A year ago on my birthday I wrote a post called: 32 Years, 32 Lessons. Now almost a year has passed and I thought it was time for another reflective post. This time I’m going bigger in numbers but shorter in description. This list – and the 32:32 post – might be combined and broken down deeper in an upcoming book. I as thinking of writing it in the spirit of Rework but call it Relive or Relife.

But that’s another story.

Before we get into it, know that I wrestled with this title forever because this list is a combination of lessons, tips and truths about life, business and travel learned through research, listening, or the hard way. So you see, no one title really fits it neatly so I went with what I went with to keep it short and sweet.

Without further ado, here’s my list of 99 Lessons For Living A Life You Won’t Regret.

No adult ever mentally feels grown up

You will always doubt yourself, get used to it

Permission has already been granted to you. You just have to take it

The timing will never be as perfect as you want it to be

You won’t know what you’re doing when you start doing what you think you want to do

So choose to make every decision the right decision, even if something doesn’t go your way

Because success is a mindset

But success is also dangerous. The more you have, the less support people think you need

There’s no such thing as making it, only making it further than where you were yesterday

Starting a business means you’ll have less free time, not more. A lot less.

If you can’t figure out how to market yourself in this world, you’ll always be paddling upstream

Everything is selling. But now we’re selling ideas and opinions not only gadgets

Older does not equal smarter

Not everyone has experience, but everyone can have initiative

The best skill to have is one that is rare and useful

If you knew how much work it would take to get your dream job, most of you would run for the hills

And anyway, it’s only a “dream” job until you get it. Then it’s reality. And reality has its ups and downs

You choose what kind of mood you want to be in when you wake up

Don’t hang up the phone angry with your mother

Foster the relationship with your siblings. You’ll live with them a lot longer than any other family member

A strong handshake and solid eye contact will change your life for the better

Image is everything, at first. Don’t pretend that it’s not. Being well-dressed and decently-groomed is a form of politeness

There are no re-deals in life. The faster you accept that, the sooner you can excel at playing whatever hand you have

find the inspiration that stirs action. So often what we say inspires us also makes us feel inferior and paralyzed. The trick is toOtherwise it’s not inspiration, it’s comparison

Aspirations are wants based heavily on outside factors. Goals are wants based solely on your efforts

For all those instances you think you just can’t do it, maybe you just should do it

You live up to your own expectations

Ignorance is bliss but it’s not allowed to vote. If you don’t want to be informed, don’t complain

Speaking of complaining, it’s easier than succeeding. Be careful what you whine about

Owning memories beats owning “things” every time

Except maybe if that thing reminds you of that memory every time you look at it

Don’t be afraid to be broke. Be afraid to stay broke

Helping others is noble, but be sure to take care of yourself too. It’s not selfish if it’s growth

Embrace the suck. Your story is in the grit beneath your fingernails

Because in the end, it’ll be the stories you tell and the people you tell them to

Let the great days take care of themselves Great days = (luck) x (a bunch of average days).

Stress = reality not matching your expectations. It’s harder to change reality than your expectations

Fear is a choice, not a mathematical constant

We often don’t want to accomplish our goals, we just want to be liked by our friends

Independence isn’t free. The more you have of it, the more you’re paralyzed by it

We do care what people think

Don’t change the world, change the moment

Don’t strive to be the best. Strive to be your best. “The best” is insanity

Death by research is no way to die. Start already

Successful people finish shit. Finish already

Don’t go the extra mile until you go the last mile. Finish already

If you can put yourself in the shoes of an outsider, you win

Passions are your selfish desires. Purpose creates value for other people. Do something for other people and figure out how to tie your passions into it

Because how you treat people is more important than what you do

In fact, don’t treat others how you want to be treated, treat others how THEY want to be treated

pay your vulnerability tax While you’re at it, you’ll need to figure out how to

Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you. If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’ll always be that dumb

Exercise. No seriously, get off your ass

But if you’re only going to the gym because your friend is going, it’s not going to work for you

You are not right just because you speak. Give people a choice and a chance

Follow up or die

Know when to let go

Keep your digital self fed, but don’t let him/her rule the show

Create more

Tweet less

Craft first, community second

It’s not who you know. It’s who you know once you know what you need to know

Emotions are contagious. You are in control of what you are spreading and what you are susceptible to

Stop apologizing for not knowing. Everyone was a rookie once

All that evil needs to flourish is for good people to see nothing—and get paid for it

What makes people happier is: other people

Have longer dinners with friends

Take that trip you’ve been thinking about. (See #4 above)

If you only have a backpack, board the plane last. No sense in standing in line or sitting on a cramped plane for longer than you have to

Perspective is one simple thing that can make you more likable

If tuk tuk drivers speak English too well, don’t trust them

Partying is worth it while you’re in it, tragic when you miss it, regrettable the morning after, epic the day after that

Party your ass off every now and then, but wake up sober on Saturday more often than not

There is no such thing as “the one.” You don’t have time to meet all the candidates

Marriage and commitment is not about riding off into the sunset together, it’s about jumping in a foxhole together

Ladies, you hold all the cards. Own that

Guys, less gawking at ladies, more hellos

No one is thinking of creative ways to give you money

for that knowledge A service business is convincing someone you know more than them about something they value and getting them to pay you

Know the answer to “What are you working on and how can I help?”

When it comes to a potential new customer, nothing is nothing until it’s something

No one’s going to steal your idea

You’re not stuck in traffic. You ARE traffic

When you give someone change, don’t put the coins on top of the bills. This drives people crazy.

the process You have to enjoysomehow

Sadly, we spend most of our time worrying about what the people who don’t ever think about us, think about us

Do something you hate. It’ll make you appreciate the things you love more

Build something you can point at

Efficiency runs businesses; inefficiency starts them

You don’t make money from a blog, you make money from a business

Piss someone off. You can’t market to everyone

You can’t outmuscle being tired. Go to sleep

You can’t outlogic your goals. You have to understand emotion

Having no social awareness will be catastrophic for your career

Rinse the sponge out after you use it. People don’t like smelling mold on their hands

Have a hobby that entails you actually learning something new