A running thread of bad ways to do things so I can avoid them:

A bad way to start writing online:

• Publish with ego
• Ignore feedback
• Assume you know what readers want
• Assume you know what to write about
• Spend months writing on your own blog into the void

A bad way to be productive:

• Get a really poor night's sleep
• Work on multiple tasks at once
• Save your hardest tasks for last
• Keep twitter up in the background
• Switch between projects constantly

A bad way to make progress:

• Expect results to be instant
• Start at an unsustainable pace
• Think you know more than you do
• Give up when you meet resistance
• Switch between projects constantly

A bad way to learn new things:

• Ignore the fundamentals
• Don't waste your time reading
• Study the latest tips and tricks
• Build shallow, broad knowledge
• Listen to all the newest books that come out
• Become a master of planning but skip execution

A bad way to be happy:

• Desire material possessions
• Blame external circumstances constantly
• Consume plenty of sugar, alcohol, and news
• Compare yourself to others as much as possible
• Think that once you get to a certain spot, you'll be happy

A bad way to build wealth (h/t @naval)

• Separate work and life
• Work harder, not smarter
• Exchange time for money
• Build broad, shallow knowledge
• Optimize for speed over direction
• Shed all equity and accountability
• Inflate your lifestyle and play status games

A bad way to grow exponentially:

• Expect results in months, not years
• Choose the easiest short-term path
• Jump quickly from project to project
• Optimize for pay over independence
• Build shallow, transactional relationships