A Note from Larry
This is my favorite type of book. No kidding. I own dozens of books from a variety of authors that are similar to this one. That’s why I am so happy that I am having one of my own published and I am happy that it’s in your hands right now. I love books that have one thought per page. I also love books that cover a variety of topics. I love books that have daily readings, sometimes giving me only one great line per day and sometimes giving me a longer observation or thought. I like good, solid content some days. Other days, I want something that just makes me laugh. Mostly, I like stuff that makes me think, that makes me want to call a buddy and say, “Hey, you gotta hear this!”
I also like this book because I would consider it a true “Best of Larry.” These pages are full of ideas, quotations, and passages from all of my other books. If you aren’t familiar with my other books, these little snippets are designed to let you get a feel for who I am. If you like these short thoughts, observations, rants, and ideas, you can go to any of my other books for more information because now you know who I am, what I believe, how I write, and what I am all about. For my seasoned readers, this is my philosophy distilled. Think back on all the advice I have given you in my past books. Now you have no excuse not to follow it because I’m going to be with you for a page a day, every day, for an entire year.
What I like best about this book is that it has a little bit of everything for everyone, regardless of what you are looking for.
Whether you decide to read this book a day at a time or devour it all at once, I know the first thing each of you will do is go to your birthday and see what I said on “your” day. That’s how people are. We always relate information to ourselves. Actually, that is exactly how I want you to use this book. Think about what I have to say, and then think about how what I have said applies to you and your life. If you think something I have said will work for you, then give it a try. If what I say on a particular day doesn’t work for you, the good news is that there are 364 more thoughts you might be able to use. Even if you find only one good idea in here that you can use to change your life in a positive way, this book will have been worth the read.
Enjoy!
Larry Winget
(Now, go to your birthday! I hope I said something good for you!)
August 25
Begin each day by running through a little mental “I am thankful” exercise. Open your eyes in the morning and be thankful you lived through the night— many didn’t.
Be glad you have something to do that day and people to do it with.
Wait—you don’t have anything to do or people to do it with? Then go find something to do and some people to do it with, and be thankful you found them.
August 26
A reporter asked me recently in an interview, “At the end of the day, what really matters?” My answer: “Not much.”
Really, not much matters. At the end of the day, if you smiled more than you frowned, laughed more than you cried, told your family and friends that you love them, and had a pretty good time doing what you do for a living, then it was a good day.
Go to bed and say thanks.
August 27
Be authentic. Don’t try to be someone you aren’t. You will hate yourself for it, and the effort to maintain the facade will exhaust you. Be real.
Many won’t like the real you, but that is better than having people adore the person that isn’t you at all.
August 28
Don’t worry about how many friends you have. It is better to have a few really good friends you can count on than a bunch of fair-weather friends who won’t be there when you need them.
When it comes to friends, go for quality instead of quantity.
August 29
Be a good listener. The best friend you will ever have is one who will just listen. By the way, the emphasis is on the word “just.” This is why my bulldog, Ralph, is my best friend. No judgment, only a calm acceptance of what I am saying. He doesn’t understand a word I’m saying, but he loves me enough to listen. Be like Ralph.
August 30
Please don’t buy into the idea that success is hard to achieve.
Those who tell you that success is hard are trying to undermine your success by playing to your weaker side. They are treating you like a sucker. Don’t be a sucker for them. Shun the idea that success is hard. It isn’t. The people who believe that success is hard want it to be hard. They want success to be hard so they will have a reason not to be successful. It’s their primary excuse.
If you are one of those people who believes success is hard, then that’s why you haven’t been successful so far.
August 31
To be a good parent and role model for your child, you have to get beyond your own upbringing. You have to get past your own fears and prejudices so that you won’t pass them on to your children. They will develop their own fears and prejudices without any help from you.
Free your kids from your past.