50 life lessons I’ve learned from 50 years on this planet.
Half a century of living, failing, winning, loving, and learning. These are truths that time has tested, and experience has confirmed.5
If it feels easy, familiar, and safe, chances are—it’s not changing anything.
Growth has a price.
And that price is discomfort.
Think about it.
Waking up earlier than you want to.
Cutting off people you’ve outgrown.
Saying no to distractions.
Starting when you don’t feel ready.
Staying disciplined when motivation disappears.
There comes a moment in life when you realize something important:
nothing is coming to save you.
That’s when it’s time to get aggressive about the life you want.
Not aggressive with people —
aggressive with your habits.
Aggressive with your discipline.
Aggressive with protecting your time.
If you don’t appreciate a penny, you don’t deserve a dollar.
Money doesn’t start with millions. It starts with mindset.
People pray for big money while disrespecting little money. They waste dollars but dream of thousands.
They ignore pennies but ask God for abundance. That’s not how it works.
Kaizen — The Power of Small Improvements
There’s a Japanese word that quietly changes everything: Kaizen. Kaizen means continuous improvement. Not an overnight success.Not massive leaps.Just a little, intentional progress—every single day.
In Japanese, Kai means change. Zen means good. So kaizen literally means change for the better.
Before 2025 ends…Pause.
Not to celebrate .
Not to complain.
But to prepare.Because how you close a year determines how you enter the next one.
Let’s talk about
10 things you must do before 2025 ends if you want 2026 to be different.
When you start leveling up — financially, mentally, spiritually — you automatically become a mirror.
Your discipline exposes their laziness. Your growth exposes their stagnation. Your courage exposes their fear.
And instead of rising with you, some people choose to resent you. Because envy is easier than accountability.
You can’t be broke in 2026.
Not again.Not another year of “almost.”Not another year of fear, excuses, or settling.
2026 is the year you change your financial story — permanently.
Let’s talk about how.
1. You Can Pass Down Skills
Skills outlive paychecks.When your kids learn discipline, emotional intelligence, financial literacy, leadership, and problem-solving…They can win anywhere.The world can take your job, but it can’t take what’s in your mind.⸻
2. You Can Pass Down Assets
Assets don’t get tired.Assets don’t retire.Assets don’t ask for vacation days.Real estate, investments, intellectual property, a brand, a business — these things can continue to grow even when you’re not here.And the beauty is: these are things your children can inherit.⸻
3. You Can Pass Down a Business
A job ends, but a business evolves.A brand grows.A system continues.A legacy multiplies.You can build something that your children don’t just receive — they expand.⸻
4. You Can Pass Down a Mindset
Maybe the most valuable inheritance is this:The mindset that says, “I don’t just work for money… I build for the future.”
Because your children will copy what they see, not what you say.
The rich don’t just have different habits —they have different beliefs.
And if you shift your beliefs, you shift your life.
1. Leverage, not labor
2. Ownership over employment
3. Long-term thinking
4. Solving big problems
5. Money as a tool
6. Learning before earning
Your transformation starts in your mind. Change the way you think, and you’ll change the way you live.
Foolishness gets attention for one simple reason:It’s loud.It’s dramatic.It’s unpredictable.It breaks the pattern — and human nature is wired to notice anything that disrupts the normal flow.People don’t stop to admire wisdom…but they will stare at a disaster.They will slow down for chaos.They will react to noise.That’s why foolishness spreads.It entertains.It triggers emotions.It gives people something to talk about — even if it adds no value to their lives.But here’s the part most people miss:Attention and value are not the same thing.
Being broke is a wake-up call.
A signal that something in your habits, your mindset, or your decisions needs to change. It’s your life tapping you on the shoulder, saying, “Hey… pay attention. This isn’t sustainable.”
And here’s the truth: When you’re broke, it’s not your character being tested —
it’s your willingness to learn.
Your willingness to grow.
Your willingness to take responsibility for your financial life.
Most of us are trained—by life, by trauma, by fear—to immediately picture the worst.We ask: “What if it goes wrong?”
“What if they say no?”
“What if I fail?”
But today, I want you to flip that.I want you to train your mind to ask a new question:“What if everything works out?”
Every moment you’re stressed, anxious, or overthinking…There’s a negative movie playing in your mind.So the first step is simply to notice it.Ask yourself:• “What story am I telling myself right now?”
• “Is this fear or fact?”
Most of the time, it’s fear.And fear is just imagination in the wrong direction.
The key is not to overthink it — just start. Pick one, take action, and let the results build momentum. Remember, a small step today can change your financial future.
1. Freelancing
If you’ve got a skill — writing, design, social media, or even data entry — you can start freelancing today. Websites like Upwork and Fiverr connect you with clients around the world. Start small, build your portfolio, and you can grow it into a full-time business.⸻
2. Reselling or Flipping Items
You can make money flipping things you already own or find at thrift stores. List them on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or Poshmark.The key is buying low and selling high — it’s old-school hustle, but it works.⸻
3. Content Creation
Start a YouTube channel, TikTok, or podcast sharing what you love. You might not make money immediately, but consistency pays off . Over time, you can earn from sponsorships, affiliate links, and brand deals.
Criticism isn’t always a bad thing — in fact, it’s often a sign that you’re doing something worth people’s attention. When you start moving, building, creating, or leading, not everyone will cheer for you. Some will question, some will doubt, and some will criticize. But that’s okay — it means you’re visible. It means what you’re doing matters enough for people to notice.
Instead of wasting energy resenting it, learn from it. Ask yourself: “Is there truth in what they’re saying?” If yes, grow from it. If not, let it go. Either way, you win.
Be grateful that you’ve made it into a space where people actually care enough to critique what you’re doing. That’s not failure — that’s progress. The only people who never face criticism are the ones who never take action.
So keep moving forward. Stay humble, stay focused, and remember — the noise is proof that your work is being heard.
1.. Think and Grow Rich – Your Blueprint for SuccessNapoleon Hill spent 25 years studying the most successful people in the world.What he discovered became this book.The message is simple:Success begins in the mind.Your thoughts → shape your beliefs → shape your actions → shape your life.Hill teaches you about:• Desire• Faith• Persistence• Mastermind alliances• The power of your subconscious mindThis book shows you that wealth is not luck.It’s created through focus, discipline, and the right mindset.
Every person is living out a story — whether they realize it or not.It’s not the circumstances that shape your life. It’s the story you believe about those circumstances.If you believe you’re a victim, you’ll find proof that life is unfair.If you believe you’re chosen, you’ll find purpose in every struggle.If you believe you’re broken, you’ll keep living like you can’t be healed.But if you believe you’re being built, every setback becomes strength training.The story you believe shapes the life you live.Because your mind is a movie projector — it plays the film you feed it.So, what’s your story?Is it one of defeat, or one of destiny?Is it one of fear, or of faith?Change your story, and you change your direction.Speak new words over your life, and you’ll start seeing new results.You can’t live beyond the story you tell yourself.So tell a story worth living.
1. Earned Income – Your Launchpad
What it is: Your main job or skill-based side hustle (consulting, freelancing, etc.) Goal: Use your earned income as seed money to fund investments and build your business. Focus:
• Maximize your current income (ask for raises, add a side skill).• Live below your means and save 20–30% of income.• Build a personal brand or freelance service around your best skill.
2. Business Income – Your Freedom Vehicle
What it is: A small business or system that can run without you. Goal: Replace your job income with business revenue. Focus:
• Start something low-cost and scalable — like content creation, digital products, or a service-based business (consulting, marketing, rentals, etc.).• Automate with systems, templates, and digital tools.• Reinvest profits into growth, not lifestyle.
3. Investment Income – Your Wealth Multiplier
What it is: Money that earns more money. Goal: Achieve true financial independence where assets cover your bills. Focus:
• Start with index funds, ETFs, or real estate.• Automate monthly investing (even $100/month compounds over time).• Reinvest returns to accelerate wealth growth.
You are the CEO of your life — and everything is your fault.
Now, before you get defensive, hear me out. This isn’t about guilt — it’s about power.
When you start taking full responsibility for everything in your life — your finances, your habits, your relationships, your results — you reclaim control. You stop blaming your past, your parents, your boss, or your luck. You start asking better questions:
“What can I do differently?”
“What’s my next move?”
“How can I fix this?”
Because CEOs don’t wait for someone to save the company — they make decisions, they adjust, they lead. And that’s exactly what you need to do in your own life.
If you’re broke — be the CEO that builds new income streams.
If your health is slipping — be the CEO that restructures the plan.
If your relationships are falling apart — be the CEO that changes the culture.
Every area of your life is a department — and you’re in charge of all of them. The moment you accept that everything is your fault, you unlock the ability to change anything.
So, step up. Make the tough calls. Fire the bad habits. Hire discipline. Promote consistency.
Because at the end of the day — you run this company called “Your Life.”
And the results?
They’re up to you.
What the Book Is About
It’s a guide for men who want to live with direction, confidence, and heart — not just chasing success or pleasure, but living with meaning.
Deida teaches how to grow as a man in three main areas:
1. Pursuit
A man’s highest calling is his mission in life — his purpose must come before comfort or relationships.
When a man loses his sense of purpose, he loses his strength and clarity.
The book teaches how to find and live from that purpose daily.
2. Masculine & Feminine Energy
Deida explains the difference and dance between masculine and feminine energies.
3. Spiritual and Sexual Growth
The book also explores how to master sexual energy — turning desire into love, presence, and creative power.
It’s about deep intimacy — being fully present in relationships, not dominated by lust or fear.
100 Books that will transform your lifeby Michael Mante