Excellent Advice For Living: 79 Maxims from a Wise Old Man

By Founders Podcast

Categories: Startup, VC

Summary

Distill 450 maxims into 6 actionable insights: Deadlines spur creativity, gratitude unlocks all virtues, and the best way to learn is by teaching. This trove of wisdom from a 68-year-old entrepreneur offers a playbook for personal and professional growth.

Key Takeaways

1. Use deadlines as creative accelerators, not killers - they force decisions and prevent endless tinkering.
2. Practice gratitude daily to unlock virtues and amplify your impact.
3. Teach what you know to deepen your own understanding.
4. Set ridiculously ambitious goals - even if you fall short, you'll exceed ordinary success.
5. When given a choice, opt for kindness over being right.
6. Don't measure your life against others' yardsticks - play an infinite game on your own terms.

Topics

• Productivity Hacks
• Lifelong Learning
• Emotional Intelligence
• Entrepreneurial Mindset
• Personal Growth

Transcript Excerpt

On my 68th birthday, I decided to give my young adult children some advice. I am not a frequent advice giver, but soon I was able to write down 68 bits. To my surprise, I had more to say than I thought. So for the next several years, I wrote down a batch of advice on my birthday and shared it with my family and friends. They wanted more. I kept going until I had about 450 bits of advice I wish I'd known when I was younger. I am primarily channeling the wisdom of the ages. I'm offering advice tha...