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Over the next ten days I'll post a personal life lesson every day. I'm not a philosopher, so please don't judge my lessons as anything but a normal guy trying to summarize some thoughts and make them public.

Lesson #1: Life is death. I say it out loud: “I will die one day”. So will you. So have billions of people before us. It’s completely unfathomable, but it will happen. One day, you’re 6 feet under with ants in your hair. Where I learned it: by my wife, who understands that there’s more to life than the next big job and the next big house.
Lesson #2: There is only one God. Religions are merely culture and human manifestations of a greater force. At the end of the day, all of us who believe, believe in one God. Where I learned it: since Day One.
Lesson #3: They may yell but they still love you. Sometimes, parents will make their kids lives’ hell with their yelling and insane requirements. But they truly love you. Where I learned it: in the car with my father, on our way home from basketball practice (yes, believe it or not, I actually played basketball back in the day). He had yelled far and wide about something and then suddenly uttered some words I’ll never forget: We may be angry at you but you need to know that we will always love you. Without condition.
Lesson #4: Good leaders know when to leave. The responsibility is always yours, no matter who screwed up in your organization. If the error was serious enough, you should leave with the culprit. Where I learned it: During my military service, a young soldier was killed during night training, by a passing civilian car. His sergeant had failed to put the necessary light signals in place as they walked down a road. Our battalion commander in chief first handled the crisis, and then stepped down a few weeks later in respect of the family and the system.
Lesson #5: Listen to the wind. Sometimes, you have so many (or so few) options that it’s impossible to make a decision. In those situations, let the wind take you. Just let whatever happens happen. Where I learned it: In the USA, where choices are so abundant. Not just in the supermarket aisles, but in every aspect of life.
Lesson #6: Just you and two suitcases. At least once in your life, you need to touch down on a completely foreign airport with two suitcases and not a single clue about how life will treat you in your new country. Where I learned it: When I moved to the USA in 1996 to attend college.
Lesson #7: Know your people. A good manager takes the time to understand the deeper motivations and background of the people who report to him/her. Not too deep, but deep enough to understand what truly motivates an individual to perform beyond expectations. Where I learned it: by my brilliant manager at the London-based PR firm I worked at prior to joining Opera.
Lesson #8: Standing still is also movement. Being a fighter is as much about patience as about agility and action. Where I learned it: in the military, where we spent hours standing still with full combat gear. The commander said: “The ability to stand still is as important as the ability to engage in combat.”
Lesson #9: You can spin but you can’t lie. You can select your facts to create a compelling story, but you can never lie. Where I learned it: I once lied to a journalist (in 2005) and it has tainted our relationship ever since. As a PR pro, it’s better to say no comment.
Lesson #10: You make two important decisions in life: Your partner and your career. Everything else is irrelevant. Where I learned it: In elementary school in the early 80s, by a female teacher who also urged us to rather have dessert after a meal than have a cigarette. Better fat than dead, she said. At that point, we were too young to smoke, but it was a clear message anyway.