Nobody writes advice for 30-somethings. So I wrote 33 pieces of them.

At 30, you're supposed to have your life figured out. That's, at least, what it feels like from the endless advice for people in their 20s.

But for people in their 30s, there are few and far between.

I'm guilty of this, too: I wrote a list like this for my 30th birthday, giving advice to the next generation. Still one of my best pieces of writing, and still useful if you're in your 20s.

But today, for my 33rd birthday, I wanna share 33 things that I've learned over the past 3 years.

Let's go.

On getting things done

1. The best way to succeed is to get the basics right first, then build from there. I could've saved 12 months building Generalyst if I hadn't tried to reinvent the wheel.

2. Change needs intensity, maintenance needs consistency. I always thought that if I just did things consistently, they'd eventually work. That's true. But you get there way faster if you sprint for a bit first.

3. Double down on your strengths instead of trying to fix your weaknesses. Once I accepted that I'm a rock-solid off-ball defender and stopped trying to become a great on-ball defender, my lacrosse game went to a completely new level. Less footwork, more film study and timing. Better results.

4. Opportunity costs are real. My business tends to do better when I'm injured, because more focus goes into work. I love juggling several things at once, but I can't argue with the results I'm getting from focusing on one thing at a time.

5. When you identify an issue (e.g. an injury), use violence of action: do everything in your power to fix it, fast. It's not gonna get better without the right diagnostics and training.

6. Breakthroughs need active work and active rest. I tried to run through the wall with my startup. When I took some time off did, things suddenly and magically fall into place.

7. "Everyone wants AI agents but needs people with agency." (h/t to Elena Verna) Being in control of your fate is one of the best things you can do for your happiness.

On building a business

8. No matter who you are, no matter what you're trying to do in life, everything gets easier if you build distribution. Put your thoughts out there.

9. Ask for more than you think your product is worth. I've raised prices 3 times since founding Generalyst, and could probably still charge more.

10. Running a profitable business is unnatural. Most businesses go under, or spend everything they make. Making sure something is left at the end of the year is an art.

11. Interviewing is an art, too, not a science – and impossible to get right every single time. Understanding that will make firing a bad fit infinitely easier.

12. Being a solo founder is lonely. There are many days where I wish I had a co-founder. But a co-founder is the riskiest hire you'll ever make, so it's probably better to have none than a bad one.

13. It's okay to fire your clients. Work with people you enjoy, not with people who drain your energy.

14. Being a generalist teaches you when to ask for help. Because you know enough to know that you don't know.

On money

15. There are few things more rewarding than the first salary you pay yourself from your own business.

16. Money is surprisingly unimportant when everything else in your life is clicking. I'm much happier now, making half of what I made in my last job.

17. At the same time, there are few distractions bigger than worrying about money. Pay yourself first so you can focus on the things that actually move the needle.

On putting your work into the world

18. As a creator, your message reaches a lot more people than you think. 1% of readers respond to a newsletter, but ~60% open it.

19. Being a creator sounds appealing. But you can't just be a creator, or all you'll talk about is content creation, and that's boring as f**k. Live an interesting life first, then document it.

20. AI will not replace us because it gets smarter, but because we get dumber. (h/t Daniel Dippold)

On other people

21. Go to great lengths to see your friends. Host the get-together. Fly to where they are. Plan the holiday. Individualism is cool, but we're still wired to be around other people. Hell, live near them. There are few things I appreciate more these days than spontaneously meeting a good friend.

22. Team training > individual training, all day, every day. The best teams I've played on spend an extraordinary amount of time together. You gotta hit the gym anyway, might as well do it with the boys.

23. We stand on the shoulders of those who lift us up (h/t to Sahil Bloom). Believing your partner or friend is capable of excellence, and holding them to it, is one of the best things you can do in a relationship.

24. Follow the law of reversed effort. The more you want something, the less likely you are to get it. This applies to most interpersonal interactions.

25. Be kinder to yourself. Ask: if someone else said they needed a break, would you give it to them? If the answer is yes, maybe give yourself one too.

On what a good life actually looks like

26. Following the beaten path is a low agency move. If you do what everyone else does, you're not thinking for yourself. Do what makes you smile, what excites you, what gives you energy.

27. You never know when you'll do something for the last time. Hug your grandma. Read a bedtime story to your child. Close a deal. Write something. Wake up. Appreciate every moment you get.

28. I'm aware that I'll play my last game of Lacrosse at some point, too. And I wanna push that moment out for a while yet. Doing the things you love, and doing them well, is a huge part of a good life.

29. Delaying gratification is a superpower for achieving your goals. But don't always delay it, or you'll forget to live.

30. Spend more time on "hedonic escalators" (h/t to George Mack): life events or activities that never fade into a baseline. Flow state. Living near great friends. A good night's sleep. Learning. The post-exercise high. Larger meaning.

31. If you're going to use something a lot, invest in it. (I bought a ~200€ chef's knife that I use every day. No regrets.)

32. Optimize for days where you wake up feeling like a kid on their birthday.

33. Live life so that your judgmental 14-year-old self would think you're cool.

None of this means I've got it figured out. I'm just a bit smarter than before. And hopefully, the next years will bring a lot more learnings with them.

Have a wonderful day.

LFG.

If you wanna make me a birthday present, share this list with a friend who might benefit from it.

Whenever you're ready, there are four ways I can help you:

[1] Reclaim up to 4 hours per day and find time to do the things you've always wanted to do by enrolling into Personal Productivity OS.

[2] Hire your next Founder's Associate or other business generalist position with my startup, Generalyst Recruiting.

[3] You could also find your next startup job in Europe by simply applying as a candidate.

[4] Learn how you can build your career as a generalist by subscribing to this newsletter. ⬇️