100 Amazing Mini Habits
That Will Make 2016 Awesome
BY QUORA
What are some of the best life
tips? originally appeared on Quora--the
knowledge-sharing network where compelling questions are answered by people
with unique insights.
Answer by Nelson Wang, founder of CEOLifestyle.io, on Quora:
Over
the past 31 years of my life, I've learned a lot through my experiences. These
include:
1.
Having my articles featured on Forbes, Business Insider, Fortune, and Inc.
2.
Starting two companies and building four top 100 apps in different categories.
3.
Ten years in the technology industry at amazing companies like Cisco, VMware,
Box, and Optimizely.
4.
Writing a book that hit No. 1 on Amazon in the résumés category, with more than
40,000 Kindle downloads.
And
today, I'll be sharing with you my top 100 tips on work, life hacks, and life
lessons. To make this list easier to read, I've divided it into the three
categories:
·
Work tips--Nos. 1 to 34
·
Life hacks--Nos. 35 to 55
·
Life lessons--Nos. 56 to 100
Hope
this helps you live an epic life!
Work tips:
1. Say no to one-hour meetings--"I love
hourlong meetings," said no one ever. One-hour meetings are often
unnecessary. You can usually accomplish in 30 minutes what you thought you
needed an hour for. Thirty minutes will force you to be concise and on point.
2. Do the Steve Jobs walk--Steve Jobs did
some of his most important meetings while going for a walk. I do this all the
time. First, having meetings in conference rooms can feel very stiff.
Second, getting people outside of their everyday environment may get them to
see things from a new perspective. Third, being physically active during your
meeting could help you think more clearly. So open the door, get some fresh
air, and go for a walk.
3. Visualize your success--Imagine three
groups of basketball players. The first group practices shooting free throws 20
minutes a day. The second group doesn't practice free throws but instead
visualizes themselves making free throws. The third group doesn't practice or
visualize at all. The results? There was a significant improvement in the
second group. In fact, they were almost as good as the first group. By the way,
this is a real experiment that was conducted by Australian psychologist Alan
Richardson. So if you want to get that new job, imagine yourself prepping for
the interview, nailing it, and signing the job offer. Visualize what you want
your future to be.
4. Listen before speaking--Seek to
understand first. How can you make an intelligent remark about something
if you haven't taken the time to observe what's happening first? You have two
ears and only one mouth. There's a reason for that.
5. Keep your daily to-do list small--Instead
of writing up a huge to-do list every day, focus on completing the three most
important items every day. This forces you to prioritize your activities to
ensure you're getting the best return on your energy and time. Ask this
question: "Do I really need to do this today?"
6. Set goals--If you don't even know where
you're headed, how will you create the plan on how to get there? Set your
destination first, and then set sail.
7. Celebrate progress--The journey to your
goal could be a long one. So make sure you take the time to celebrate your
progress along the way. Eat a nice dinner. High-five your teammates. Strike a
gong. Do a fist pump. Yell out from the rooftops. Because success is worth
celebrating.
8. Figure out your why--It's a such a great
question that isn't asked enough. Why does it all matter? Figure out your why
and that'll be the fuel for your motivation. Whether it's supporting your
family or making an impact on the world, figuring out your why is critical for
taking your work to the next level.
9. Understand your strengths and amplify
those--You'll be naturally talented in certain areas or you'll practice a skill
enough to become an expert at it. Focus your energy on amplifying those
strengths rather than trying to be adequate at everything. Better to be an
expert at a few things than a mediocre jack-of-all-trades!
10. Don't burn bridges--I get it. We all
work with jerks at some point in our careers. Who cares? Don't let it get to
you. There's no need to say anything bad about them. If anything, try to find
humor in the situation, learn from it, and move on. You've got better things to
focus on. Like being the most epic version of yourself that you can be.
11. View challenges as opportunities--Have
you ever spent a long time waiting at the post office to ship something? I know
I have. What if, instead of complaining about the process, you had viewed that
challenge as an opportunity and created an app that would allow you to
request a driver to come to your house and pick up and deliver your
shipment for you? You would have created Shyp, an amazing app that does exactly
that.
12. Shorten your commute--For a few years, I
traveled for work more than three hours on the freeway every day. I was
stressed, tired, and exhausted. I also wasted a ton of time sitting in a
car. It's absolutely not worth it. Work near where you live. If you can, make
it within walking distance. Imagine three hours a day working on something you
love. Time is precious. Don't waste it on the freeway.
13. Test your assumptions--Did you know that
A/B testing helped Barack Obama raise $60 million by running a simple
experiment? This
blog post from Optimizely highlights how different tests run on media and
buttons made a huge impact on results. At the end of the day, all of us have
an opinion at work. The only way to know the answer is to test your
assumptions.
14. Dip your toes in the water--You never
really know until you try. If you never try, you'll always be wondering
"what if." So what are you waiting for? Want to explore a new career?
Want to learn about a different department? Want to start your own business?
Dip your toes in the water. Make it happen.
15. Give credit where it's due--People can't
stand it when someone takes credit for something he or she didn't do. Don't be
that person. Recognize others when they do an awesome job. It creates trust
among teammates and will further your company.
16. Every person you meet is a potential door
opener to a new opportunity--Be nice to people. You never know how you can help
one another down the road.
17. Make data-driven decisions--When in
doubt, look at the data. What is it telling you?
18. Trust your gut--Data-driven decisions
aren't quite as helpful when there's little or no data to work with. In those
cases, go with your gut.
19. Focus on the 80/20 rule--Twenty percent
of your clients will usually generate 80 percent of the return. Focus your
energy on the work that matters.
20. Ten-years test--You're going to run
into problems that might seem like disasters. Don't freak out. Instead, use the
10-years test. Will this problem matter in 10 days? In 10 months? In 10 years?
Probably not. And if it won't, don't stress about it. It's not worth it.
21. Do what you love--Life's short. Do you
really want to spend 23.8 percent of your life working at a job that you hate?
Didn't think so. Do what you love.
22. Focus on making an impact--Don't do work
for the sake of looking busy or only because someone told you to. Think about
the impact. And if it's not impactful, have the courage to say so. Challenge
yourself to do great work that makes an impact.
23. Lead with or without the title--You don't
need a big title to make a difference at your company. You can lead by driving
a new initiative, coming up with an awesome idea, or coaching and encouraging
your teammates to be at their best.
24. Build a personal brand--You have a
living, breathing brand. Want to build a great brand? Dress the part. Act the
part. Live the part. For example, if you want to be perceived as a great
content marketer, you've got to act the part. You could write a ton of Quora
posts, LinkedIn articles, and blog posts on the subject of content marketing.
That way, when people have a need for content marketing, they think of you,
because they've seen 500 of your posts.
25. Invest in your LinkedIn profile--Nearly
every single recruiter who has reached out to me this year found me on
LinkedIn. Think about that for a second. Times have changed. We used to submit
our résumé to company websites to find jobs. While it can still work, it's not
the most effective way to learn about job opportunities. Once you submit your
résumé, it's immediately outdated. LinkedIn, however, is brilliant, because
people are incentivized to update their profiles constantly. So what ends up
happening? Recruiters find most of the best talent on LinkedIn. It's a new age,
folks. Invest in your LinkedIn profile. I have a ton of tips on this in my
book The
Résumé Is Dead.
26. Leave your business card at home--Add
someone on LinkedIn instead. It's easier to keep in touch with him or her,
reduces your administrative work in loading that person into your contact book,
and updates on each other are easily viewed. Welcome to the cloud.
27. Stay humble--You might be pretty good at
what you do, but chances are somebody else in the world does it better. And
even if you are the best at it, chances are you aren't good at a million other
things. So stay humble. Stay foolish. Stay hungry. And keep learning from
others.
28. Embrace failure and learn from it--You
are going to fail at some point in life. It could be a big event, like getting
fired. It could be a small event, like forgetting to do the laundry. It's all
relative. The important thing is to recognize that the process for dealing with
big or small failures is the same. Acknowledge that it happened. Deal with the
situation. Learn from it. Improve yourself. And move on. J.K. Rowling, the
author of the Harry Potter series, went from being a single mother living
off unemployment benefits to becoming one of the best-selling authors of all
time. Failure happens. It's how you deal with it that matters.
29. Embrace your champions--Along the way,
you will find people that genuinely believe in you and your mission. They will
cheer you on. Embrace them. Even if your only champion is your mom.
30. Embrace your naysayers--On this same
journey, you'll also find people who doubt you every step of the way. Embrace
them, too. Only this time, use that doubt as your source of motivation. I had
four managers who ranked me second to last in interviews at a Fortune 100
company. I used that to motivate me when I finally landed a job. I ended up
managing the No. 1 operation in the country. Thanks for the motivation.
31. Recognize the importance of
transparency--People are more empathetic when they understand why things are
happening. When they're left in the dark, it becomes hard to build trust. Be
transparent.
32. Invest in a standing desk--A study from
the Annals of Internal Medicine found that sitting increases our chances of
getting a disease or condition that will kill us prematurely. Holy. Moly. Get a
standing desk. Now. I did this for two years and felt way more productive.
33. Work smart--Why are we doing this? Does
it have to be done this way? Is there a better way to do it? How can I get a
better return in less time? Keep asking questions like this. Working hard is
great. Working smart and hard is a even better. #WinningCombo
34. Find mentors who live your desired
lifestyle--Want to work five hours a week and travel the world? Find people who
have successfully created a passive-income lifestyle, like Pat Flynn, Eric Siu, and Benny Hsu, and have them be your
mentors. While they may not be able to mentor you one on one, you can have them
be virtual mentors by following their website learnings.
Life hacks:
35. Freeze your fruits
and vegetables--You want to eat healthy, but your produce always manages
to go bad before you can finish it. So here's what you do instead: Right before
it goes bad, freeze it! Then you can use it in soups, stews, or smoothies in a
pinch!
36. Cut the cable cord and get Netflix--You
still get awesome entertainment and just reduced your monthly bill a ton.
37. Clean your home once a
month--Decluttering your living space will declutter your mind. Here's a simply
way to determine what you keep: Have I used this in the past year? If not,
donate it.
38. Utilize quick pick-me-ups--Sometimes you
just need something to jump-start yourself into a happier mood. Watch a funny
YouTube video (Jimmy Fallon's Lip Sync Battles, Ellen DeGeneres clips), sing
one of your favorite songs out loud, or dance like nobody's watching. Life's short.
You may as well have some fun.
39. Buy a chapstick keychain--Have you lost
your chapstick before? I've lost a ton. That's why I bought a chapstick
keychain. Problem solved. My lips have never been happier. Smooth like butter.
40. Host events--When all is said and done,
relationships are what matter. Host an event for your friends, family, and
loved ones so that you get a chance to spend some quality time together. Want
to do it on a budget? Make it a potluck. Want to make it work related? That's
awesome too. Trust me, your co-workers want to enjoy life outside of the
office, too. They may not always remember what you did in the office, but
they'll definitely remember the epic get-togethers you hosted.
41. Invest in an awesome mattress--You
spend about 33 percent of your life sleeping. Why would you skimp on your
mattress? Help yourself get the best sleep possible.
42. Iron your shirt without an iron--Don't
have an iron? Your last resort: Hang your clothes in the bathroom while you
take a hot shower and then dry them with a blow-dryer. It works for me all
the time!
43. Arrive at least two hours before your
flight's takeoff time--Especially if it's an international flight. Trust me,
I've flown to more than 50 cities in a year. You don't need the stress.
44. Pack food for your flight--You don't
have to pay a small fortune to have lunch at the airport anymore. Bring your
own sandwich, fruit, or snack.
45. Wiggle your body during turbulence--I use
to hate hitting turbulence. It would make me a nervous wreck. The solution?
Wiggle your tush when the turbulence hits. You'll feel less of it. I don't know
why this is true, but it works. I've tried it a few times now!
46. Charge your phone faster--Switch it into
airplane mode and it'll charge faster.
47. Get an extra battery pack--Let's face it,
we use our phones for almost everything nowadays, including directions, finding
places to eat, communicating, and entertainment. When our phones die, we're
close to being incapable of doing anything. I'm kidding, of course. But life
does get harder without a smartphone to help out. So buy an extra battery pack.
48. Stay away from processed foods--The more
you eat whole, natural foods like vegetables and fruits, the more likely your
diet will stay healthy. Stay away from the processed stuff.
49. Don't live someone else's life--Learn to
build your own values, passions, opinions, and personality. You are not anyone
else. You're completely unique and awesome in your own way. This is your life.
Own it. When I told people I wanted to build a blog focused on motivation
called CEO Lifestyle, some
of them were skeptical. Who cares? It's not their life. It's mine. If I get
passionate about motivating other people, I'm going to make it happen.
#MakeItSo.
50. Skip the caffeine--You don't need it. You
can make yourself more focused and awake by doing things that are completely
natural and free. Here are some quick examples: exercise, meditation, drinking
enough water (your frequent bathroom trips will make you alert, trust me), and
working on something you're passionate about.
51. Slow down--We get it. You want to
make a dent in the universe. You want to change the world. You want to create
something magical. Slow down. Take a deep breath. You don't have to react
instantly all the time. Sometimes, taking a moment to collect yourself and to
think about the situation might drive a better outcome for you. I learned this
from a special person I met in Spain and it's improved my quality of life tremendously.
52. Color code your keys--My friends taught
me this trick. Ever fumble through your keys and think you've found the right
one, only to try it and realize it's not? There's a fix for that. Color code
your keys. For example, our garage door is the yellow key, the green key is for
the main public entrance, and the red key is for our front door to our
apartment unit. You can buy colored key covers on Amazon or use nail polish or
paint to make the keys color coded. #problemsolved
53. Put a small garbage bin in your
car--Notice your car getting messy? Admit it, you've tossed stuff you needed to
throw away into the passenger seat before. You don't have to live that kind of
life. Get a small garbage bin.
54. Hang a tennis ball in your
garage--Speaking of cars, have you ever had trouble parking yours in the
garage? Seriously, it's not easy to make sure that you've parked close enough
to the wall so that you car doesn't get crushed by the garage door. Hang a
tennis ball in your garage so that you know exactly when to stop moving
forward.
55. Stuff newspaper in your shoes--It'll
remove the moisture and some of the smells they've picked up over time.
OK, I admit it, I haven't tried this one myself but I've heard it works.
Life tips:
56. Learn one new thing a day--This could be
one word from a new language, a scientific fact, a life hack, or anything else
that you're interested in. Over time, learning one new thing a day will shape
you into awesomeness.
57. Remember people's names--Did you know
that a study has shown that if you call people by their name, they usually
respond with more energy and engagement? Yup, I ran that study. And my sample
group has been the thousands of people I've worked with over my 11-year career
in technology. When you say someone's name, it shows that you care. It shows
that you recognize his or her presence. It shows that you're a nice
person. Try it.
58. Focus only on the present--Stop
regretting the past. Stop worrying about the future. Focus on the present.
Focus on the now. Feel the sun on your face. Feel the wind behind your
back. Hear the wind as it blows the tree branches. Dig your toes into the sand.
Listen when people talk. If you read a page from the last chapter over and over
again, you'll never finish the book. So stop thinking about the past. Be in the
now.
59. Listen to your body--When you're
exhausted, don't fight it. Take a nap or sleep. When you feel stressed out,
take a break. When you feel sick from eating that 10th donut, well, maybe you
shouldn't have done that. Learn to listen to the signals in your body and
respond in the right way.
60. Learn to let go--Mistakes happen.
Don't dwell on them. Life isn't perfect. Think of any issues you run into as
speed bumps--they make the ride a little uncomfortable but you'll get through
them.
61. Read before sleeping--Don't let the blue
light from your computer or phone keep you up at night. You can use F.lux,
which is an awesome app that makes the color of your computer's display adapt
to the time of day. This way you can use your computer to read an awesome book
and learn something new. Or you can go the old-fashioned route and buy a
hardcover book. Getting into the routine of reading before sleeping will
help you wind down the day and learn something new at the same time!
62. You are the five people you surround
yourself with--A few months ago, I ran into what I thought was a disaster for
my company. A part of me wanted to shut down the company (it's called Collide).
My good friend and co-founder Steve challenged me immediately. He asked what I
wanted to achieve in life and why I created the company in the first place.
After a long talk, I realized that I wanted to stay the course. Steve helped me
understand that my desire to succeed was far greater than my fears. I'm telling
you this story because I've learned that surrounding yourself with people that
inspire you to be better can completely take your life to new levels.
63. Learn to say no--You can't do everything
for everyone. Stop spreading yourself thin. Learn to say no. Focus on a few
things and be great at those.
64. Explore the world--Travel the world. It's
a great way to get a fresh perspective on life. Howard Schultz traveled to
Europe and fell in love with the coffee shops there. Guess what happened next?
He started Starbucks. #GetInspired.
65. Build your own values--Model yourself
after people you admire. At the end of the day, though, you've got to be able
to make your own judgment calls. The best way to do this is to decide what your
values are. Once you do, write them down and post them on your mirror. It's the
foundation of who you are.
66. Embrace change--You need to get
comfortable with this simple idea: The only thing constant is change. Instead
of fearing it, embrace it.
67. Clean along the way--Sure, you could let
those dishes pile up for a month, but that would be pretty painful to clean up.
Along the way, your home would start to smell, fill with fruit flies, and
generally be less enjoyable to live in. So don't procrastinate. Clean along the
way.
68. Silence can be beautiful--You don't
always have to fill up silence with words. Sometimes there is beauty in being
silent.
69. When in doubt, simply respond with
"Let me think about that."--Let's face it, we don't always have the
right answer. Instead of rushing to answer, tell the person that you need time
to think about things further. This shows that you're being thoughtful and also
gives you something to respond with.
70. Do your most important task first thing
in the morning--Your energy will be higher at this moment. It's why I work out
first thing in the morning most days.
71. Use the "we'll see"
method--Even when it seems like something terrible has happened at the moment,
there's the possibility that it might lead to something good in the future. So
instead of making up your own conclusions about the future, just tell yourself,
"We'll see."
72. Meditate--You can use apps like Headspace
that are free and can help you clear your mind. This is an awesome way to relax
your mind and body.
73. Realize that most people don't care about
you--Sorry, people's lives don't revolve around your universe. Well, the
exception might be if you're a celebrity. But in all seriousness, stop worrying
about what other people think of you. Most of them don't even really care
that much. Instead, focus on being the best possible version of yourself.
74. There are a few people in the world that
really, deeply care about you--Keep those people close to you in life. They're
the ones that can make your life amazing. They're the ones who will stick with
you through the good and the bad.
75. Roll your clothes--When you travel, try
rolling your clothes to maximize packing space. I did this and can fit 2.5
weeks of clothes into a carry-on now.
76. Only you are responsible for your
life--So own it. Take control. You have to figure out what makes you happy.
What gets you inspired. What drives you.
77. Say something awesome to yourself every
day--Positive reinforcement can help you maintain an upbeat mood even in the
worst of times. Treat yourself well.
78. Take a deep breath--Didn't that feel
awesome? Yeah, try doing that more. You'll feel better.
79. Happiness is a state of mind, not a
destination--Growing up, I used to tell myself, if only I had this specific
thing, I would be happy. After 31 years of living, I can tell you that's not
how happiness works. Happiness is a state of mind. My close friend told me that
he feels happiness when the sun shines on his face. He almost died when he was
in his early 20s. He was saved by a stranger who donated a kidney to him. He's
happy that he's alive today. You can find happiness now. It's right in front of
you, everywhere you look. It's up to you to open your eyes.
80. Remember to have the time of your
life--No one lives forever. So while you're here, remember to have the time of
your life. Laugh, smile, and have fun.
81. Promise only on what you can
deliver--Reliability goes a long way. A ton of people overpromise and
underdeliver. Don't be one of those people.
82. Be fearless--Fear is just a feeling.
Learn to take it head-on. Have a bias toward action and be fearless.
83. Marry your best friend--You want
someone who's going to be there with you through the best and worst of times.
Someone you can talk to all night or have a completely comfortable silence
with. Someone who loves you for who you are.
84. Be insanely curious--Being curious will
help you keep an open mind. By doing so, you'll learn new ideas and help keep
passion and excitement in your life. You don't know everything, so learn as
much as you can in your life!
85. Think about how you can help others--At
the end of the day, your legacy will be the people you loved, those who
loved you, and how much you helped others.
86. Time is your most valuable asset--I had a
family friend who spent most of his life saving up every penny to eventually
live the life he always wanted. After years of saving, he was involved in a
tragic car accident. He never lived the life he dreamed about. Money is valuable.
Time is even more valuable. Use money to help you find more time. Time with
your loved ones. Time with your buddies. Time with your spouse. Time with your
kids. There are 525,600 minutes in a year. How do you spend your time?
87. Someone else's recipe may not work for
you--Just because it worked for someone else doesn't always mean it'll work for
you. Learn from others, but also realize that everyone's situation is unique.
88. Have an idea jar--Whether it's for love,
friendships, or family, an idea jar is a great way to ensure you'll have
activities to do together. The next time you have an idea for something, put it
into the idea jar. Each week, you can pull one idea from the jar
and--voilà!--you've got some fun in your hands.
89. Act exactly how you feel--Why the poker
face? It's unnecessary. If you're upset, act and feel upset. If you're happy,
smile. Better to be 100 percent authentic than to live a lie.
90. Smile at people--It makes you
happier. It's contagious. It lowers stress and anxiety. It strengthens your
immune system. It makes you seem more competent. It makes you look
trustworthy. It can even be an effective management technique. And yes, every
single one of these claims has been proven by a study. Every. Single.
One. By the way, it costs you nothing. That's awesome.
91. Simple is good--Stuff has administrative
debt. That new car you just got? Maintenance and insurance. Those 10 shopping
sites you subscribed to? 100 emails in your inbox you have to go through. Keep
life simple. It's easier and more enjoyable.
92. Don't get attached to stuff--Once you
take care of your basic necessities, like your health, shelter, clothing, and
food, chances are that stuff won't make you happy. Don't get too attached to
it. When we leave this world, we can't bring our stuff with us anyway.
93. Choose experiences over stuff--What you
should value are experiences. A simple dinner with your mother talking about
life. A vacation with your spouse to a place you've always wanted to travel. A
long talk with friends over a warm fire on a cold winter night. Working late
night with your teammates to build a game-changing startup. These are the
moments you'll remember.
94. Don't compare yourself
with others--Just focus on being the best possible version of yourself.
95. Make something for someone to show that
you care--It's easy to buy something for someone. Making something with love,
passion, and care is much harder. Go the extra mile and make something for the
person you love. Need ideas? Check out Pinterest.
96. Love yourself first--Before you fall in
love with anyone else, make sure you're in a good place. Learn to love
yourself, including all of your awesomeness and your flaws. The more
comfortable you are with yourself, the better you can love someone else.
97. Your word choice matters--Your words have
a lot of power. Version 1: "We have a problem with our project."
Version 2: "We have an opportunity to fix things on this project." I
feel a lot better hearing version 2. What about you?EdTech The 10 Hottest
Online Classes for Professionals
98. Learn to let go--Sometimes you can't fix
something. Let it go. Yup, I wrote this life tip earlier. I'm repeating it
because it's that important.
99. Everyone has a story--Maybe someone was
mean to you today. That sucks. But what if you found out it's because the
person had just learned about a tragedy in his or her family? It changes
everything, doesn't it? Just remember, everyone has his or her own story to
tell.
100. Love--When all is said and done, all
that you'll really remember are the amazing people you've connected with and
helped along the way. Love your friends. Love your family. Love your spouse.
Love is all that matters. Love more.
No comments:
Post a Comment