For the past year I have tried to compile the top lessons I have learned from my Dad. There are so many. Everyone who knows him will agree that he is a uniquely amazing person. He’s an incredible leader, teacher, friend, and example. I think I’ve narrowed it down to the top 20 lessons, and behind each of these lessons, there is a story. Thank you, dad.
1. Always tell the truth, no matter what. Your word is infinitely valuable. You would rather die than break your word.
2. Always keep your commitments, no matter what.
3. Work unreasonably hard and sacrifice for the things you want. The greater the goal, the greater the sacrifice required.
4. Don’t wait to be told what to do; just do it. You are an agent that can bend the world. “Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.” This is his favorite scripture.
5. If you want it bad enough, you’ll find a way to get it, and if you don’t get it, you didn’t want it bad enough.
6. Set specific goals and sign your name to them.
7. Be kind, especially to those who are most different from you.
8. Be generous, especially to those less fortunate than you.
9. You must make your own decisions and live with the consequences of your decisions. Consequences are valuable teachers.
10. You are never a victim. You alone own the outcome. There is no one else to blame.
11. Family over everything. Be fiercely loyal to family first.
12. God put us on earth to lead. Being a leader is extremely important.
13. A leader serves others and makes others the best versions of themselves.
14. Have a deep belief in yourself. Never lose confidence in yourself.
15. Confident people build others up and give genuine compliments, weak people tear others down. It is easy to spot someone with low self esteem.
16. Control your thoughts to control your outcomes. Our thoughts have outsized impact on our life. As a man thinketh, so is he.
17. Be truly grateful for all things. Including trials. Always say thank you.
18. You can get excited when you go through hard times because it means something great is coming and you are going to get stronger.
19. Find the positive in every situation. Negative people go nowhere in life.
20. Keep a small group of friends extremely close, and do whatever they need at a moments notice.
always happy; never satisfied 