Never buy anything that is being sold over the phone.
Abandon bad habits (gambling, too much drinking, drugs, smoking) and adopt good ones (exercise and eating right).
Don't pay for college unless you are studying something that requires professional certification (i.e. engineering, law, medicine, or plan on teaching, or any job that REQUIRES a degree)
The most important thing you can do in life is build a professional network. If you took all the money in the USA, and divided it up evenly between all citizens, and you otherwise did not change the socioeconomic model. In 10 years, all the money will be go back to the top 10%. This will happen because wealthy people have a network.
If an investment is too good to be true, then it is.
Over the top religious people cannot be trusted.
Don't talk too much... actively listen to everything.
If a business competitor is making a mistake... then let them. You do not have to do anything to win out, they will beat themselves.
Never underbid anything, every bid MUST come with an acceptable profit margin.
Never buy a house that is more than you actually need.
Be careful with emotional decision making.
Never take on personal debt unless it is something you absolutely need.
Never take on business debt unless that debt actually increases profitability and/or cash flow.
Start saving as soon as you can... your savings should be a non-negotiable expense. Save and invest 8% of your pay. Even if someone did this making minimum wage at 21, and never got a raise, and ONLY invested in conservative safe instruments, by the time they are ready to retire at 65 they can wrap their savings into a conservative 20-year annuity and make $2,000 a month.
One day you will be old... plan for when you are old. The only other thing that can happen is that you will be dead. I am amazed by old people who are struggling, living on a pathetic Social Security payment... I mean what the FVCK did they think would happen? You see these people standing with the support of a walker, working at Walmart as a greeter.
Never argue with idiots.... it is a waste of time.
No amount of money ever bought a second of time. Time is your most valuable resource.
Just because someone is family does not mean they are good people and can be trusted.
Be patient... all the best things take time.
If you are feeling chronic negative emotion too much, you are on the wrong path.
Bad news does not get better with time. When bad things happen, it MUST be dealt with as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Do not procrastinate... if something needs to be done, or a decision needs to be made, do not over analyze.
Don't assume anything. Every decision you make you MUST consider the worst possible thing that can happen and have plan for dealing with sh1t that goes sideways. No one should ever be completely surprised by negative ramifications.
Sometimes doing nothing is the best decision you can make.
All things being equal... trust your gut. When I look back on my life and suffered the ramification of a bad decision, almost 90% of the time I did not trust my initial instinct.
If someone calls you an @sshole, what they are saying is that you put yourself first... don't worry about that. Everyone should ALWAYS put themselves first... you are no good to anyone if you are a mess. That doesn't mean you have to be intentionally rude and obnoxious unless you are being pushed to sacrifice for others at your expense with no appreciable benefit.