Note to Self

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It’s my birthday.

Forty-five years ago, at Oakland Alameda Hospital, I received a remarkable gift: life.

Have I always made the most of it? Absolutely not—but I’m trying.

For years, I’ve kept a running list called Note to Self.

Today, I’m sharing 45 of them to mark the occasion. Don’t worry—this blog is still primarily essay-driven, so don’t expect a flurry of listicles.

Effort builds competence. Competence breeds confidence. Confidence brings luck. It takes effort to get lucky.
We’re all swimming in grit. Turn yours into pearls.
Don’t be generous with other people’s time.
To create interesting work, do interesting things.
1 in 1,000,000 > 1 of 1,000,000. Don’t be the best—be the only.
You should admire your friends. If you don’t, keep looking—for friends and for things worth admiring.
Every day you show up for work, you are accepting the job all over again.
Optimize for future options. That’s real freedom.
The hottest setting should never be used.
Build a daily routine—the recipe for who you want to be. And don’t skimp on the ingredients.
At least once a year, sleep in the dirt.
Being undistracted is a superpower.
Journaling is a cheap therapist, coach, and teacher—maybe the best version of each.
Break negative cycles by asking: “Why might this actually work?”
If you’re the smartest person at the party, you’re at the wrong party.
Don’t measure yourself with someone else’s ruler.
The only true measure of quality: Would you do it again?
The closest thing to a shortcut is learning from others’ experiences.
Your last shirt has no pockets.
The quickest path to shackles is seeking approval.
You can’t steer the ship staring at the wake.
Important > Urgent
Make sure your backbone is bigger than your wishbone.
Do your future self a favor. Daily.
Write as though nobody is reading and you’ll attract spectators, admirers, and conspirators.
Competing and winning are two different things.
Find a simple idea to take seriously. The earlier, the better.
Greatness is the goal. At what? That, I’ll leave to you.
Growth is easy to find. It’s on the far side of discomfort.
We don’t need your take on every subject, and neither do you.
You vs. the old you. That’s the measure that metters.
Big pies beat big slices.
Don’t believe everything you think.
Choose roads worth traveling, books worth reading, food worth tasting. Make speed and efficiency irrelevant.
Go first. Raise your hand, introduce yourself, take the shot. You’ll grow, they’ll relax, and the whole room gets better because someone was brave enough to start.
Look for Lindy. Things that have lasted tend to make a habit of it.
Before giving it your best, ask: should I give it anything at all?
Life is a working prototype.
Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.
If you mess up, fess up.
Find out who you are and become them.
The reward for winning the pie eating contest is more pie. Make sure you like the flavor.
Don’t water the weeds.
There are thousands of cures, but no antidote.
Flip all hangers backwards. At year end, donate anything still reversed.