Advice to Your 18-Year-Old Self

On Thursday, May 23rd at 1:00 pm CT our team at The ONE Thing is hosting a free webinar on core values as a gateway to great decision-making. We wanted to revisit this theme I wrote about at the end of 2023, for you and especially the young adults in your life. If you have a loved one about to graduate to (or from) college, what better graduation gift than clarity around their values to guide them when you’re not there? Register here.

May 17, 2024

“It’s easier to hold your principles 100 percent of the time than it is to hold them 98 percent of the time.”

— Clayton M. Christensen

Advice to Your 18-Year-Old Self

We have a college freshman and a high school senior. As the school year ends, I find myself thinking often about what lessons I can still impart. In fact, over the next two weeks, I’ll need to compose a graduation letter to our soon-to-be high school graduate.

I reread the letter I wrote his older brother and sifted through my notes and files for inspiration. Along the way, I found an email Gary Keller shared with us, which I found both direct and inspiring. He was asked to share advice for a young person in his world. I thought I’d share it with you since many of us are celebrating graduations of one kind or another this month.

Gary was asked what advice he’d offer to his 18-year-old self. This was his answer: 

1. Breathe – No matter what happens. Just make sure you always breathe and know you’re okay.
2. Love – No matter what happens. Just lead with love and always know that you are loved.
3. People –  No matter what happens. Just make time for the people who matter the most.
4. Charity – No matter what happens. Just be charitable and go find a charity and get involved.
5. Hit it – No matter what happens. Pick a target and go for it with everything you got.
6. Never, ever give up – No matter what happens. When you fall down, simply get up and move.

The refrain “no matter what happens” caught my attention. It’s about total commitment to an idea. Not all yeses and nos are equal. Some are unequivocal, absolute. When we go all-in, the decision is pre-decided. The choice becomes part of our identity and our actions naturally align. When you decide who you want to be, don’t go half-cocked. That’s the underlying advice that makes this list so powerful. It’s also a wonderful way to pursue life. 

One final note. As I was writing this, my friend Kim shared a TED talk from my friend Dr. Benjamin Hardy called, “The 100 Percent Rule That Will Change Your Life” which perfectly underscores this message. Enjoy.

One question to ponder in your thinking time: What advice would I give to my younger self that I need to hear today?

Make an Impact!

Jay Papasan

Co-author of The One Thing & The Millionaire Real Estate Agent ​