TLDR;
Mark Tilbury shares 50 pieces of advice he would give to his 20-year-old self, focusing on personal development, career, relationships, and financial habits. The advice ranges from working on willpower and embracing change to prioritizing reputation and choosing a partner wisely. Here are key takeaways:
- Personal Development: Focus on willpower, embrace change, and learn from everyone.
- Career: Be a producer, work smart, and use your unfair advantages.
- Relationships: Be nice to people, never talk behind someone's back, and choose your partner wisely.
- Financial Habits: Prioritize reputation, pay off credit cards, and start investing early.
Intro [0:00]
Mark Tilbury reflects on his 57th birthday and shares the advice he would give to his 20-year-old self, covering various aspects of life from personal development to financial habits.
1. Work on your willpower [0:09]
Willpower is essential for reaching your full potential and outperforming rivals. In today's world, with numerous distractions, the ability to focus for extended periods is more critical than ever.
2. Producer VS Consumer [0:40]
While consuming content is important, especially for learning, it's crucial to contribute more to the world than you take. Aim to be a producer to avoid being robbed of your time and attention.
3. Be nice to people on the come up [0:54]
Treat everyone with kindness and support, regardless of their current status. You never know who will achieve great success in the future, and they are likely to remember those who supported them early on.
4. Watch others & then do the opposite [1:19]
Don't follow the crowd. If you do what everyone else does, you'll get the same results. Reject the idea of being normal and vanilla to achieve different outcomes.
5. Who you know matters more than what you know [1:59]
A strong network is more valuable than money in the bank. Connections can provide invaluable assistance and opportunities.
6. Never talk behind someone's back [2:10]
Address issues directly with the person involved or not at all. Gossiping makes you seem less trustworthy to others.
7. Make more mistakes [2:28]
Most success comes from failures. Embrace mistakes as opportunities for improvement. If you never fail, you're likely not trying hard enough.
8. Make reversible decisions quickly [2:59]
For decisions that can be reversed, act quickly. The biggest risk is dragging your feet. However, for irreversible decisions, slow down and gather as much information as possible to avoid making the wrong choice.
9. Focus on one thing at a time [3:22]
Multitasking is ineffective; it's just multi-failing. Focus deeply on one task at a time without distractions to achieve more.
10. Don’t be the best, be the only [3:36]
Combine seemingly unrelated skills to create a unique position for yourself. Steve Jobs mixed calligraphy and design with technology to create Apple, setting himself apart.
11. If you don’t like something then change it. [4:00]
If you can't change something, change your attitude. Avoid complaining, as most people don't care about your problems.
12. Work smart not hard [4:31]
Utilize technology to work efficiently. For example, use AI tools like Build Your Store AI to create a Shopify store quickly and for free.
13: Assume you can learn something new from everyone [5:52]
Be open to learning from everyone, regardless of age or experience. Skip the arrogance stage and recognize that you can always learn more.
14. Never disrespect your elders [6:22]
Older people have valuable experience that can help you avoid mistakes. Listen with an open mind and make your own decisions based on their advice.
15. Don’t be scared of change, embrace it. [6:44]
Embrace change and adapt to new technologies. If you're not part of the steamroller, you're part of the road.
16. Live in the moment, not on your phone [7:18]
Focus on what's happening in front of you and make the most of every moment. Don't capture everything for social media; be present and appreciate the experience.
17. Always pay the bill [7:46]
Paying the bill is a small gesture that shows you care and is part of being a gentleman.
18. Say no if you aren’t ready [8:02]
It's okay to admit when you need more time or aren't prepared to take something on. It's smarter to turn down opportunities if you can't close the knowledge gap in time.
19. Present yourself in the way you wish to be perceived [8:20]
Consciously present yourself in the way you want to be seen by others. This includes your dress, speech, social media presence, and how you carry yourself.
20. Mentally prepare yourself for your loved ones dying [8:41]
Prepare for the inevitable loss of loved ones. This helps you value every moment you spend with them, as nothing is forever.
21. Never take rejection personally [9:04]
See things from the other person's point of view and use feedback to improve. Taking rejection personally holds you back from growing.
22. Don’t be embarrassed to take a nap [9:18]
Naps can help you be more productive. Don't be ashamed to take short power naps throughout the day.
23. Learn from those who disagree with you [9:40]
Don't trap yourself in a bubble. You can learn something from everyone, even those you disagree with.
24. Never be late [9:56]
Punctuality is a sign of respect for other people's time and shows that you're reliable and trustworthy.
25. Be motivated by something greater than money [10:10]
Have strong values that no one can buy you out of. These values are principles you refuse to compromise under any circumstances.
26. Be fuelled by vision not fear [10:38]
Fearful people worry about losing what they have and can never see far enough ahead to build something for the future.
27. Stand up to bullies [10:48]
Don't let anyone bully you. Standing up for yourself once is often all it takes.
28. Use your unfair advantages [11:13]
Identify and use your strengths or circumstances that give you an edge. It's about recognizing what you're naturally good at and using those to your advantage.
29. Skip the flashy car [11:39]
Avoid wasting money on luxury cars and designer gear in your 20s. Focus on consistently building wealth over time.
30. Prioritise your reputation [12:00]
Your reputation is one of the few things that lives on after you die. People are remembered for their character, not their achievements.
31. Don't compare yourself to your friends [12:17]
We all have our own path to walk. Focus on improving on what you've done before and don't get distracted by what everyone else is doing.
32. Don’t let a bad day turn into a bad week [12:36]
Don't let a bad day spiral into a whole week of negativity. Let it go so you don't miss out on good opportunities.
33. Always Pay off your credit card [12:55]
Always pay off your credit card in full each month to avoid wasting money and hurting your credit score.
34. Any job is better than no job [13:12]
Being out of work can take a toll on you mentally. Any job is better than no job for your self-esteem.
35. Never invest without doing your research [13:36]
Do your homework before investing. If someone is pressuring you to invest, that's often a red flag.
36. Being a great storyteller can get you anything you want [13:56]
Knowing how to tell a good story grabs attention, makes your point stick, and helps you connect with people in a more real way.
37. Don’t live your life for others [14:21]
Don't let haters dictate your choices or push you into a career you're not passionate about. Focus on building and living your dream life instead.
38. Have a solid paycheck routine [14:42]
Allocate your paycheck as follows: 50% for needs, 20% for savings, 30% for paying off high-interest debt, 25% for investing, and 5% for risky plays like starting a business.
39. It's not the end of the world if you don't have everything figured out [15:21]
Everyone is winging it to some degree. Start as soon as you can and figure it out as you go.
40. Start investing now [15:52]
Start investing for retirement now. It's important to let some of your money grow passively for your retirement.
41. The quality of your questions will shape your future success. [16:14]
Craft your questions thoughtfully. The quality of your question will directly impact the value of the response you get.
42. Make sure to enjoy the journey, not just focus on the destination [16:56]
Happiness is a journey, not a destination. Savor the ride and all the experiences along the way.
43. Nothing is ever free [17:39]
If you're not spending money, then you're spending time. Time is money, so don't waste it.
44. Stop waiting to be inspired [18:20]
Don't wait for inspiration; just get on with it. Start taking small steps towards what you want to do.
45. Work hard now for an easier life later [18:44]
Put in the effort in your 20s to lay a solid financial foundation so life can become easier starting in your 30s.
46. Tackle the tough tasks in the morning [19:33]
Prioritize the difficult tasks first thing in the morning when you're most productive.
47. The name of a university means absolutely nothing [20:15]
Don't stress over what university you go to or rack up debt for a fancy name. Employers care more about skills and experience.
48. Look after your back. [20:35]
Prioritize your back health. A bad back can severely impact your productivity.
49. Don’t stress about being different—you don’t have to fit in [21:14]
Embrace what makes you different. When you accept what makes you unique, you gain an advantage.
50. Choose your partner wisely. [21:58]
Choose a partner with whom you have a deep connection and are on the same path. A solid partnership can make a huge difference.