100 (very) short rules for a better life:
1/ Wake up early.
2/ Ask: Am I using this technology, or is it using me?
3/ Forget about outcomes — focus on making a little progress every day.
4/ Say no (a lot).
5/ Read something every day.
6/ Don’t watch TV news.
7/ Comparison leads to unhappiness.
8/ Journal.
2/ Ask: Am I using this technology, or is it using me?
3/ Forget about outcomes — focus on making a little progress every day.
4/ Say no (a lot).
5/ Read something every day.
6/ Don’t watch TV news.
7/ Comparison leads to unhappiness.
8/ Journal.
9/ Strenuous exercise every single day.
10/ Character is fate.
11/ Practice the law of action, not attraction. Instead of envisioning the future you want, create it.
12/ Get up when you fall/fail.
13/ Prove your life’s philosophy with actions over words (and that’s not easy).
10/ Character is fate.
11/ Practice the law of action, not attraction. Instead of envisioning the future you want, create it.
12/ Get up when you fall/fail.
13/ Prove your life’s philosophy with actions over words (and that’s not easy).
14/ Don’t argue with facts just because you don’t like them.
15/ It’s not about routine but about practice.
16/ Forget credit. Do the work.
17/ Do a kindness each day.
18/ Grab the "smooth handle".
19/ Success = autonomy.
20/ Pick up trash when you see it.
15/ It’s not about routine but about practice.
16/ Forget credit. Do the work.
17/ Do a kindness each day.
18/ Grab the "smooth handle".
19/ Success = autonomy.
20/ Pick up trash when you see it.
21/ If you want to be good and feel good, you have to do good.
22/ Deliberately think about death. Every day.
23/ “Trust the process.”
24/ Do your job well, whatever it is. Because how you do anything is how you do everything.
25/ Always choose alive time.
22/ Deliberately think about death. Every day.
23/ “Trust the process.”
24/ Do your job well, whatever it is. Because how you do anything is how you do everything.
25/ Always choose alive time.
26/ “What book has changed your life?” is a question you should ask people you admire if you want to change your own life.
27/ There’s no such thing as “quality time.”
28. Instead of trying to be the noun, do the verb.
27/ There’s no such thing as “quality time.”
28. Instead of trying to be the noun, do the verb.
29/ The best thing you can do for your work is take a walk.
30/ The present is enough.
31/ You are what you repeatedly do.
32/ Have a philosophy.
33/ Make time for philosophy.
33/ Don’t just read — you must read to lead.
30/ The present is enough.
31/ You are what you repeatedly do.
32/ Have a philosophy.
33/ Make time for philosophy.
33/ Don’t just read — you must read to lead.
34/ Keep a commonplace book, a collection of little sayings about how to live.
35/ Stop looking for shortcuts. Do the work.
36/ Build an “inner citadel,” what the Stoics called that fortress inside all of us that no external adversity can ever break down.
35/ Stop looking for shortcuts. Do the work.
36/ Build an “inner citadel,” what the Stoics called that fortress inside all of us that no external adversity can ever break down.
37/ Let it go — those who wrong you wrong themselves.
38/ Spend time with old people.
39/ When evaluating an opportunity, ask yourself: What will teach me the most?
40/ Think purpose, not passion. (One is about you, the other about something bigger than you.)
38/ Spend time with old people.
39/ When evaluating an opportunity, ask yourself: What will teach me the most?
40/ Think purpose, not passion. (One is about you, the other about something bigger than you.)
41/ Have kids. Or just talk to kids. They can teach you something if you really pay attention.
42/ But don’t use your kids as props for validation.
43. Biographies are the best way to study the lives of the greats.
42/ But don’t use your kids as props for validation.
43. Biographies are the best way to study the lives of the greats.
44/ Don’t try to beat other people — try to be the only one doing exactly what you’re doing.
45/ Know why you do what you do.
46/ Be strict with yourself and forgiving of others.
47/ Practice the art of negative visualization.
48/ Cut toxic people out of your life.
45/ Know why you do what you do.
46/ Be strict with yourself and forgiving of others.
47/ Practice the art of negative visualization.
48/ Cut toxic people out of your life.
49/ Before starting any project, have a “draw-down period,” that phase when you step back, look at your idea, and ask: “What is this really going to be?”
50/ As the late coach and business executive Bill Campbell said: “If you’ve been blessed, be a blessing.”
50/ As the late coach and business executive Bill Campbell said: “If you’ve been blessed, be a blessing.”
51/ Don’t wait until later. Do it now.
52/ Never go a day without some deep work.
53/ Make time for a regular for self-review. Examine how you spend your time and how you’re living up to your values.
54. Ask yourself: How does this action I’m about to take affect other people?
52/ Never go a day without some deep work.
53/ Make time for a regular for self-review. Examine how you spend your time and how you’re living up to your values.
54. Ask yourself: How does this action I’m about to take affect other people?
55/ Don’t take the money if it means sacrificing your autonomy.
56/ Stay a student.
57/ Break things down to see what they really are.
58/ “If you see fraud and do not say fraud, you are a fraud.” — Nassim Taleb
59/ Undersell and overdeliver.
60/ You must tame your temper.
56/ Stay a student.
57/ Break things down to see what they really are.
58/ “If you see fraud and do not say fraud, you are a fraud.” — Nassim Taleb
59/ Undersell and overdeliver.
60/ You must tame your temper.
61/ Never recline your seat on an airplane. (See also: “How do my actions affect others?”)
62/ Belief in yourself is overrated. Generate evidence.
63/ Don’t overthink the price on a book. Buy it if you think you’ll read it, and the purchase will pay you back.
62/ Belief in yourself is overrated. Generate evidence.
63/ Don’t overthink the price on a book. Buy it if you think you’ll read it, and the purchase will pay you back.
64/ Good things happen in bookstores.
65/ See what you can learn from every person you meet — even people you don’t like.
66/ Set a bedtime.
67/ A successful marriage is worth more than a successful career.
68/ “Go straight to the seat of intelligence.” — Marcus Aurelius
65/ See what you can learn from every person you meet — even people you don’t like.
66/ Set a bedtime.
67/ A successful marriage is worth more than a successful career.
68/ “Go straight to the seat of intelligence.” — Marcus Aurelius
69/ It’s human being, not human doing.
70/ Amor fati. Love your fate.
71/ Go the f*ck to sleep.
72/ “Always say less than necessary.” — Robert Greene
73/ Never take a phone call sitting down. Go outside and go for a walk.
70/ Amor fati. Love your fate.
71/ Go the f*ck to sleep.
72/ “Always say less than necessary.” — Robert Greene
73/ Never take a phone call sitting down. Go outside and go for a walk.
74/ Champion other people’s work (see my annual reading list).
75/ Make commitments: short, regular deadlines that you have to meet.
76/ Animals make life better.
77/ “Associate with people who are likely to improve you. Welcome those who you are capable of improving.” — Seneca
75/ Make commitments: short, regular deadlines that you have to meet.
76/ Animals make life better.
77/ “Associate with people who are likely to improve you. Welcome those who you are capable of improving.” — Seneca
78/ See the beauty in the mundane.
79/ Print out good advice and put it right in front of your desk, or wherever you work every day.
80/ Remember: Nobody is thinking about you. They’re too busy thinking about themselves.
81/ Don’t just read books, reread books.
79/ Print out good advice and put it right in front of your desk, or wherever you work every day.
80/ Remember: Nobody is thinking about you. They’re too busy thinking about themselves.
81/ Don’t just read books, reread books.
82/ Make haste, slowly.
83/ Don’t talk about projects until you’re finished.
84/ To build resilience, go into the wilderness.
85/ Try to see opportunities where others see obstacles.
86/ Focus on your inner scorecard rather than your outer scorecard.
83/ Don’t talk about projects until you’re finished.
84/ To build resilience, go into the wilderness.
85/ Try to see opportunities where others see obstacles.
86/ Focus on your inner scorecard rather than your outer scorecard.
87/ Have hobbies unrelated to your job.
88/ You don’t solve problems by running away.
89/ Seek out challenges.
90/ “Whenever you are offended, understand that you are complicit in taking offense.” — Epictetus
91/ Think progress, not perfection.
88/ You don’t solve problems by running away.
89/ Seek out challenges.
90/ “Whenever you are offended, understand that you are complicit in taking offense.” — Epictetus
91/ Think progress, not perfection.
92/ “Ask yourself at every moment, ‘Is this necessary?’” — Marcus Aurelius
93/ Relax. Whatever it is, you’re probably taking it too seriously.
94/ Focus on what you can control.
95/ Wrap up each day as if it were the end of your life.
96/ Strive to live an interesting life.
93/ Relax. Whatever it is, you’re probably taking it too seriously.
94/ Focus on what you can control.
95/ Wrap up each day as if it were the end of your life.
96/ Strive to live an interesting life.
97/ Value the four Stoic virtues: wisdom, justice, courage, and moderation.
98/ The obstacle is the way.
99/ Ego is the enemy.
100/ Stillness is the key.
98/ The obstacle is the way.
99/ Ego is the enemy.
100/ Stillness is the key.
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