FYI Son

1. Manners & Conduct

How a gentleman moves in the world.

1. Always say “please” and “thank you.” Good manners open doors that force never will.
2. Look people in the eye when you shake their hand. A firm grip speaks louder than words.
3. Hold doors open, not because others are weak, but because you are strong enough to serve.
4. Stand when someone enters the room who deserves respect. Small gestures carry great weight.
5. Write thank-you notes by hand. They outlast emails and show true thoughtfulness.
6. Never speak while chewing. Respect others by giving them your full words.
7. Dress properly for the occasion. Clothing is silent speech.
8. Learn people’s names and use them often. Nothing sounds sweeter to a person than their own name.
9. Be punctual. Arriving late says your time is more valuable than theirs.
10. When in doubt, err on the side of courtesy. You will rarely regret kindness.

2. Work & Ambition

The dignity of labor and the pursuit of excellence.

11. No task is beneath you if it is honest work. Do it well or not at all.
12. Show up early, stay prepared, and finish strong. Success is often persistence in disguise.
13. Never complain about the work on your plate. Many wish for the chance you take for granted.
14. Seek mastery, not applause. The world respects skill more than noise.
15. Take pride in your craft, whether great or small. How you do one thing reflects how you do all things.
16. Learn to work with both your hands and your mind. Together they make a complete man.
17. Do not envy another man’s position. Earn your own.
18. Treat every job as an opportunity to learn. A bad boss can still teach you patience.
19. Leave a place better than you found it — whether a workshop, a meeting, or a life.
20. Work is not punishment but the forge of purpose. Labor with gratitude.

3. Money & Stewardship

Wealth is a tool, not a master.

21. Spend less than you earn, and you will never be a slave.
22. Save a portion of every dollar. Even small seeds grow into shade trees.
23. Avoid debt, for it is a silent chain. If you must borrow, do so sparingly and repay swiftly.
24. Learn to distinguish between wants and needs. Few men can.
25. Invest in things that appreciate, not only in things that entertain.
26. Never gamble what you cannot afford to lose. Fortune favors prudence.
27. Carry a little cash, for not every debt is paid in credit.
28. Be generous, but not careless. True giving strengthens both the giver and receiver.
29. Remember that money reveals character — some grow arrogant, others grow humble. Be the latter.
30. Teach your children early the value of a dollar earned. It will guide them more than any allowance.

4. Health & Discipline

The body as a servant of the spirit.

31. Take care of your health before sickness takes care of you.
32. Exercise regularly, for strength is an investment in tomorrow.
33. Eat with moderation. A full stomach often dulls a sharp mind.
34. Drink water more than wine, though both have their time.
35. Rest well. A tired man stumbles in both body and judgment.
36. Avoid excess in all things. Pleasure is sweetest when it does not control you.
37. Protect your posture. How you carry yourself shapes how you feel.
38. Train your body, but also train your will. Discipline outlasts muscle.
39. Guard your tongue as you guard your health. Words can wound deeper than weapons.
40. Do not waste youth in laziness. A strong foundation in early years carries into old age.

5. Relationships & Brotherhood

How a man stands with and for others.

41. Choose your friends carefully. The company you keep shapes the man you become.
42. Be loyal in their absence. Friendship is proven when they cannot hear you.
43. Stand with your friends in hardship. A fair-weather friend is no friend at all.
44. Do not envy another’s success. Celebrate it — it means it can be done.
45. Be slow to take offense. Misunderstanding poisons faster than malice.
46. Speak the truth to your friends, even when it is hard. Better an honest wound than a flattering lie.
47. Lend your strength to the weary. A man’s worth is measured in how he helps others rise.
48. Keep your word, even in small things. Trust is fragile but priceless.
49. Be dependable. Reliability is rarer than brilliance, but far more valuable.
50. Guard your friends’ reputations as you guard your own. Loose words destroy bonds.

6. Love & Family

The heart of a man’s legacy.

51. Honor your parents. Their faults do not erase their sacrifices.
52. Choose a wife with both heart and mind. Passion fades; character remains.
53. Love your wife in actions, not just in words. Affection unseen is no affection at all.
54. Speak gently to those you love. Harshness leaves scars unseen by the eye.
55. Lead your home with strength tempered by humility. Authority without kindness becomes tyranny.
56. Be present in the lives of your children. Your time is worth more than your wealth.
57. Teach by example. They will remember what you do far longer than what you say.
58. Be patient with your family’s faults. You have faults of your own they endure.
59. Protect your home from bitterness. Grudges grow like weeds in neglected soil.
60. End each day at peace with your family. You never know which day is the last.

7. Character & Integrity

The true wealth of a man.

61. Speak the truth, even when it costs you. Integrity is the highest currency.
62. Keep promises, for they are the measure of your word.
63. Admit your mistakes without excuse. Only a fool defends what is clearly wrong.
64. Do not boast of your achievements. Let others sing your praise.
65. Resist temptation when no one is watching. That is the truest test of character.
66. Apologize quickly and sincerely. Pride destroys more bridges than war.
67. Do not compromise your values for applause. Crowds are fickle; honor endures.
68. Remember that trust, once broken, is seldom restored. Guard it fiercely.
69. A good name is more valuable than riches. Guard it as treasure.
70. Character is not built in ease, but in trial. Welcome tests as training.

8. Wisdom & Learning

The never-ending education of a man.

71. Read widely, for books are voices of the wise across centuries.
72. Ask questions more than you give answers. Curiosity keeps you young.
73. Listen more than you speak. In silence you often hear the truth.
74. Learn from older men. They carry maps drawn in scars.
75. Teach others what you know. Knowledge hoarded is soon forgotten.
76. Accept correction without anger. To be teachable is to be strong.
77. Seek truth, not mere opinion. Popularity does not equal wisdom.
78. Observe before you act. Patience often reveals what haste conceals.
79. Remember that learning never ends. When you stop growing, you start fading.
80. Value experience as much as education. One sharp lesson in life is worth ten in theory.

9. Courage & Adversity

Strength proven in storms.

81. Face fear head-on. It shrinks only when confronted.
82. Stand for what is right, even if you stand alone.
83. Endure hardship without complaint. Complaining changes nothing but weakens you.
84. When you fall, rise quickly. Defeat is not falling but refusing to rise.
85. Do not let anger master you. Control of self is the highest victory.
86. Remember that pain is temporary, but dishonor can last a lifetime.
87. Accept responsibility when things go wrong. Blame is the weapon of the coward.
88. Hold steady in storms. Calmness is a captain’s greatest tool.
89. Be the man others look to in crisis. Leadership is proven when the fire is hottest.
90. Do not fear struggle. It forges iron into steel.

10. Legacy & Perspective

The footprints you leave behind.

91. Live in such a way that your children are proud to bear your name.
92. Seek to be remembered more for your kindness than your possessions.
93. Measure wealth not in money, but in lives touched.
94. Do not waste time chasing what will not matter in fifty years.
95. Teach your son to be a better man than you. That is true success.
96. Invest in people, not only in things. Only people carry your legacy forward.
97. Live with gratitude daily. A thankful man is a content man.
98. Remember that your days are numbered. Live each as if it is a gift.
99. Strive to leave the world better than you found it.
100. And finally, my son: walk with humility, serve with honor, and love with courage. These three will make a life worth living.

Driving & Car Maintenance

Freedom carries responsibility on the road.

101. Drive as though your loved ones were in the other car. Courtesy and caution save lives.
102. Never drink and drive. A single careless choice can ruin many lives in an instant.
103. Respect speed limits. They are written in blood, not ink.
104. Keep your car in good repair. A neglected vehicle is both unsafe and dishonorable.
105. Know how to change a tire. Self-reliance begins with the basics.
106. Check your oil regularly. Engines die for lack of attention, not lack of strength.
107. Keep your gas tank above a quarter full. Preparation spares you from preventable trouble.
108. Clean your car, inside and out. Order in small things reflects order in greater things.
109. Offer rides generously, but drive responsibly. A driver holds others’ lives in his hands.
110. Remember: a car is a tool, not a throne. Pride should be in the journey, not the vehicle.