Thirty Three

Commemorating my 33rd birthday with thirty three things I’ve learned in the past year.

1. My wife and kids deserve all of my attention at home.
2. Work-Life balance is hard when all you think about is work.
3. Attachment to other people is more important than fun.
4. It’s a red flag if my kids are begging for contact, physical, emotional, or otherwise. My goal should be to make them feel secure in their parental attachment.
5. Every decision I make is a choice. “I couldn’t help myself” is an excuse.
6. My family needs to matter most of all. How much time and attention I give my family is the metric I need to measure.
7. My wants and desires need to take a backseat to my family. Sacrifice will bring about amazing results.
8. Even when I’m physically away from my family, I can still be with my family.
9. Surrounding myself with great friends who hold me accountable for my idiotic nature is priceless.
10. It’s not hard to meet new people and for them to know you’re interested in their life.
11. Great leaders are at the front of the battle line.
12. I have very little clue how to motivate others.
13. Discipline is a misnomer. Just do it.
14. Take responsibility for failure. Never blame someone else.
15. Every trial is an opportunity to be better. Refining fire purifies.
16. I put off tough tasks with the best of them. Gold-star member of Procrastinators Anonymous.
17. Debt is easier to accumulate than destroy.
18. What food I eat plays a big part in how I feel and in turn, how productive I am.
19. A simple permanent diet change can lead to drastic weight-loss.
20. I miss the midnight cereal club.
21. I eat when I’m feeling down, which doesn’t help the waistline.
22. Working with good people is better than being paid bucket-loads of money.
23. An employer who trusts you completely is liberating.
24. Remote work is incredible.
25. Forty-hour work weeks are lame. Results are a better measure of progress.
26. I have a lot to learn. About everything.
27. Rdio will forever be missed.
28. There’s no such thing as work-free revenue streams.
29. Taking care of my own health should be a top priority.
30. Some people on the internet are mean.
31. Mobile phones shouldn’t be in the bathroom.
32. I am an epic sinner. Epic.
33. I believe God has big plans for me. I need to get out of His way.