30 Cheat Codes to Beat Every Level of Life

Video games have cheat codes. Up, down, down, and suddenly you've got 30 extra lives. Well, after six decades on this planet, I've discovered that life has cheat codes, too. It's just that nobody ever hands you the list. So, I made one. I've written seven books about human behavior, raised three children, stayed married for three decades, and made,

conservatively, 10,000 mistakes. What survived are 30 cheat codes in [music] five levels: how to decide, how to deal with people, how to get things done, [music] how to work, and how to live. One might require avoiding your relatives. And the most important one, the last, let's start the game. Quick note before we start, I cover a lot in

this video, so I put all 30 cheat codes on a single page that you can download for free. The link is below. Level one decisions. Code number one, make your decisions using an ordinary Tuesday, not a fantasy Saturday. When you're choosing a house, a job, a city, any big thing, don't select it based on its best day.

Hey, that house has an amazing entertainment space you'll use four times a year. That job comes with a glamorous conference in Lisbon. That sounds great, but what will the commute feel like on a Tuesday? What will you actually be doing on the job at 2:30 on a Tuesday afternoon? What will it feel

like to cook in that kitchen on a regular Tuesday night? When I left working in the White House to work for myself, this was the standard I used. Sure, I give up a few days each year of extreme excitement, but 51 out of 52 Tuesdays would be better. Code two, for reversible decisions, decide fast. Don't

spend three weeks agonizing over something you can undo in three minutes. Some decisions [music] are one-way doors. Once you walk through, there's no easy return. Those deserve time and care, but most decisions are two-way doors. Take the class, go on a date, accept a brief gig. If it doesn't work, walk back through.