risk first.

(For this, I have Quantic financial solutions??.)