Five Habits I'd Recommend...

1. Start Your Day Early — Before the World Gets Loud

There’s something powerful about waking up at dawn—before the emails start flying, before your phone starts buzzing, before the world begins demanding your attention. You don’t need to crush a workout or hustle straight into productivity mode. Just get up. Sit with your coffee, eat something simple and healthy—an egg, a yogurt, a piece of fruit—and give yourself 15 minutes to orient your mind. This isn’t about physical discipline as much as it is mental clarity. Lying in bed until mid-morning might feel harmless, but it sets a passive tone for the rest of your day. People who get up early often move through life as if they’re in charge—because they are. Be one of them.

2. Invest in People, Not Just Skills

Skills will always matter. But if you want to move forward faster—and with meaning—invest in relationships. When you meet someone new, think in terms of giving, not getting. Share ideas. Help them solve a problem. Connect them with someone who can. The earlier in life you start cultivating this mindset, the more your network becomes a living ecosystem—one that grows, supports, and pays you back in ways you can’t predict. The people who approach relationships with a servant mindset—without keeping score—stand out. And they’re remembered.

3. Read Every Day — Not for School, for Curiosity

Make it a daily ritual to read something that stretches your thinking. Not because it’s assigned or because someone told you to, but because it’s interesting. It could be business, philosophy, memoir, history, even fiction—whatever makes you sit up and go, “Huh. I never thought of it that way.” Aim for 30 minutes, ideally first thing in the morning or last thing at night. Reading fuels your ability to think independently, communicate clearly, and solve problems creatively. And in a world that rewards fast consumption and shallow opinions, a curious mind is a competitive advantage.

4. Say YES in Your 20s (You’ll Learn When to Say No Later)

Contrary to what you might hear, saying “YES” in the early years of your career can be a strategic move. Try the side project. Go to the dinner. Join the committee. It’s not about being a doormat—it’s about expanding your worldview and building confidence through exposure. You can refine your focus later. In your 30s, you’ll start to understand which things light you up and which ones drain you. That’s when “NO” becomes a power move. But early on, say YES more often than you think you should. That’s where the momentum—and the magic—lives.

5. Say “I’ll Figure It Out” More Often

Somewhere along the way, a lot of young people stopped trying. Not because they’re incapable, but because nobody ever asked them to take that first uncomfortable step: to poke at the unknown and see what happens. I’ve watched teenagers stare blankly at a carpet cleaner—not sure where or how much water to add. Rather than try to figure it out, they give up.. I’ve seen a flooded bathroom because a kid didn’t think to turn a valve the size of a golf ball sitting right behind the toilet. This is not about intelligence. It’s about initiative.

The truth is, life rewards the person who’s willing to take the first swing—even if it’s clumsy. When you say “I’ll figure it out,” you train your brain to trust itself. You stop waiting for permission, or supervision, or a step-by-step guide. You start developing the muscle that separates capable adults from overgrown children: the ability to tackle something unfamiliar without falling apart.

It doesn’t matter if you’re fifteen or fifty—the habit is the same. Look at the task, break it down, try something. If you mess up, adjust. If you’re stuck, ask a focused question instead of tossing the whole thing back in someone else’s lap. People who can troubleshoot—who can think, try, refine—become the ones others rely on. And here’s the secret: once you build that habit early, it follows you everywhere. Into your work. Into your relationships. Into every moment that demands competence when no one is coming to save the day.