45 Life Lessons for Busy Entrepreneurs

By David Drake
I dont want to wait until Im 90 to make this list. This 2016 I took stock of the things that I
learned and experienced in my 45 years. These things put fire in my soul and took my
breath away as I try to balance life and work and my different passions as an entrepreneur:

1. Call people by their first name.

2. Stay curious.

3. Be open-minded.

4. Pay it forward.

5. Love unconditionally.

6. Trust people to make their own mistakes.

7. Learn passionately. Unlearn bad things even more

fiercely.(tweet this)

8. Hurry slowly.

9. Smile.

10. Appreciate people.

11. Say thank you for specific things they do or have

done.(tweet this)

12. Say sorry from the heart and look people in the eye.
(tweet this)

13. Forgive others even if they are not sorry. Some

people need this encouragement to say sorry.(tweet this)

14. If you cant let your hair down, then go bald and
show your true colors.(tweet this)

15. Be present. Your attention is your gift to others.

(tweet this)

16. Be focused. This is your gift to yourself.(tweet this)

17. Learn to brush things offbefore they weigh you

down. Even feathers, when too many, can make your cap
look silly.(tweet this)

18. No means you asked the wrong question or the

wrong person.

19. Listen not only with your ears but mostly with your
heart.(tweet this)

20. Speak from the heart. Or do not speak at all.(tweet

this)

21. If people cant pay you, then dont lend. Give it to

them instead, or let them pay in kind or later.(tweet this)

22. Invite to your parties people who cant return the

favor.

23. Determine in your heart what is the most valuable

treasure you have and be ready to give it up for
something else that you would later find out as infinitely
more valuable.

24. Ask this question often: What is the purpose of it all?

(tweet this)

25. Why is an excellent 3-letter word. Use it often.

(tweet this)

26. Obey, so you can understand. Understand so you can

discern. Discern so you can obey.(tweet this)

27. Count your blessings. The same blessing received

daily with a thankful heart is blessing multiplied.(tweet
this)

28. Count your days right. Remembrance brings you back

to your purpose and to the reason why you are counting
in the first place.

29. Humor is a sign of humility, especially if you can

laugh at yourself.(tweet this)

30. Courage is not only speaking up with conviction but

also listening with intent to understand.(tweet this)

31. Fearlessness is not only the daring to be strong but

also the willingness to be weak.(tweet this)

32. Failure is not the opposite of success but the

prerequisite to success.(tweet this)

33. Be an artist. Improvise and surprise yourself and

others.(tweet this)

34. If you cant be precise and careful, get others who

are to join your team.

35. If you cant be free-flowing and carefree, find others

who are.

36. Marvel at the diversity. Search for the glue that will
bond your teams together.(tweet this)

37. Be thankful you are not the center of the universe.

Hard to bear all that weight on your shoulder.

38. Cherish friends both old and new. Old friends are
custodians of your past, new ones can bring fresh
perspectives and insights to your experiences.

39. Family is more than blood and a common lineage but

also a kindred
spirit.

40. Always take the scenic route. Dont just smell the
roses; marvel as well at the wild flowers in your path.

41. Simplicity is not easy. It takes genius and deliberate

planning.

42. Respect yourself so you can respect others and

others can respect you.(tweet this)

43. Enjoy music in the shower. You can sing even when
you are out of tune.(tweet this)

44. Lifes not fair but it is not forever so thats alright. Do

search for whats eternal.(tweet this)

45. Honor your father and mother so you may be

blessed. Bless your children by loving and training them
right so it will be easy for them to honor you.(tweet this)

Finally, the wisdom from entrepreneurs and innovators who went ahead of me like
#JohnDRockefeller #AndrewCarnegie #JPMorgan inspire me to write my upcoming
book L.I.F.E.E. (Life Instructions for Entrepreneurs and Executives), to hurry slowly, and not
to take no for an answer. As E.M. Forster said, At the side of the everlasting why, is a yes,
and a yes, and a yes. Lets say yes to the ebb and flow of life, both to the ordinary as well
as special moments.

David Drake is the Chairman of LDJ Capital, a multi-family office; Victoria Partners, a 300
family office network; LDJ Real Estate Group and Drake Hospitality Group; and The Soho
Loft Media Group with divisions Victoria Global Communications,Times Impact Publications,
and The Soho Loft Conferences. Reach him directly at David@LDJCapital.com.