Thread by @Codie_Sanchez

I turn 35 today, I’m far from wise but I’ve learned a thing or 22...

Through losing big, hitting jackpots, massive f’ups & building true freedom here are my 22 lessons learned…

May you avoid learning them all the hard way as I did :)

#1 Partners are everything

Good ones can make you and bad ones can break you.

I was really bad at them for years. I confused ego w/ competence. I got divorced from a bad marriage. Got myself into 2 really nasty partnerships.

Now I focus on people before ideas.

#2 When people show you who they are believe them

One partner I had YELLED at ttwo young designers who pitched us, I was silent. Shocked. No good response.

Promised to never do that again.

Oh and if they treat wait staff badly stand up & leave, red flag.

#3 That thing you keep coming back to, just go do it

I played corporate for so long. I had a side hustle every year for 10 YEARS while in big finance. Why? The work never fulfilled me but I was scared.

Just do it.

#4 Stop trying to convince people

There will always be 20% who don’t like you, don’t believe you, don’t believe in you. F*CK em.

I’m a people pleaser by heart, except that leads to no happy campers least of all me.

Go out today, and tell a hard truth. You’ll be better for it.

#5 Spend money to be rich not look rich

Damn, I blew money… Porsche, Rovers, country club, jewelry, bags, stupid trips, expensive wine. I was married to a fast lifer and I went along with it.

I’d never seen real $ before and thought I needed to show it.

Capital D DUMB!

#6 Invest in assets before it’s comfortable

When’s the best time to plant a tree? 10 years ago. Second best time? Now.

I kept too much $ in the stock market, & didn’t buy cash-flowing assets for myself until later.

My kids will be lil biz owners & workers before puberty

#7 Cheap ain’t always bad

Now, my partner is ex-military and our values align.

We share cars, go camping, get stoked at buying value wine, Airbnb and rent out all our stuff, and like doing more with less.

#8 Experiences over things, always

Take the trip, learn the skill, move your body.

Forget the fast cars, expensive things, that high never lasts.

#9 1st impressions ain’t always right

Numerous cute animals are extremely rapey and it ruined @NatGeo for me.

Google Otter's sexual tendencies 😑

Same for humans.

#10 Most problems stem from bad communication

Joke is often that people need to learn to "speak codie" bc I'm in my own head a lot. NOT ideal.

Learn to speak well if you want to lead well.

#11 Try psychedelics in a medicinal & reflective capacity

I haven’t yet gone so far as to be a face paint wearing, fedora loving hippie, but chipping at ur ego and realizing we’re all more alike than different may change ur life.

Maybe make it mandatory for all politicos 😜

#12 Taking a breath solves 99% of regret

Every time I get heated now I take in a deep breath count to three and let it out before I respond. The results are astounding.

#13 Majority of people are prey, not predators

The majority are gatherers, not hunters.

But hunting is where the magic is at. Don’t be sad you aren’t a sheep that fits in be glad you’re a lion that roars. Apex predators win.

#14 Sometimes it’s ok to tell someone to F*CK off

Not everyone responds to love and honey. Bullies respond to strength.

Had a partner who was a bully. Gave an inch he took a mile. One day I said ENOUGH, he never came at me again.

It’s ok to hold the line... forcefully.

#15 BUT most of the time, just love em anyway

Double hand wave the guy who cuts you off.

That is the pro move. In life and traffic.

#16 Sharpen your steel

Learn Muay Thai, lift the heavy weights, climb the mountain… what if you die never having known how strong you are?

#17 Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.

Every time you get asked, ask yourself do u really want to?

Addition usually means subtraction. What are you willing to give up to make room? Make it worth it.

#18 Do I have an unfair advantage or am I going to blend?

Unless you’re uniquely positioned, skilled, or informed, don’t do it.

I played in ETF land forever tried selling same products but cheaper, it was a race to the bottom and a waste of time

#19 Will I regret it if I don’t do it when I’m 80?

If I won’t be proud I did it when I’m 80, I’m not doing it at 30.

#20 Fear makes idiots of us all

Your likelihood of regret will 10x when you operate from a place of fear.

Fearful decisions make regretful people.

#21 What is a person if not the marks they leave behind?

We all leave trails, signs of our passing.

Are yours the signals you want to be known for? I remember imaging PE Partner on my tombstone... realized that was a no for me. Despite many 0000s.

#22 Love is a human possibility it is not a fact

Don’t believe the Gurus we aren’t all love, we have to choose it.

My young Codie - choose love, choose the right way, but don’t expect it implicitly from others

If I’ve learned one single most impactful thing, it is this:

You are in charge of your life, never give your power up to anyone else.