Don’t be a walking billboard.

You know how people put ribbons on their shirts or even their cars to raise awareness for a certain charity or campaign?  What’s the difference between a pink ribbon on your chest and a Nike swoosh?  Is Polo or Ralph Lauren a brand that you strongly believe in and want to promote?  Why are you paying to wear clothes that carry their advertising on them?  I think we should all have the confidence in ourselves and display it in the form of race car driver advertising.  If you want me to promote your brand, you should give me a contract.  Otherwise, no deal.

Don’t let other people or companies define you.

Don’t give in to the stereotypes if it’s not something you want to be.  You don’t have to be put in their box if you don’t want to fit in it.  If they won’t listen when you tell them, then show them.  If someone discards you as young and inexperienced, or old and not able to adapt, prove them wrong.

Don’t let your stuff define or enslave you.

You are not your duvet cover.  If you ever saw the movie Along Came Polly, you’ll remember the scene where the couple discusses the bed pillows.  Why do you have stuff that you have to put on and take off every night and every morning?  Your time, money, and effort should be more valuable to you than appearances.  Make your stuff work for you.  You shouldn’t be spending your life maintaining all the things in your life that add no benefit to you.

Cherish people, not stuff.

Inspired from my brother-in-law, Robbie.  Things are just things.  Too often people attach memories to the objects rather than the people associated with the item.  An argument could be made that it’s too easy to forget about that person or act if you got rid of the item, but the real solution there is to find a better way to preserve memories or signs of affection, perhaps through words or actions, rather than becoming a collector of stuff.

If you’re lying in a relationship, you either don’t care enough about the relationship, or you’re living in fear of the other person.

Offer people money when they’re paying for your enjoyment.  My favorite line that lead to this rule came from the Heinritz family:  “Boats don’t run on thanks, they run on gas.”  If they refuse, that’s up to them, but it’s up to you to initiate the gratitude.

Weddings are about the bride and groom.  Don’t make it about you.  Weddings are different and difficult for many reasons, and they are not trying to insult you by not inviting you.  If you’re not married, you’ll learn.

People are quicker to judge the quiet.

It’s usually because they think they have all the information.  It’s not like personality is flowing out of a silent person.  There’s a lot of common misconceptions about quiet people though.  I don’t necessarily agree with this list, but it’s a start.

http://www.cracked.com/blog/6-misleading-assumptions-you-make-about-quiet-people/

don’t procrastinate.  Stop putting it off, or you won’t have time to enjoy doing nothing later on.

Friends are replaceable.  Family, is not.

If you lost a family member, you will never be able to fill that void.  All you can do it learn to ignore it and remember them.