99 Additional Bits of Unsolicited Advice

Kevin Kelly shares even more Wisdom in his second unsolicited advice blogpost 99 Additional Bits of Unsolicited Advice :

I have another birthday, and another bunch of unsolicited advice.

These are the things that resonated with me at the time of writing this:

  • That thing that made you weird as a kid could make you great as an adult — if you don’t lose it.
  • If you have any doubt at all about being able to carry a load in one trip, do yourself a huge favor and make two trips.
  • Recipe for success: under-promise and over-deliver.
  • It’s not an apology if it comes with an excuse. It is not a compliment if it comes with a request.
  • If something fails where you thought it would fail, that is not a failure.
  • Be governed not by the tyranny of the urgent but by the elevation of the important.
  • In all things — except love — start with the exit strategy. Prepare for the ending. Almost anything is easier to get into than out of.
  • Don’t aim to have others like you; aim to have them respect you.
  • The foundation of maturity: Just because it’s not your fault doesn’t mean it’s not your responsibility.
  • A multitude of bad ideas is necessary for one good idea.
  • If you can avoid seeking approval of others, your power is limitless.
  • To be wealthy, accumulate all those things that money can’t buy.
  • Be the change you wish to see.
  • Don’t loan money to a friend unless you are ready to make it a gift.
  • If you borrow something, try to return it in better shape than you received it. Clean it, sharpen it, fill it up.
  • Writing down one thing you are grateful for each day is the cheapest possible therapy ever.
  • When someone tells you something is wrong, they’re usually right. When someone tells you how to fix it, they’re usually wrong.
  • Avoid hitting the snooze button. That’s just training you to oversleep.
  • Always say less than necessary.
  • Each time you reach out to people, bring them a blessing; then they’ll be happy to see you when you bring them a problem.
  • Bad things can happen fast, but almost all good things happen slowly.
  • You can reduce the annoyance of someone’s stupid belief by increasing your understanding of why they believe it.
  • If your goal does not have a schedule, it is a dream.
  • All the greatest gains in life — in wealth, relationships, or knowledge —come from the magic of compounding interest — amplifying small steady gains. All you need for abundance is to keep adding 1% more than you subtract on a regular basis.
  • I have never met a person I admired who did not read more books than I did.
  • The greatest teacher is called “doing”.
  • A problem that can be solved with money is not really a problem.
  • When you are stuck, sleep on it. Let your subconscious work for you.
  • Children totally accept — and crave — family rules. “In our family we have a rule for X” is the only excuse a parent needs for setting a family policy. In fact, “I have a rule for X” is the only excuse you need for your own personal policies.
  • This is the best time ever to make something. None of the greatest, coolest creations 20 years from now have been invented yet. You are not late.
  • Every person you meet knows an amazing lot about something you know virtually nothing about. Your job is to discover what it is, and it won’t be obvious.
  • Always give credit, take blame.
  • Be frugal in all things, except in your passions splurge.
  • When making something, always get a few extras — extra material, extra parts, extra space, extra finishes. The extras serve as backups for mistakes, reduce stress, and fill your inventory for the future. They are the cheapest insurance.
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