Today is my 35th birthday. I’m not one for personal ceremony or predicting turning points. But I do believe in trying to be a better person every year. And I’ve found that making public promises helps me keep them.
So I’d like to promise myself three things this year.
- I will be a more reliable friend (I don’t always do what I say I’m going to do and that’s just not cool).
- I will be more social (I tend to be a homebody too much of the time).
- I will smile more (for a variety of reasons).
So if you see me around, keep me honest and remind me. Thanks!
Tim Chilcott
on 07 Apr 09Happy Birthday Jason
Luis
on 07 Apr 09Happy birthday, dude.
nickd
on 07 Apr 09hbd!
Scott Perez
on 07 Apr 09You look like your in your 20’s. Your healthy lifestyle is working.
Dave Tufts
on 07 Apr 09Happy Birthday – You can also run for President of the United States.
Rick Roberts
on 07 Apr 09Happy birthday! As for being a homebody, that doesn’t necessarily make you not a better person. Not implying that you are a natural introvert and nothing wrong with it if you were, but check out Living Introverted. It has helped me embrace my own inner introvert.
Rick in Atlanta :)
Harry
on 07 Apr 09Happy Birthday from the UK!
JF
on 07 Apr 09As for being a homebody, that doesn’t necessarily make you not a better person. Not implying that you are a natural introvert and nothing wrong with it if you were…
You’re right. It really shouldn’t fit under the “be a better person” cause there’s nothing wrong with it. Although I want to push myself to get out a bit more. So it’s more of a promise than a “correction.”
fffrwrd
on 07 Apr 09happy b’day! today is my mother’s birthday, and my best friend’s so it is a good day for me and hopefuly for you too
Sean
on 07 Apr 09Happy Birthday from Knoxville!
Jeff Mackey
on 07 Apr 09Happy Birthday, Jason.
Here’s to another year of success and happiness!
Cheers, Jeff
Tomas
on 07 Apr 09Off topic, but still relevant. I saw Seth Rogen on The Daily Show last night.
If you squint, he looks like you Jason. Proof.
Happy Birthday also.
Derek
on 07 Apr 09Happy Birthday, I like your idea of public promises, seems like a much better Idea than the ever present new years resolutions. Somehow I think Birthday resolutions would be easier to keep.
Michael
on 07 Apr 09Happy Birthday Jason. You’re a good guy and I hope you succeed in improving yourself a little more.
nelson
on 07 Apr 09For 35 you’ve done an awful lot. I just turned 36 and I am a wreck. You do need to smile more though… you have beautiful teeth!
Dave Rutledge
on 07 Apr 09Sounds like it’s time for a St. Louis visit. I think that’d help with #1 and #2, and I suppose, possibly #3.
John Phillips
on 07 Apr 09Happy Birthday Jason.
Appwerks.
on 07 Apr 09Happy (mutual) birthday Jason. Great promises to make and even better to keep.
8500
on 07 Apr 09I’m turning 35 in a couple of months and I could follow each of these promises myself.
Of course the cynic in me immediately thought of that Wilco song:
How to fight loneliness Smile all the time Shine your teeth to meaningless And sharpen them with lies
Terry Sutton
on 07 Apr 09For the sake of curiosity – please finish this sentence:
Turning 35 is way (better/worse) than turning 35 because _.
Sean C.
on 07 Apr 09Happy birthday!
Sean I
on 07 Apr 09Happy birthday!
One thing that may help with items (2) and (3):
Whenever you’re out and about, be engaging to other people. For example: ask “how’s it goin?” to the barista at the coffee shop or the cashier at the convenience store. It’s a good habit, it’s easy to do, and it makes a world of difference :)
Nick Campbell
on 07 Apr 09Happy Birthday Jason. Thanks for another great year of practical inspiration.
Rank Higher, Make Money!
on 07 Apr 09Happy Birthday!
Jason Z
on 07 Apr 09Happy birthday, Jason! Hope you have a great day!
Matt Adams
on 07 Apr 09Oddly enough, today is also my birthday and I’m turning 35, as well! So, first, happy birthday and, second, great list – one I will have to try to live by, too. Thanks for the inspiration!
Denis Parashy
on 07 Apr 09Happy birthday, Jason. Have fun.
charly
on 07 Apr 09Happy Birthday Jason, I turned 31 one month ago and will set will follow each of these promise too. Tough I enjoy being introvert.
Thiru
on 07 Apr 09Wish you mannnny more happy returns of the day!
indi
on 07 Apr 09hb2u, hb2u, hbdJ, hb2u … amm!!!!
And I mean that :-)
Chris
on 07 Apr 09Happy Birthday, Jason.
Brian Weber
on 07 Apr 09Happy Birthday Jason! Today happens to be the 2 year birthday of something very important to me… my business. You’ve inspired me to do the same and make some public goals for the year. Cheers to a new year.
Stacy
on 07 Apr 09Wow! This is so funny because it’s my birthday too! I’m much older though. Now I think I understand you Jason lol
Dustin
on 07 Apr 09I love goals, but keep them measurable dude. Otherwise, there is no measure of success.
Measured results around these types of goals usually sound lame (e.g. be sure to smile at 1 random person per day, go out with friends once per month) but I think it works to get done what you want to get done.
Happy birthday!
Matt Brown
on 07 Apr 09I’m 33 and about to launch my first SaaS business. Your theories and strategies have guided me the last 3 years. Thanks for that and happy birthday.
Richard
on 07 Apr 09Hey Jason,
Just embrace it.
As a man, as you get older you slowly become a cantankerous old git.
You can try but you won’t succeed!!
Eliot
on 07 Apr 09Happy Birthday!
One way to help with #1 is to commit to less. Don’t be afraid to say no. I figure my friends will more appreciative of me only committing to things I really can do than committing to everything and only delivering half. Wait, haven’t I read that on this blog before?
Sandeep Sood
on 07 Apr 09JF – happy birthday and thank you for changing the way I work.
Stephan
on 07 Apr 09Mine is tomorrow and is the big 3-0. Yikes.
Dylan
on 07 Apr 09Congratulations on turning 35 Jason – many don’t make it that far. Re: doing what you say you’ll do…I find that a key part of getting that right is not agreeing to do too much. i.e. get used to saying “I’d love to…but I need to be honest and tell you I just don’t have the time at the moment” etc. I find this has the dual effect of a) allowing me to honour what agreements I DO make and b) after time people only ask me to do things when they really really want me to. Anyways – happy birthday :)
Andrew Cornett
on 07 Apr 09:)
Jesse Vlasveld
on 07 Apr 09Happy Birthday Jason.
James T
on 07 Apr 09Hopefully your promises aren’t a sign that you’re experiencing a quarter-life crisis. Here’s hoping that the next 105 or so are even better! Happy birthday, Jason!
-JT
Vince LaVecchia
on 08 Apr 09Hit that number last year, congrats on your success thus far.
I still wish I was as energetic as I was at 16, albeit with the level of perspective and knowledge I have today. I also agree we all need to be better friends… but how many is too many?
kadavy
on 08 Apr 09Happy Birthday, Jason!
You can breathe easily that you’ve accomplished quite a bit by this tender age. I’m turning 30 in a month and I’m certainly reviewing my “done” list.
When you feel like being social, I’ll gladly buy you a beer in any Wicker Park watering hole (such as Inner Town).
Lisa DiMona
on 08 Apr 09Happy Birthday, Jason! Lots of great things in store, I’m sure of it. And smiling more can only do you good!
Happy
on 08 Apr 09Happy Birthday Jason!
Jesus A. Domingo
on 08 Apr 09Happy Birthday, Jason!
coward
on 08 Apr 09Sounds like Jason is missing some women in his life. Use highrise to keep track of them, use backpack to focus on the ones you like, campfire to communicate, and basecamp milestones to keep track of when to hit first base, second base, then all the way home. You have all the tools you need to make year 35 a great one!!
Maurus
on 08 Apr 09Happy Birthday Jason! Thanks for everything!! 37signals rocks! :-)
Rajarajan
on 08 Apr 09Happy birthday Jason! Wish you a wonderful year and a happy life
djd
on 08 Apr 09Happy Birthday Jason.
Dan
on 08 Apr 09You could have added a smiley after #3
Bijou
on 08 Apr 09Happy Bday from India
Martial
on 08 Apr 09Happy 36th year! (as my dad would say)
And, on promises, you get what you measure as one of my gurus says. All three of yours are measureable: keep us posted on your success!
Sebastian Dadał
on 08 Apr 09Happy birthday Jason, good luck in everything you do.
Fred Brunel
on 09 Apr 09Happy birthday from Montreal, Canada.
Nicholas
on 09 Apr 09Happy 35, I too turn 35 this year… feels the same though. It’s always good to strive to be a better person.
rick stratton
on 09 Apr 09Welcome to 35.
PierreSmack
on 09 Apr 09If I see you around, I’ll try to break my promises, sulk in the corner, and frown. Just for contrast.
Happy birthday
Bjoern Paschen
on 11 Apr 09Oh, I missed it. Happy Birthday. Better late than never. :)
This discussion is closed.