38 Things (I've Learned Over the Past 28 Years) by Andrew Dickson

38 Things from Team Video on Vimeo.

From time to time, you get hit with a big bunch of awesome life advice. This is one of them... with fun, retro video formatting to boot! (This was recorded recently, but looks like a vintage PBS spot.) I've bolded some of my personal favorites.

1. Never arrive empty handed to a party.
2. Memorize one really funny joke.
3. Learn to cook one great meal.
4. Vote [early, often, and in every chance you get].
5. Don't try and save the world.
6. Try to save a tiny little part of it.
7. Don't have kids until you're done being a kid.
8. If you have kids, don't let them sleep in bed with you.
9. Minimize screentime [tvs, phones, tablets, etc.].
10. Read to them instead.
11. If you ever own a house, hire someone to mow the lawn.
12. Unless you're rich, collect frequent flier mileage and reward points.
13. Use coupons.
14. Haggle.
15. Never be ashamed of what you drive.
16. Invest in things you're knowledgeable and passionate about.
17. Whenever you present, perform or speak in public, REHEARSE. 
18. And let the audience know how long you're going to be.
19. If you want to be a good writer, read good writing and write everyday. 
20. If you become a filmmaker, don't edit or produce your own films.
21. If you become an artist, always have a few irons in the fire.
22. Apply for grants, residencies and shows a year before you think you're ready.
23. Document everything all the time.
24. And remember, you can get away with almost anything if you don't bore people.
25. If you work in advertising, have fun while it lasts, do more good than bad, and don't become an asshole.
26. If you work for yourself, socialize.
27. Do one thing every day to advance your career [polish your resume, reaching out to someone you admire in your field, work on your website].
28. Prepare your own taxes.
29. Remember to give yourself some time off.
30. If you work for someone else, work for a boss that has young kids.
31. Make yourself indispensable.
32. Start thinking about what comes next, now.
33. Insist on a review.
34. And never leave vacation days unused.
35. No matter what you do, give credit when credit is due. After all, it's free.
36. Have a long-term plan, but don't feel like you have to stick to it.
37. Never forget how lucky you are [if you are fortunate enough to be watching this... you are in the 1% globally (which isn't that hard to do in America)]. 
38. Call your parents once a week.

You can see Andrew's original post on his blog, UrbanHonking.com/ThingsIveBeenThinking.


This is definitely one I'm going to watch regularly. Which are your favorites?