9 Hard-Earned Lessons I Wish I Had Learned Sooner

Author

Jason Lew
August 07, 2024

I hear the whoosh and giggles as the cart whips by. The wafting scent of kettle corn and candied apples hits me—I’m chaperoning at the state fair.

As I look up at the neon glowing rides, I’m reminded that business is a bit like a roller coaster—ups, downs, and a lot of loop-de-loops.

Sometimes the biggest prize isn’t the one you expect.

Photo by Jam Ahrorova

So here are 9 hard-earned lessons I wish I had learned sooner:

  1. What you don’t like about others is what you don’t like about yourself. I had a mentor who turned out to be a master manipulator. I disdained him because he reminded me of all the times I used people.

  2. You aren’t always responsible for bad things happening, but … you are responsible for the story you make up about what they mean.

  3. Your quality of life is determined by the quality of questions you ask. “Why does this always happen to me?” can only lead to bad thoughts. Instead, try using your imagination and ask, “How is this happening for me?” or “Why is this perfect?” It might just be the most important game you play.

  4. Don’t avoid pain. What we resist, persists. Have the courage to move towards what terrifies you and the curiosity to explore it.

  5. You don’t get what you want—you get what you give. If you don’t have what you want, ask yourself how you can disproportionately give value.

  6. We teach those around us how we want to be communicated with based on what we accept. Don’t like how you’re treated? Set and hold new standards.

  7. Output > Outcome. Change your metric for self-worth. If it’s always attached to the outcome, you won’t have it when you need it most.

  8. Your only problem is your resistance to what is. Your only solution is your acceptance of what is. In 2020, my 101-year-old grandmother decided to stop eating. My initial reaction was to rush in and fix it. However, my teacher grounded me in my practice of gratitude. If I was truly embodying gratitude, what else could this moment mean? It meant my grandmother got to choose how she left this world. It meant that my family, separated by the pandemic for a year, got to reunite. And it meant we all had the opportunity to share heartfelt words with an incredible woman. Without this practice, I would have missed these precious moments.

  9. Business is a beautiful calling. But sometimes the most important skill is to learn how to put it down—get a good night's rest, spend time with loved ones, and have fun. Tomorrow is always a new day.

Most often, you don’t get the lesson AND the cash. But if you’re willing to receive it, the lesson may shape you into the person who can receive it.

These lessons have made a significant difference in my life, and I hope they offer you some valuable insights too.

What’s one lesson you’ve learned that you wish you’d known sooner? I’d love to hear from you.

Cheers,