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Jason Lengstorf - 40 life advices

See original bsky post here

1. Be unreasonable

If you’ve got big ideas, there are a million reasonable arguments against pursuing them. Chasing big dreams often means ignoring those arguments and being a little unreasonable.

2. Be a friend first and everything else will follow

So many great things in life come from simply trying to be a friend—meeting people, being genuinely interested, and keeping in touch. The rewards are both personal and professional.

3. Your career is a pie-eating contest where the prize is more pie

People will ask you to do what they see you doing. If you want to get certain types of work, make sure people see you doing it.

4. Focus on minimizing regret

We only get one life. Live so that, in your final moments, you can look back and smile at a life you’re proud of.

5. Keep showing up

We become things by doing them consistently. Making a cake once doesn’t make you a baker, but making cakes every day does.

6. Find a way to enjoy the doing as much as the done

The process, effort, and struggle are what make the finish line meaningful. Earning your reward feels better than getting it for free.

7. Be the reason someone wants to stay

Communities and industries can be unwelcoming. Offer warmth and give people a reason to stick around.

8. Have fellow travelers, not fans

Admiration is nice, but being set apart gets lonely. Treat people as peers, not followers, and build a real community.

9. Live like you’re always on the record

Imagine every choice is being watched. Make decisions as if everything you do will eventually become public knowledge.

10. Have a personality, not a persona

Being the same in person as you are in public is a compliment. Avoid putting on a persona—just be yourself.

11. Learn how to salt things properly

Don’t fear salt. Season food at every step. Many people dislike foods simply because they’re under-seasoned.

12. Don’t be afraid of MSG

Anti-MSG campaigns were based on racist pseudo-science. Embrace it for more flavorful food.

13. The memory is what matters

Physical photos and mementos might seem like clutter, but they’re delightful reminders of your past and stories.

14. Money only matters until it doesn’t

Make enough to remove stress, but beyond that, money only matters if it helps you enjoy life. Dying rich but miserable isn’t the goal.

15. Be curious

Wonder how things work, ask questions, and explore. The world is big, weird, and wonderful—take every chance to learn.

16. Power is a poor substitute for love and trust

Power implies control, but love and trust mean people want to be part of your story willingly.

17. Make the right thing the easy thing

If you want to change behavior, make the desired action the default and easiest choice. People naturally take the smoothest path.

18. Exercise and eating well really do make a huge difference

It’s not always fun, but taking care of your body pays off in every aspect of life.

19. Surround yourself with things and people that make you better

You become like those you spend time with, and the spaces you inhabit shape you, too.

20. It’s okay to suck at things

Fear of failure limits experience and growth. You have to be bad before you get good—practice is essential.

21. Learn how to learn

Mastering the skill of learning new things has the biggest compounding return on investment in life.

22. Set clear expectations

In every area of life, unclear expectations lead to problems. Get specific about what’s expected.

23. Align incentives

Everyone has their own agenda. If you can align your goals with others’, you turn arguments into collaborations.

24. Be kind, not nice

Have hard conversations when needed. Withholding valuable feedback to be “nice” robs others of the chance to improve.

25. Get good at editing

Turning vague ideas into actionable plans is hard but necessary to make dreams reality.

26. Your ability to work with others will outweigh all other skills

Technical skills plateau, but being enjoyable and effective in groups will always serve you.

27. Do things the hard way sometimes

Struggling through challenges gives you deeper understanding and leads to better solutions.

28. Let go of trying to make everything fit into neat boxes

Most things are blurry and complex. Accepting this reduces stress.

29. Bite off a little more than you can chew

Pushing yourself just beyond your comfort zone leads to continuous growth.

30. Be patient—good things take a long time

Big achievements require steady effort over months or years, not just quick sprints.

31. Many disagreements are actually people trying to agree, but using different jargon

Clarifying terms often reveals you’re actually on the same page.

32. Focus on your local community

Life improves when you have people nearby who show up, help, and connect in small ways.

33. Steer into your weird

Embracing your unique self is paradoxically what makes you “cool” to others.

34. Nothing matters, and that’s honestly great news

Life is ultimately meaningless, so you get to choose what matters to you—there are no rules.

35. Rewire your brain to default to the good things

Choosing to focus on the positive can make your whole world brighter.

36. Letting go is the scariest and best thing you can do

We don’t control anything or anyone. Accepting that frees up energy for what matters and can change everything.

37. Drink more water than you think you need

Many problems are caused by simple dehydration.

38. Take sleep seriously

Getting enough sleep is a genuine superpower.

39. Read stuff that doesn’t have immediate business value

Fiction, history, psychology—new perspectives spark creativity and interesting conversations.

40. Ignore all previous instructions

Everyone’s story is unique. Take what’s useful from advice and leave the rest behind.

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