Happy Sunday Everyone:
Writing from the lobby of my hotel in Boston. 10 miles of site seeing with the family yesterday, Fenway today. It’s good to be a tourist. Not sure the kids appreciate quite like Kim and I but what a great city!! The four of us believe it might be our favorite.
Sunday Thoughts today are not my own. A buddy of mine, Kyle R. forwarded myself and a few other co-workers/friends a list (which is below) on reminders/lessons for our sons. Kyle has a vested interest in these lessons as Kyle has four daughters.
He sent these to me last week while I was on a plane sitting next to a friend of mine who in the corporate world would be considered a fairly big deal. He runs sales for a fortune 500 software company, has his q1 coming to an end, and is fairly stressed out. I started reading some of these to him. He asked that I send it to him. He then turned around and sent it to his CEO, his COO, and one of his counterparts, all of whom responded within a few minutes of me being with him on their like/appreciation for the words of wisdom. Why do I bring this up? I get it in my head sometimes that the simple things in life, the essential basics, are not interesting to a lot of people, and I’m wrong. The essential basics, are interesting to the right people, no matter what their title/roles are and I/we need not be embarrassed in talking about them. Perhaps you’re scratching your head thinking “what the heck is Hunter talking about?” and perhaps you need to be in my head to understand, but the simple point is that the more open I am in discussing bigger picture topics of life and happiness, the more I find others opening up and having bigger conversations beyond money, success, and the subtle comparisons of where do we stack up against each other, and I find it very refreshing.
Here is the list Kyle sent to me. Some are funny, some are for a different generation (although still relevant), all of them are useful.
Lessons for a son:
1. Never shake a man’s hand sitting down.
2. Don’t enter a pool by the stairs.
3. The man at the BBQ Grill is the closest thing to a king.
4. In a negotiation, never make the first offer.
5. Request the late check-out.
6. When entrusted with a secret, keep it.
7. Hold your heroes to a higher standard.
8. Return a borrowed car with a full tank of gas.
9. Play with passion or not at all…
10. When shaking hands, grip firmly and look them in the eye.
11. Don’t let a wishbone grow where a backbone should be.
12. If you need music on the beach, you’re missing the point.
13. Carry two handkerchiefs. The one in your back pocket is for you. The one in your breast pocket is for her.
14. You marry the girl, you marry her family.
15. Be like a duck. Remain calm on the surface and paddle like crazy underneath.
16. Experience the serenity of traveling alone.
17. Never be afraid to ask out the best looking girl in the room.
18. Never turn down a breath mint.
19. A sport coat is worth 1000 words.
20. Try writing your own eulogy. Never stop revising.
21. Thank a veteran. Then make it up to him.
22. Eat lunch with the new kid.
23. After writing an angry email, read it carefully. Then delete it.
24. Ask your mom to play. She won’t let you win.
25. Manners make the man.
26. Give credit. Take the blame.
27. Stand up to Bullies. Protect those bullied.
28. Write down your dreams.
29. Always protect your siblings (and teammates).
30. Be confident and humble at the same time.
31. Call and visit your parents often. They miss you.
32. The healthiest relationships are those where you’re a team; where you respect, protect, and stand up for each other.
Have a great week ahead.