My expectations were low when I read about 30-year-old entrepreneur Ryan Allis creating a 1,285-page slideshow that dispensed the wisdom he learned from his 20s. After all, some of what I've read in the media wasn't too favorable. For example, the search title for this Business Insider piece [1] is "Ryan Allis's Life Lessons Are Inane," while ValleyWag described it as [2] "It's what The Secret sounds like after you lock yourself in a conference room with a week's supply of Soylent and a whiteboard."
So I opened the slideshow with dread, and after reading the entire thing, I thought, this extremely successful guy (who sold his company iContact [3] for $170 million) took the time out of his busy day to create a slideshow in order to share what he's learned with the world for free — how nice of him. Allis told us that it took him about 12 weeks of work to put this together over the course of 12 years.
In the first few slides, Allis says his motivation to create this slideshow is his mother, Pauline, who passed away from a brain tumor in 2012. "I wanted to document all the amazing knowledge she gave me in her 60 years," Allis says. "She inspired so many to love everybody, follow their bliss, and dream big." I found this whole project to be a really nice gesture and a touching tribute, so I'm a bit taken aback by all the snark.
I know some will find it overwhelming to go through over 1,000 slides, so I've rounded up some of my favorites and ones I think people will find the most useful. However, you should really read it in full here [4] when you find the time!
Source: Instagram user ryanallis [5]
It's Important to Write Down Your Goals
Write them down and frame them up in your room to let it sink in.
Source: Ryan Allis [6] via Scribd [7]
This Simple Venn Diagram Will Help You Figure Out Your Purpose
Source: Ryan Allis [8] via Scribd [9]
This Is What Finding Your Purpose Is All About
Source: Ryan Allis [10] via Scribd [11]
Make a Vision Board to Better Visualize Your Dreams
Source: Ryan Allis [12] via Scribd [13]
This Is Ryan Allis's Vision Board
Source: Ryan Allis [14] via Scribd [15]
Source: Ryan Allis [16] via Scribd [17]
Bucket Lists Are Also Important
Bucket lists make your dreams become a reality. (Check out ours [18] here!)
Source: Ryan Allis [19] via Scribd [20]
Source: Ryan Allis [21] via Scribd [22]
Be Picky With the People You Spend Time With
Source: Ryan Allis [23] via Scribd [24]
Here's What You Should Do to Be Happy at Your Job
Source: Ryan Allis [25] via Scribd [26]
Keep Learning
Source: Ryan Allis [27] via Scribd [28]
This Is a Really Great List
- Aspen Institute Fellows
- Empact 100
- Entrepreneurs' Organization
- Fortune Brainstorm
- Hive
- Kairos
- Nexus Youth Summit
- Renaissance Weekend
- Sandbox
- Singularity University
- Skoll World Forum
- Social Capital Markets
- Social Venture Network
- StartingBloc
- Summit Series
- Tech Stars
- Ted
- Unreasonable Institute
- WEF Young Global Leaders
- White House Fellows
- Y Combinator
- Young Entrepreneur Council
- Young Presidents' Organization
Source: Ryan Allis [29] via Scribd [30]
This Is Why Finding a Mentor Is So Important
Source: Ryan Allis [31] via Scribd [32]
We Often Forget About the Importance of a Mentor
Source: Ryan Allis [33] via Scribd [34]
A Great Way to Get a Response From a Potential Mentor
Source: Ryan Allis [35] via Scribd [36]
Source: Ryan Allis [37] via Scribd [38]
Source: Ryan Allis [39] via Scribd [40]
The Key Is to Be Kind and Genuine When Making Connections
Source: Ryan Allis [41] via Scribd [42]
Source: Ryan Allis [43] via Scribd [44]
Source: Ryan Allis [45] via Scribd [46]
Source: Ryan Allis [47] via Scribd [48]
Source: Ryan Allis [49] via Scribd [50]
Source: Ryan Allis [51] via Scribd [52]
This Is Why You Should Embrace Struggle
Source: Ryan Allis [53] via Scribd [54]
You Can Choose to Be Happy
Source: Ryan Allis [55] via Scribd [56]
Source: Ryan Allis [57] via Scribd [58]
Source: Ryan Allis [59] via Scribd [60]
Source: Ryan Allis [61] via Scribd [62]
Source: Ryan Allis [63] via Scribd [64]
Source: Ryan Allis [65] via Scribd [66]
Source: Ryan Allis [67] via Scribd [68]
Source: Ryan Allis [69] via Scribd [70]
Source: Ryan Allis [71] via Scribd [72]
Source: Ryan Allis [73] via Scribd [74]
Source: Ryan Allis [75] via Scribd [76]
Source: Ryan Allis [77] via Scribd [78]
Source: Ryan Allis [79] via Scribd [80]
Source: Ryan Allis [81] via Scribd [82]
Source: Ryan Allis [83] via Scribd [84]
Source: Ryan Allis [85] via Scribd [86]
Good Habits Are Important
Source: Ryan Allis [87] via Scribd [88]
Source: Ryan Allis [89] via Scribd [90]
Source: Ryan Allis [91] via Scribd [92]
Source: Ryan Allis [93] via Scribd [94]
Source: Ryan Allis [95] via Scribd [96]
Source: Ryan Allis [97] via Scribd [98]
Source: Ryan Allis [99] via Scribd [100]
Source: Ryan Allis [101] via Scribd [102]
Source: Ryan Allis [103] via Scribd [104]
Source: Ryan Allis [105] via Scribd [106]
The Three Key Lessons About Money
Source: Ryan Allis [107] via Scribd [108]
Source: Ryan Allis [109] via Scribd [110]
Source: Ryan Allis [111] via Scribd [112]
Source: Ryan Allis [113] via Scribd [114]
The Secret to Better Relationships
Allis also mentions that you should always be playful, give neck massages, and never stop buying flowers.
Source: Ryan Allis [115] via Scribd [116]
Don't Ignore Your Instincts
Source: Ryan Allis [117] via Scribd [118]
Source: Ryan Allis [119] via Scribd [120]
Source: Ryan Allis [121] via Scribd [122]
Source: Ryan Allis [123] via Scribd [124]
Source: Ryan Allis [125] via Scribd [126]
Don't miss out on great travel experiences [127].
Source: Ryan Allis [128] via Scribd [129]
Source: Ryan Allis [130] via Scribd [131]
Source: Ryan Allis [132] via Scribd [133]
These slides are just the tip of the iceberg; check out the whole presentation here [134].
Source: Ryan Allis [135] via Scribd [136]