Gotta keep you guys in check. (Instructions taken from Life's
Little Instruction Book by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.)
001)Compliment three people every day."
002)Remember other people's birthday.
003)Have a firm handshake.
004)Look people in the eye.
005)Say "thank you" a lot.
006)Say "please" a lot.
007)Own a great stereo system.
008)Be the first to say "Hello".
009)Live beneath your means.
010)Buy great books even if you never read
them.
011)Be forgiving of yourself and
others.
012)Learn three clean jokes.
013)Ask for a raise when you feel you've earned
it.
014)If in a fight, hit first and hit
hard.
015)Return all things you borrow.
016)Treat everyone you meet like you want to be
treated.
017)Make new friends but cherish the old
ones.
018)Keep secrets.
019)Never refuse homemade brownies.
020)Don't postpone joy.
021)Write "thank you" notes promptly.
022)Never give up anybody. Miracles happen every
day.
023)Show respect for teachers.
024)Keep a tight rein on your temper.
025)Take out the garbage without being
told.
026)Vote.
027)Surprise loved ones with little unexpected
gifts.
028)Stop blaming others. Take responsibility
for every area of your life.
029)Make the best of bad situations.
030)Admit your mistakes.
031)Use your wit to amuse, not abuse.
032)Be brave. Even if you're not, pretend to
be. No one can tell the difference.
033)Never forget your anniversary. Miracles happen every
day.
034)Don't take good health for granted.
035)When someone wants to hire you, even if
it's for a job you have little interest in, talk to them.
Never close the door on an opportunity until you've had a
chance to hear the offer
in person.
036)Don't mess with drugs, and don't
associate with those who do.
037)In business and in family relationships,
remember that the most important thing is trust.
038)Never encourage anyone to become a
lawyer.
039)Don't smoke.
040)Choose your life's mate carefully. From this
one decision will come ninety percent of all your happiness or
misery.
041)Make it a habit to do nice things for
people who'll never find it out.
042)Think big thoughts but relish small
pleasures.
043)Tell your kids often how terrific they
are and that you trust them.
044)Smile a lot. It costs nothing and is
beyond price.
045)Know how to drive a stick shift.
046)Never use profanity.
047)Give yourself a year and read the Bible
cover to cover.
048)Learn CPR.
049)Stop and read historical roadside
markers.
050)Learn to listen. Opportunity sometimes
knocks very softly.
051)Know how to change a tire.
052)Respect your children's privacy. Knock
before entering their room.
053)Remember people's names.
054)Never deprive someone of hope; it might
be all they have.
055)Give yourself an hour to cool off before
responding to someone who has provoked you. If it
involves something really important, give yourself
overnight.
056)Pay your bills on time.
057)Strive for excellence, not
perfection.
058)Pray not for things, but for wisdom and
courage.
059)Use seat belts.
060)Have regular medical and dental
checkups.
061)Don't waste time responding to your
critics.
062)Avoid negative people.
063)Resist telling people how something should
be done. Instead, tell them what needs to be done. They
will often surprise you with creative
solutions.
064)Be original.
065)Be neat.
066)Never give up on what you really want to
do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one
with all the facts.
067)Be suspicious of all politicians.
068)Read carefully anything that requires your
signature. Remember the big print giveth and the small
print taketh away.
069)Be your wife's best friend.
070)Let people know what you stand for--and
what you won't stand for.
071)Don't quit a job until you've lined up
another.
072)Measure people by the size of their
hearts, not the size of their bank accounts.
073)Become the most positive and enthusiastic
person you know.
074)Have a good posture. Enter a room with
purpose and confidence.
075)Use less salt.
076)Don't carry a grudge.
077)Loosen up. Relax. Except for rare
life-and-death matters, nothing is as important as it
first seems.
078)Give your best to your employer. It's
one of the best investments you can make.
079)Commit yourself to constant
self-improvement.
080)Don't waste time grieving over past
mistakes. Learn from them and move on.
081)Never go grocery shopping when you're
hungry. You'll buy too much.
082)Spend less time worrying who's right, and
more time deciding what's right.
083)When someone hugs you, let them be the
first to let go.
084)Resist giving advice concerning matrimony, finances,
or hair styles.
085)Never pay for work before it's
completed.
086)Keep good company.
087)Keep your promises.
088)Avoid any church that has cushion on the
pews and is considering building a gymnasium.
089)Teach your children the value of money and
the importance of saving.
090)Be willing to lose a battle in order to win the
war.
091)Don't be deceived by first
impressions.
092)Drink eight glasses of water every
day.
093)Respect tradition.
094)Learn to show cheerfulness, even when you
don't feel like it.
095)Take good care of those you love.
096)Be modest. A lot was accomplished before
you were born.
097)Keep it simple.
098)Never ask a lawyer or accountant for
business advice. They are trained to find problems, not
solutions.
099)When meeting someone for the first time, resist asking
what they do for a living. Enjoy their company without attaching any
labels.
100)Don't gossip.
101)Don't discuss salaries.
102)Don't gamble.
103)Beware of the person who has nothing to
lose.
104)Remember that overnight success usually
takes about fifteen years.
105)Don't expect money to bring you
happiness.
106)Never snap your fingers to get somenone's attention.
It's rude.
107)No matter how dire the situation, keep your
cool.
108)Never underestimate your power to change
yourself.
109)Never overestimate your power to change
others.
110)Practice empathy. Try to see things from
other people's point of view.
111)Discipline yourself to save money. It's essential
to success.
112)Get and stay in shape.
113)Don't burn the bridges. You'll be surprised how
many times you have to cross the same river.
114)Keep expectations high.
115)Accept pain and disappointment as part of
life.
116)Remember that a succesful marriage depends on two
things: (1)finding the right person and (2) being the right
person.
117)See problems as opportunities for growth and
self-mastery.
118)Don't expect life to be fair.
119)Become an expert in time
management.
120)Lock your car even if it's parked in your
own driveway.
121)Compliment the meal when you're a guest in someone's
home.
122)Make the bed when you're an overnight visitor in
someone's home.
123)Never underestimate the power of
love.
124)Learn to disagree without being
disagreeable.
125)Be tactful. Never alienate anyone on
purpose.
126)Hear both sides before judging.
127)Refrain from envy. It's the source of
much unhappiness.
128)Don't delay acting on a good idea. Chances are
someone else has just thought of it, too. Success comes
to the one who acts first.
129)Remember that winners do what losers don't want
to do.
130)Rekindle old friendships.
131)Live your life as an exclamation, not an
explanation.
132)Instead of using the words, if only, try
substituting the words, next time.
133)Instead of using the word problem, try
substituting the word opportunity.
134)Never walk out on a quarrel with your
wife.
135)Don't think that a higher price always
means higher quality.
136)Be bold and courageous. When you look back on
your life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more
than the ones you did.
137)Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you
love them.
138)Evaluate yourself by your own standards,
not someone else's.
139)Be there when people need you.
140)Be decisive even if it means you'll sometimes be
wrong.
141)Be prepared to lose once in a
while.
142)Remember no one makes it alone. Have a
grateful heart and be quick to acknowledge those who help
you..
143)Take charge of your attitude. Don't let
someone else choose it for you.
144)Be a self-starter.
145)Understand that happiness is not based on
possessions, power, or prestige, but on relationships with
people you love and respect.
146)Compliment even small improvements.
147)Remain open, flexible, curious.
148)Focus on making things better, not
bigger.
149)Every once in a while, take the scenic
route.
150)Don't let your possessions possess
you.
151)Don't flaunt your success, but don't
apologize for it either.
152)Be enthusiastic about the success of
others.
153)Don't procrastinate. Do what needs doing when
it needs to be done.
154)Listen to your children.
155)Take care of your reputation. It's your
most valuable asset.
156)Don't tailgate.
157)Improve your performance by improving your
attitude.
158)Every person that you meet knows something
you don't; learn from them.
159)When meeting someone you don't know well, extend
your hand and give them your name. Never assume they
remember you even if you've met
them before.
160)Do it right the first time.
161)Laugh a lot. A good sense of humor cures
almost all of life's ills.
162)Never underestimate the power of a kind
word or deed.
163)Don't be afraid to say, "I don't
know."
164)Don't be afraid to say, "I made a
mistake."
165)Don't be afraid to say, "I need
help."
166)Don't be afraid to say, "I'm
sorry."
167)Don't use time or words carelessly. Neither can
be retrieved.
168)Look for opportunities to make people feel
important.
169)Be open to new ideas.
170)Set short-term and long-term goals.
171)Don't interrupt.
172)Don't be rushed into making an important
decision. People will understand if you say, "I'd like a
little more time to think it over. Can I get
back to you
tomorrow?"
173)Be prepared. You never get a second chance to
make a good first impression.
174)Go the distance. When you accept a task, finish
it.
175)Give thanks before every meal.
176)Don't insist on running someone else's
life.
177)Watch for big problems. They disguise big
opportunities.
178)Never admit at work that you're tired,
angry, or bored.
179)Don't be called out on strikes. Go down
swinging.
180)Question your goals by asking, "Will this help
me become my very best?"
181)Cherish your children for what they are, not for
what you'd like them to be.
182)When negotiating your salary, think of
what you want; then ask for ten percent more.
183)After you've worked hard to get what you
want, take the time to enjoy it.
184)Be alert for opportunities to show praise and
appreciation.
185)Commit yourself to quality.
186)Be a leader: Remember the lead sled dog
is the only one with a decent view.
187)Never underestimate the power of words to heal
and reconcile relationships.
188)Your mind can only hold one thought at a time.
Make it a positive and constructive one.
189)Marry only for love.
190)Call your mother.
191)Seek out the good in people.
192)Never underestimate the power of
forgiveness.
193)Don't forget, a person's greatest emotional need is
to feel appreciated.