60 Life Lessons and Learnings
A list of insights gathered over 60 years of living
I turned 60 in May, and I felt pretty good about it as I celebrated with family and friends. Every year I try to grow as a person, learn new things, give back to others, and create new experiences—and have fun. I’m grateful to see 60 and look forward to the ways I'll continue to grow over the next year and decade.
I joked about sharing 60 life lessons in a LinkedIn post, but shared just a few instead. Turns out, there actually were some people who wanted more! This energized me to sit down, open up a blank document on my computer, and just start writing. At first, I wasn’t sure I could even get to 60—but once I gained momentum, it was pretty easy and the lessons came pouring out.
Some are incredibly short. Many border on common sense. A few approach a level of profoundness. I didn’t put pressure on myself in creating the list, which is a lesson in itself. So behold and enjoy these 60 Life Lessons and Learnings. Let me know which one is your favorite!
PS: My book, Life Is Sales, comes out this Fall and will dive deeper into many of these concepts, so keep an eye out for that.
Experiences and memories are the most important assets to create and keep.
Give to get. Whether that is affirmation, acknowledgement, support, help, money, etc. But give without expecting a return.
Close the back door on important decisions and commitments. Don’t question them.
EWOP = Everything Works Out Perfectly. But it doesn’t always look the way we think or have planned. Trust, and be patient.
Burn the canoes. If important, fully commit and carry through to the finish. Don’t quit because you can’t retreat.
Take risks. Be willing to fail. Learn. Develop grit and resilience.
Make your bed. At least you have accomplished one thing today. (See Admiral William H. McRaven speech)
Don’t wait until you are old to let people know who you are.
Have an opinion. And let others have opinions as well. Listen. Develop tolerance for others and learn to accept differences.
Every day do three things: cry, and be moved to tears; laugh, a real belly laugh; think, and learn something new. (See Coach Jimmy Valvano ESPY’s speech)
Take care of yourself so you can give freely and fully to others.
Keep up with your health. Get a colonoscopy. Get a skin check. Get a physical.
Schedule weekly dates with your spouse or partner to strengthen connection.
Schedule time daily (5 minutes) to have non-logistical conversations about your feelings and dreams and hurts and joys.
Hold hands.
Regardless of your beliefs, pray and wish for things, and be grateful for your life.
Be aware of your own and others' physical space. Don’t block walkways. Don’t run into people.
Open doors for people.
Play the feelings game. Review your day and share one time during the day where you felt fear, hurt, anger, sadness, and joy. All 5.
Make friends with your fear. Without fear, there is no such thing as courage.
Learn to recognize your hurt and simply say “ouch”. Don’t punish and operate from an eye-for-an-eye mentality. Don’t hold onto your hurts – let them go. Live life fully and create new hurts.
Learn to contain your reactivity (and fear and hurt) and take a breath. Reacting can oftentimes create more problems.
Use your anger with intention to get what you want. Stay focused on the end goal and the purpose. Use your energy for positivity, not to block someone else’s dreams.
Invest in good people and leaders without expecting a return.
Feel alive. Be alive. Try to experience everything – no good or bad. Walk down the street and feel and experience the wonders of life. See through a child’s eyes.
Turn off your phone once in a while.
See a movie in a theater. Go see live music. Go to a live sporting event. Be a fan. Participate in community.
Keep a bucket list and actively check things off it.
Downsize. Minimize. Purge. Spring clean. It’s just stuff.
Try new forms of exercise. Play Padel!
Be generous – with your time, attention, money, etc.
Listen. Be curious. (See Ted Lasso). And believe.
Say “please” and “thank you”. Say “I love you.” Learn to say “sorry”. Communicate.
Walk after you eat. Exercise. Breathe. Get a massage. Take care of your body so that you can accomplish your goals.
Compete. Try to win. Be a good winner and loser.
Keep in touch. Track people’s birthdays. Send a quick text to say hi.
Take notes on your meetings. Review the notes before your next meeting. Don’t waste people’s time.
Focus on the important, not always the urgent.
Reduce the resistance in your life. Work on flow. (See Ohm’s Law – V=iR)
Learn to do and accomplish. Then learn to BE.
Never be outworked.
Be a good team member.
You can’t help someone, or change someone, unless they want it. You can’t save your parents’ marriage. You can help yourself, and change yourself, and save yourself.
Risk telling the truth to serve others. Tell the truth with a vision.
Commit to something. Have a BHAG = Big Hairy Audacious Goal.
Strive, accomplish, succeed, fail, accumulate…then develop a purpose for what truly nourishes your soul.
Take responsibility. Don’t be a victim. Only you can change your life. Realize that you have intended your life, either consciously or unconsciously. Choose.
Engage fully in life. Develop and use your unique gifts. Realize and maximize your potential. Learn and grow.
Accept that you are a work in progress. Accept your mistakes. And accept that you are an asshole sometimes.
(See Jelly Roll – Same Asshole)Get good sleep, and enough. Dream.
Work hard and play hard(er).
Be present – quality time is more important than quantity of time.
Love. Until it hurts. Be attached. Let your heart grow 3X. (See The Grinch)
Get a dog. Feel unconditional love.
Travel. Experience other cultures and visit beautiful places.
Pay it forward. Give back.
Find mentors. Be a mentor.
Don’t wait. Don’t worry. Do something about it, or let it go. Use your energy wisely.
Be a good friend. Be a best man or maid of honor. Give a great and honorable speech, and cry when you give it.
Leave places better than you found them.
BONUS: Don’t drive like an idiot. Slow down. Don’t endanger yourself and others. If you miss a turn, don’t try to make it from two lanes over. Just keep going and turn around safely.
Live Richly, Shine Brightly, and Love Lyons-heartedly!
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