Lessons Learned 2018

In January I started the habit of writing down three lessons learned or ‘ah-ha moments’ at the end of each week. This is the compiled list for 2018 sorted into general categories.

Spiritual

  • All things that work together for good includes my mistakes (Romans 8:28).
  • God has given me enough now.
  • God prioritizes trust and faith in Him over performance.
  • God wants to strengthen me.
  • God’s deep love for me.
  • God’s desire to bless me and have my heart.
  • The reality of how short life is, souls dying without Christ, and the importance of preaching the gospel.
  • There is a difference between ministry to men and men’s ministry.
  • Jonathan’s humility toward David (I Samuel).
  • Love people like Christ.
  • Love people instead of trying to impress them.
  • God has an eternal plan for me. God didn’t just save me from something, He saved me for something (His eternal purpose).
  • God doesn’t like you more what you succeed or less when you fail.
  • Loving God and our neighbors are an inseparable mandate.
  • Don’t tell people all your opinions, give them your love.
  • If I make it all about me, it won’t be about Jesus.
  • How is my life working for the people around me?

Personal Development

  • I must be before I can do.
  • Writing my goals is a powerful tool.
  • A friend told me I had a positive impact their life, I am making a difference.
  • Writing it down helps make it happen.
  • Enjoy this stage of my life now.
  • How much money would I pay to come back to these moments with family at the end of my life?
  • Life is short.
  • I control my schedule, my schedule does not control me.
  • Growth takes time; be patient and trust God.
  • Live with less. The joy of living with less. Minimalism.
  • More understanding of the importance of my role as a father.
  • Don’t say what comes naturally.
  • I need to daydream and have big hopes.
  • Reading without thinking is wasted.
  • Read to have fellowship with great minds.
  • What matters is the quality of person I become.
  • Write in order to leave an impact.
  • Be curious.
  • Success depends on the person I become.
  • Superior people are clear about who they are and what they believe.
  • I must develop clarity about what I want in life.
  • I should (and want to) invest 3% of my target income in myself.
  • A 1000% increase in income by improving 1/10th of 1% in a working day, every day, for 10 years.
  • Advice is common; expertise is not.
  • An answer is only as good as the question.
  • Think about the right questions to ask.
  • Saving money and the law of attraction.
  • Hurrying is a lack of control.
  • There is never enough time to do everything, but always enough time to do the most important things.
  • You rise in life to the height of problems you are capable of solving.
  • Happiness is a byproduct.
  • I used to be afraid of failing at things that matter, now I am afraid of succeeding at things that don’t matter.
  • Less but better.
  • Avoid going a mile wide and a millimeter deep.
  • I want to go a foot wide and a mile deep in my impact on people.
  • Doing less can produce more.
  • Play and sleep are essential.
  • The law of the vital few.
  • Schedule time to think.
  • Sleep is for high performers.
  • People are effective because they say no.
  • The 90% rule of scoring opportunities.
  • Be clear about my essential intent.
  • Admit failure to begin success.
  • No is a complete sentence.
  • Zero based budgeting in my life.
  • Subtraction is important.
  • What’s important now? (The WIN question)
  • Focus on small wins. Example: write 4 minutes.
  • Execution is easy if you work hard at it and hard if you work easy at it.
  • Fight or Flight reaction versus Pause and Plan.
  • The domino effect. (from The ONE Thing)
  • The focusing question.
  • Think big and specific.
  • Elite performers have coaches.
  • Switching ladders.
  • It is often easier to improve by 10x than by 10%.
  • Connecting requires energy.
  • The ability to connect begins with understanding the value of people.
  • You are the message you communicate to others.
  • The power of connection is found in long-term relationships.
  • Connecting is about becoming the kind of person others want to connect with.
  • Just show up every day. Do this for 2 years and you will be shocked at the results.
  • Be bold in connecting with new people.
  • We will be remembered for our love.
  • Most people underestimate the enjoyment of exercise.
  • Being a perfectionist is the enemy of actually completing things.

Philosophy or Psychology

  • Who dares wins.
  • Spiritual leaders are not annoyed at the mistakes of others.
  • We must conquer the self before the world.
  • Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much; wisdom is humble that he knows no more.
  • Happiness depends on the internal.
  • Nine masks men wear.
  • The most important part of self-ideal is clarity.
  • Listen more, talk less.
  • My thoughts create the conditions of my life.
  • Know-it-all mask, I struggle with this one.
  • Empowered versus dis-empowered alpha.
  • Never outshine the master.
  • No effective leader lacks self-mastery.
  • Power depends on social interaction.
  • Becoming a great man takes persistence and time, do not be in a hurry.
  • The joy of being present in the moment.
  • Joy is internal.
  • Forgiveness increases self-control.
  • I must move past my fear of chaos.
  • Abundance creates energy.
  • It is better to know how to learn than to know.
  • Trying to become someone people will love is a waste.
  • Few times do we know the impact of a moment in the moment itself.
  • If you don’t know your purpose, just be you.
  • The poor choose now; the rich choose balance.
  • Enthusiasm is contagious.
  • What will make a good and lasting impact a decade from now?

Management

  • The most talented people cannot be forced to work.
  • An employee I was having conflict with has a completely opposite personality (PI) test to mine, understanding this has helped me work better with that person.
  • How would people describe my feedback?
  • Be a professional.
  • Empathy absorbs tension.
  • People do not behave rationally.
  • What is the win?
  • It is foolish to scold.
  • People’s desire to be appreciated.
  • People do not say what they mean.
  • Don’t feel the need to correct people.
  • Point out my own faults before correcting.

General Knowledge

  • Repeated reading does not always improve memory and retention.
  • Amazon started as a drop-ship business with no inventory.
  • Difficulty in learning improves retention.
  • Work ethic of Lyndon B. Johnson.
  • Power and corruption in politics from Lyndon Johnson biography, buying votes, ballot stuffing, etc.
  • Influence tactics commonly used such as scarcity, authority, etc.
  • Only 3% of adults have written goals.
  • Michael Jordan’s work ethic.
  • Exercise and meditation grow the brain.
  • Self-control is like a muscle, it can be strengthened with practice.
  • A culture that doesn’t share your values can use up willpower.
  • Be patient in low return markets. (Investing)

Most of these lessons learned are from books in my 2018 Reading List.

Other Lessons Learned Lists

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