My 20s were great. I graduated college. I started great friendships. I became an uncle. I interviewed countless celebrities. I attended amazing concerts. I got married to the love of my life. I traveled for work and pleasure. I founded two nationally distributed pop culture magazines (became an EIC of one of them). I’ve learned the web game. I’m learning the cable industry, television programming, and marketing. Whew! I know my 30s will be even better. In celebration of my big Tres-Zero below are 30 Things I’ve Learned. Let me know what you think.
Uno,
Jesús
1. As you mature, your musical tastes do as well.
2. Light colors attract positive vibes (or at least I think they do).
3. Content is king. Context is everything.
4. Kill them with kindness.
5. Don’t watch Food Network or Travel Channel when you’re on a diet. It’s food porn for fatties.
6. Everyone needs a mentor.
7. Being a good son isn’t hard.
8. Being a good husband isn’t hard.
9. If you write well, you can do anything. Anything.
10. When you’re at a restaurant, treat the wait staff like people. Talking to them by their name will get you a long way. Everyone deserves to be acknowledged.
11. As a fluent Spanish-speaker, I have an automatic “in” with any company’s mail room.
12. Never date a girl in your neighborhood. You’ll probably bump into her when you’re bringing your new girlfriend home to your parents.
13. Never take your wife’s advice on comedic films. Worst movie I ever paid to see: The Dukes of Hazzard starring Jessica Simpson.
14. Smoking a good cigar is so damn relaxing.
15. Check your emails before clicking “send.”
16. Never argue during a meeting. You have a problem with someone, talk to them one-on-one.
17. Don’t complain about work. My dad worked at a Now & Later factory when he immigrated to Brooklyn from Ecuador in the 1960s. His hands became heavily callused. He also worked as a butcher for over 30 years. He suffered two hernias, he was attacked with a meat hook to the head, and he developed arthritis because he worked in a freezer. He worked as a superintendent for over 30 years. He swept up dirty diapers, used condoms, and tossed rats by their tails as he took out the buildings’ garbage. So I (try) not to complain about work.
18. Don’t ever get drunk in front of co-workers or your boss.
19. Avoid negative people and situations. It will only bring you down.
20. You maintain a healthy relationship through compromise and communication.
21. You know you’re in love when your girl wipes away the sweat from your forehead.
22. Some of the smartest people I’ve met don’t have a college degree.
23. If you can make her laugh, she can't stay mad at you.
24. Video games are addictive.
25. Losing weight is hard. Gaining weight is easy.
26. Going for a walk alone is underrated.
27. If you're married, there's no reason you should be in a jam-packed club. Try a lounge.
28. Even if your office has a relaxed dress code, you should at least wear a collared shirt. Try not to wear t-shirts.
29. One of the worst feelings you can have is when you disappoint your mother. One of the best feelings is when you make her feel proud.
30. There aren’t boring stories only boring writers.
