Coach Andrew’s Top 10 Rules for Living

1. Discover what you’re passionate about.

2. Discover what you’re great at.

3. Find ways of expressing what you’re passionate about.

4. Find ways of doing what you’re great at.

For rules 1-4, if you haven’t yet figured this out, hire a coach. If your occupation involves doing something you’re simultaneously passionate about and great at, you’ve already done more for your life than most people ever will in theirs.

5. Live the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

This is so simple. With this rule as your guide, you’ll find yourself doing things for others because you’ll remember a time when you would have welcomed that yourself.

6. Perform a mitzvah a day.

This is like living the Golden Rule but on steroids. A mitzvah is literally a commandment of God from the Old Testament. It has also come to mean an act of human kindness you do for someone without expectation of anything in return, although a “thank you” would be appreciated. It can be as simple as noticing someone struggling to get their belongings through a doorway, so you rush over and hold the door for them. When is the last time you gave up your seat on the bus for an old lady or a young pregnant woman? A mitzvah can also be much bigger, like giving away an old working printer to someone who can’t afford one. Volunteering or otherwise donating time to a greater good is a wonderful example. I like to use the power of connections. My favorite is putting people together, whether for business or pleasure.

7. Always look for and choose the more powerful perspective.

This will take some practice for most people. It’s easy to always find the bad in things. If you look for the good, you’ll usually find it. The more you do it, the better you get at it.

8. Acknowledge people.

Everyone loves to be acknowledged and appreciated, even for the little things. See my post on acknowledgment.

9. Watch cartoons and stay young forever.

Okay, I know this sounds silly. What I’m really getting at is, nourish your inner child. Play. Have fun. Every time I watch Spongebob Squarepants I connect to the 10-year-old inside me.

10. Stay active.

Ride your bike, walk, run, or just play kick the can. It keeps you young, alive, and healthy.