Axiom 59: Advice for My 18 Year Old Self

"A comfortable old age is the reward of a well-spent youth." -Maurice Chevalier

"Good plans shape good decisions. That's why good planning helps to make elusive dreams come true." -Unknown

I graduated high school so long ago in 1998. While it seems like just yesterday the reality is the years have quickly flown by. I often wonder what I would tell myself and my graduating high school class if I could go back and speak at my graduation. 

While all of my previous axioms to date could possibly be molded into good advice for young people there are a few things I haven't covered yet that are of particular value to young adults just starting out in the world:

1. Write Down Your Goals. Write down your goals and read them everyday. This will help you from wondering aimlessly through life without a purpose.
2. Time Flies. Don't put off your goals, not even for a day. Even if you just spend a few minutes each day working towards a goal you're moving in the right direction. Don't wake up at age 40 with regrets of wasted time.
3. Don't Burn Bridges. No matter how bad things are take the high road. Burning bridges will always come back to haunt you.
4. Know Your Strengths. Before you drift to far in life without a purpose consider taking a personality test (DISC) or a career aptitude test (AIMS).
5. Keep an Open Mind. Be open to learning new skills. Be open to hearing all sides of an argument.
6. Travel. Traveling while you are young expands your mind and helps you grow as a person.
7. Listen Closely to Those Who are Successful. Take note of the people that are doing things right and emulate them.
8. Learn Financial Responsibility. Learn to manage your money or you will be broke no matter how much money you make later in life.
9. You Learn More When Things are Hard. Life is hard sometimes. Think of the hard times as learning opportunities rather than set backs.
10. Success is a Long Road. You won't become a CEO or manager overnight. It takes years to learn a trade a become successful. Practice patience in your journey.

These things will make more sense the older you become. If you are a young person reading this list I wish you the best. Sometimes there are short term setbacks and gains that make life seem like a game of chutes and ladders. However, you must ignore these and play the game of life with the long term goal in mind. Follow the advice above and the odds of good fortune will be on your side. 

Fort Worth Food Insider (Burgers) - Rodeo Goat

I've traveled around this great county and eaten at many of the famous local restaurants. Now I think its time that I should turn my attention back to my hometown - Fort Worth, Texas. I'm writing a new series of blog posts called the, "Fort Worth Food Insider." Whether your a tourist visiting the area, or a longtime local looking for the best food Fort Worth has to offer, you've come to the right place. I'm going to share with you my local Fort Worth favorites that aren't getting the attention that they deserve.

Today I am going to cover Fort Worth's Best Burger

If you were a tourist visiting Fort Worth and you asked a local, "Hey, where's the best burger in town?" chances are they would point you to Kincaid's Hamburgers (4901 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107). Kincaid's is a great place to have a quality burger for lunch in a spot that has been serving burgers since 1964.

However, if you were a tourist and asked me, "Shawn, where's the best burger in town?" I would answer without hesitation Rodeo Goat (2836 Bledsoe St, Fort Worth, TX 76107).

Rodeo Goat is a newcomer to the Fort Worth burger scene. It is just now getting the recognition it deserves after winning DFW.com's Best Burger in DFW. Rodeo Goat is located in the new, hip and trendy 7th Street corridor just west of downtown. This place is a good lunch or dinner spot that always has a crowd. Expect to circle the block a few times in order to finally find a parking spot.

Although the place is packed with locals, this is a great spot for people visiting Fort Worth. The restaurant has a distinctly modern Texas country feel to it. The decor, music, and local draught beers all add up to a uniquely Fort Worth experience.

This isn't a boring burger place. You won't find anyone eating a regular cheeseburger here. All the burgers here are truly one-of-a-kind. My personal favorite is the Caca Oaxaca (beef and chorizo, avocado, pico de gallo, fried egg, queso fresco, and tabasco mayo).

The picture doesn't do this burger justice. It is the best burger I have ever had (either the Caca Oaxaca, or Sugar Burger) and that is saying a lot.

The fries or goat chips (homemade potato chips) are excellent as well. It really is hard to go wrong in this truly original Texas burger place. If you have a chance it is definitely worth a stop.

One final word of advice: If you go there with someone else and you can't decide what to order consider ordering different burgers and having them cut in half. That way you can share and try a couple of these amazing burgers.

Axiom 58: You're Only as Successful as Your Significant Other

"Selecting the right person for the right job is the largest part of coaching." -Phil Crosby

"Marry the right person. This one decision will determine 90% of your happiness or misery." -H. Jackson Brown Jr.

In Axiom 18: Birds of a Feather... I talked about the influence friends and family have on your success in life. If this Axiom I want to talk about the importance of choosing the right significant other.

One of the single most important decisions that you will ever make in life is who to marry. It is a decision that shouldn't come lightly because it will have the single greatest affect on your future happiness and success.

Look around at the marriages of the people you know. The happy people have happy marriages. They support each other. They build each other up. They help each other become a better person. The synergy of their relationship makes them more successful than if they were single.

Now look at the people that are unhappy in marriage. Their goals are different in life. They argue all the time. Their unhappiness permeates all other aspects of their life. It makes them more miserable at work. It ruins their relationships with their friends. It can cause depression, substance abuse, and health problems. Their chance of successes in life is low.

If you're with the wrong person then it doesn't matter. 

Here are just a few of the ways that a dysfunctional relationship will destroy your success: 

• If you're excellent at managing your money your significant other will just piss it all away. 
• If you have a specific talent then your significant other will exploit it or muffle it. 
• If you have a great network of people then your significant other will destroy it with their jealousy.
• If you have big goals and aspirations in life then your significant other will crush them and replace them with small minded goals.
• If you are responsible and cautious in planning your road to success then your significant other will continually set you back with their reckless actions.
• If you are working on becoming a becoming a better person then your significant other destroys your progress because they do not respect your time to work on things.

 All the other Axioms mean nothing if you fail at this one...