Throughout my journey in life, I’ve learned many lessons and I’ve always tried to keep notes of the lessons I was learning. I thought I would share some of these lessons with you in a short blog post. You may disagree with my lessons, but I’m calling things as I’ve experienced them. Here goes…

1. People cannot keep secrets.

2. Unfortunately in business, nice guys usually do finish last.

3. Time IS more valuable than money. (I used to think time was money. It’s not!)

4. It’s a lot easier to get into partnerships than it is to get out of them.

5. The old saying – “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade” might actually be the secret to success.

6. The ONLY way to get and stay rich is to consistently live below your means.

7. It’s usually best to do the opposite of what everyone else is doing. This applies to almost every area in life.

8. You can’t accomplish anything in your business, if your employees don’t fear you at some level.

9. Less really is more.

10. Golf is a waste of time.

Plus two bonus lessons…

11.  A good business book can and should turn into money in your bank account.

12. You only get half of what you deserve in live. Adjust your output accordingly.


Can you add to this list? I’m sure you can! Please add your life lessons in the comments to this post.


    32 replies to "10 Lessons I’ve Learned in Life"

    • coldwell bankers

      Another Fantastic post, I will be sure to save this post in my Digg account. Have a good day.

    • Lorraine

      I believe Shakespeare said it best, “To Thy Own Self Be True.”

    • Justin

      Yeah.. I was following you well on your lessons till you said “Golf is a waste of time”.. Golf teaches you the best lessons in life there Robert.. Ediquette, playing by the rules, swing smooth & easy to hit it hard, patience.. Golf is a huge part of my life & is actually being tought to kids now in inner city programs in order to teach them bigger lessons on life.. Professional golfers call penalties on themselves.. The ultimate integrity exists on a golf course.. I love Golf & its where I go to clear my head, be in nature, & soak in some Vitamin D..

      Also a lesson.. If you want to increase your intelligence, Read More & Turn the TV Off.. Also teaches you patience & discipline.. Can’t rush through a book, & have to stay focused on what you’re reading.. I think Patience may be the key to life.. Everything valueable that occurs in life, takes time to EARN.. Typically things given to you, aren’t appreciated..

      http://www.TheSarasotaDeed.com (Anyone looking to buy real estate in Sarasota, Florida?)

    • Rob…

      Even though a lot of people will not admit it, several of the “life lessons” you outlined above were given to us by parents, grandparents,mentors, and teachers when we were younger…but, we didn’t want to listen or we just plain didn’t “get it”.

      That’s why a lot of folks have to “repeat a grade” (we did that back in our generation)…they didn’t learn it the first time that it was presented, so that had to do it over until they got it right. (Knew a kid that spent 3 years in the third grade)

      My life lessons?

      Tell the people in your life (especially your kids) that you love them because life is really, really short.

      “If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know how — the very best I can. And I mean to keep on doing it to the end. If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me will not amount to anything. If the end brings me out all wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.”

      Abraham Lincoln

      I appreciate you! Thanks for making us think.

      P.S. Golf is like sex…I am not that good at it, but I am not going to give it up!

    • Doug White

      1. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
      2. If it seems to good to be true, it isn’t.
      3. TINSTAAFL (There is no such thing as a free lunch).

    • jACK k

      Make a list of things to accomplish everyday. Put everything on the list including picking up the dry cleaning. You will be amazed at what you can get accomplished in a day.

      There is only one reason to keep a list. I love to ask this question to people who keep a list…

      “WHY DO YOU KEEP A LIST?” …

      Most say so they want forget what needs to be done. Others say so you can see what needs to be done or you can review at the end of the day what you have accomplished. All of the above are good answers to the question of why you keep a list, but all are incorrect.

      The correct answer to why you keep a list is…

      SO YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT IT. Think about it, once you write it down on your list, it is now off of your mind and you can move forward with what needs to be done now. You can forget about the other things on the list but know you will get to them in time and order later. You will be amazed at how much better you will sleep at night once you have a list and don’t have to worry about all the little details of the next day. It’s on the list, it will get accomplished so YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT IT and get a good nights sleep!!!

    • Jody Hood

      I read every one of all these lessons and then went back and read them again. They are so true.

      Here are mine:

      Half a loaf is better than no loaf at all.

      People who say “Don’t try and reinvent the wheel” don’t know what they’re talking about. I reinvent the wheel every day.

    • Sy Mahmoud

      I agree with all twelve principles! Very wise and securing to know. Thank you for sharing. Let add few words

      1. people will always back bite!
      2. nice guys finish last and bad guys go to hell!
      3. we are all losing time.
      4. whoever has a partner has a boss!

    • Del

      Rob,

      Your underlining nice guys _do_ finish last is wrong. From Wall St. Bankers to home town lenders, to Realtors / Brokers turning there heads the other way, is why the country is where it is today. Oh, there is plenty more blame in other areas I didn’t mention, but I refuse to follow the crowd going over the cliff. Maybe not a nice guy, but one that sleeps good at night with a conscience is sweet. And a referral base to boot 🙂

    • Wallace

      Business is equal opportunity, unequal rewards! Don’t get your fair share, get your UNFAIR share.

    • Jeff F.

      You are who you hang with. Want to improve anything you do? Start hanging around those who do it better – for now.

    • Josh Schoenly

      Great comment Dean…

      My lesson you have to track and test everything in your life you are trying to improve whether in your business or health or family.

    • Jean Pritchard

      Golf may be a waste of time if you are thinking about it in only a business mindset. But, we all need to take some time off, get exercise and enjoy life. And golf can do that for those that enjoy the sport. Good exercise, good fresh air, and a break from the stress of Business. Our lives need to be balanced in all areas: Personal, business, financial, family, and religious.

    • Scott Seifferlein

      golf is a total waste of time. that is why Bank of America gets a 10 to 1 Gross ROI on their golf sponsorships and a 3 to 1 Net ROI. That is also why the majority of successful financial advisors are good golfers and beat the pants off their clients. Yeah, golf… a total waste. Y’all should take up curling.

    • Donnie Worley

      If you are not willing to put the time and effort into doing your best then don’t waste your time half-assing it.

      10 people will find out about something you did that was good, 1000 people will find out about something you did that was bad.

      You have to be able to look yourself in the mirror each night.

      Your reputation has to be built and cherished.

      Your family is your most important asset.

      Make friends that you consider family.

      Treat everyone the way you want to be treated.

      Hard work leads to sustained success.

      Perception is reality to the perceiver.

      The path less traveled has NO TRAFFIC JAMS.

    • Kathy Kalousek

      The happiest people don’t have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything they have. (This falls in with living below your means).

    • Okenogen

      The subjuect line in your e-mail is art. Your life lessons are science.

      Here is my discovery:
      You are not capable to love, hate or do business with other people. If it appears you do, it’s only at times those other people put a mirror in front of you to show you a part of yourself.

    • Jay Hurdle

      There is no such thing as loyalty. You must contact clients regularly, otherwise they will forget you.

    • Doug Webb

      Rob,
      Usually, if someone says “I won’t lie to you”, they just did.

    • Dean Jackson

      I like golf.

      • Rob Minton

        I like chocolate ice cream. The problem is I can’t sell homes at Dairy Queen. Liking to play golf with friends and family is fine. The problem starts when someone thinks golfing is a productive business activity.

    • HELEN

      You Become Like Those You Associate With
      Education Without Application Is Worse Than Useless
      If You Want To Soar With The Eagles Stop Gobbling With The Turkeys
      Too Much Analysis Leads To Paralysis = JUST DO IT (Thank you Nike!)
      The Biggest Waste Of Time Is Between When A Decision Needs To Be Made and Finally Making That Decision
      If You Shoot For The Moon & Miss You’ll Land Among The Stars.

      MOST IMPORTANT LESSON I HAVE LEARN’T IN LIFE:
      “If It’s To Be It’s Up To Me”.

    • Jan Duke

      The relationship is greater than the transaction. People prefer to continue doing business with people they know, regardless of the price.

    • Randy Benoit

      A very good lesson,
      “There’s a fine line between being soft hearted and soft headed”

    • Rick Grimm

      Golf is not a waste time , it is not for business, there are better ways to meet people. If you shoot like crap, they will think your business is crap, if you are great at it it won’t help either, no one wants to beat on the golf course.

    • Anand

      Do what you can and not worry for result. Result will take care of itself.

    • Joel McDonald

      Nice lessons!

      How about: “The only shortcut in life is acknowledging that there are no shortcuts.”

    • Jane Tecklenburg

      Here is my life lesson.
      You are what you think about–so think positively and think BIG!

    • JD Kaplan

      Rob what you said in your post is correct. Only 1/2 of “Your 10 leesons on life” or correct.

      I’ve learned the cloths I like best have the most holes in them.
      I’ve learned it takes years to build trust and seconds to destroy it.
      I’ve learned that it is easier to react than think
      I’ve learned it’s not what you have in life, but who that, counts

      Some share a moment and expand it into a life time
      Some share a life time and condense it into a moment

    • Dona

      My life lesson: “Be confident in who God created you to be.” Joel Osteen. I have had bosses tell me I need to change the way I do things to be more like them. I finally realized that my nature is the most productive way to conduct business for myself. I am now confident in who I am just the way I am and this works best for me!

      Dona

    • Terry

      How you do one thing, is how you do everything.

    • Rob Minton

      After finalizing this post, I realized I forget to include two additional life lessons:

      The majority of people rarely follow through. This knowledge can be used to your benefit in many ways. To profit from this tendency, you have to think a little deeper. Your thought process must be something like this “Where is the opportunity in this person not following through?”

      Don’t think you can change people. You can’t. People either want to change on their own or they don’t. You cannot influence this process and will only frustrate yourself if you try. You can’t change your spouse. You can’t change your agents. You can’t change your employees. You can only change yourself.

      Rob

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