10 Things I Wish I Knew a Decade Ago

2015 feels like ages ago… yet just yesterday. Looking back ten years, I realize I was chasing the wrong things—just like so many of us do.

I stressed over the wrong people. Especially bosses.
I waited for the “perfect time” that never came.
I worked hard at becoming more and more efficient. So that I could do more of the things I had no passion for.
Then one day, I woke up and realized… I’ve been doing this all wrong.
If this sounds at all familiar, I don’t want it to take you 10 years to realize.

So here are 10 things I wish I knew 10 years ago—lessons that would’ve saved me time, stress, and a whole lot of unnecessary mistakes.

1. Momentum beats motivation

This is a secret weapon that gives you superpowers.
Most people wait to “feel ready.” But motivation doesn’t come first—movement does.
Action creates energy. Energy creates momentum. And momentum keeps you going long after motivation fades.
Think of it like headlights at night: you don’t need to see the whole road, just the next 20 feet. Keep moving. The path unfolds as you go.

“Keep putting one foot in front of the other in the direction you want to go” – Michele Collison

2. Nobody is thinking about you as much as you think

When we’re young we worry so much about what others think.
In our mid-life years, we kinda stop caring.
And then we realize… everyone was wrapped up in their own world, not analyzing ours.
Most people are too focused on themselves to be analyzing your every move. That embarrassing thing you did? They forgot it in 10 minutes.

You’re the main character in your own story—but in everyone else’s story, you’re just an extra. Play free.

3. Happiness = subtracting, not adding

We’re taught that happiness comes from adding more:

• More money
• More efficiency
• More stuff

But the real secret is subtraction.

Less stress = so much more joy.
Less toxic people = a lot more peace.
Less obligations = more time and freedom.

Wealth isn’t always about accumulation. Sometimes it’s about cutting what drains you—bad habits, one-sided relationships, pointless commitments.

Ask yourself: What can I subtract right now that would instantly make life lighter?

4. The people you’re trying to impress won’t be there when it matters

How often do we chase approval instead of purpose?
We spend energy worrying about strangers on the internet, chasing validation from people we don’t even respect, using our time to show off instead of show up.
But here’s the truth: the ones who actually matter don’t need you to prove anything.
Next time you find yourself talking with someone, ask: Am I trying to connect, or am I trying to impress?

Choose connection. Funny enough, that’s when people like you most.

5. Mastering your mornings is life’s cheat code

Wealth loves structure. Energy, clarity, and creation are all amplified by how you start your day.
It’s not about a complicated routine—it’s about priority.
For me, the game-changer was this: for two hours every morning, often before the rest of the household is awake, I work on the most important thing first.

Not email. Not scrolling. Not busywork.
But the ONE thing that will move the needle most.

Do this for a year, and it’s impossible not to change your life.

6. The things you can’t “hack” – Sleep, Nutrition, and Exercise

There is no gadget or supplement that can replace the basics.

• Sleep 7–8 hours.
• Eat clean.
• Move your body.
• Drink water.

That’s it. The foundation of wealth. Because without energy, no opportunity matters.

Forget the shortcuts. The basics are the ultimate hack.

7. The conversations you avoid become the obstacles you face

Most stuck situations come from one avoided conversation:

• A relationship you know isn’t right.
• A job where you’re underpaid.
• A boundary you’re afraid to set.

Avoiding discomfort doesn’t remove the problem—it multiplies it.

Your growth is almost always on the other side of that one conversation.

8. The “perfect time” is a myth

It may look like it to you, but the truth is that nobody feels ready. EVER.
I wasn’t ready to move to yet another country, lean 100% into MindShift Theory or run a networking group. But I did it anyway.
And here’s the secret: good beats perfect. Perfect never gets done.

Start before you’re ready. That’s how wealth and opportunity are built.

9. Boredom is a superpower

Have you noticed how your best ideas don’t come when you’re busy. They come when you’re still.
That “aha” moment in the shower or on your drive home or when you sit down to enjoy that cup of tea? It’s because your mind finally had space.
If you want creativity, give yourself silence. Skip the podcast, the scroll, the constant noise.

Sit with your thoughts. Let your mind breathe. That’s where wealth-creating ideas are born.

10. Life gets better when you stop taking it so seriously

5 years from now, a lot of what feels critical today won’t even register. Some of your hardest seasons will eventually become your funniest stories.
The truth? We’re all dying, but how many of us are truly living?

So laugh more. Play more. Take chances. Wealth isn’t just about money—it’s about living a life that feels full.

Your Turn

Which of these 10 lessons hit hardest for you?
Drop a comment, send a message, or journal it out—but don’t just read. Reflect.
Because the next decade of your life can look completely different if you stop chasing what doesn’t matter and start building what does.

Until next week—
start now, don’t wait.

Michele