June 2nd, 2008 @ 7:56 am by: Marc
50 Things Everyone Should Know
How To Do
Self-reliance is a vital key to living a healthy, productive life. To be self-reliant one must master a basic set of skills, more or less making them a jack of all trades. Contrary to what you may have learned in school, a jack of all trades is far more equipped to deal with life than a specialized master of only one.
While not totally comprehensive
1. Build a Fire – Fire produces heat and light, two basic necessities for living. At some point in your life this knowledge may be vital.
2. Operate a Computer – Fundamental computer knowledge is essential these days. Please, help those in need.
3. Use Google Effectively – Google knows everything. If you’re having trouble finding something with Google, it’s you that needs help.
- Google Guide
- Google Advanced Search Operators
- Google Web Search Features
- 20 Tips for More Efficient Google Searches
4. Perform CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver – Someday it may be your wife, husband, son or daughter that needs help.
- Learn CPR
- How To Perform Adult CPR (video)
- How CPR Works
- How to Perform the Heimlich Maneuver (video)
5. Drive a Manual Transmission Vehicle – There will come a time when you’ll be stuck without this knowledge.
- How To Drive a Stick Shift Instructional Movie (video)
- Learn to Drive a Stick Shift
- Learn to Drive a Car with Manual Transmission
6. Do Basic Cooking – If you can’t cook your own steak and eggs, you probably aren’t going to make it.
7. Tell a Story that Captivates People’s Attention – If you can’t captivate their attention, you should probably just save your breath.
8. Win or Avoid a Fistfight – Either way, you win.
- How To Actually Win a Fistfight
- How To Win a Fistfight (video)
- How To Win a Street Fight
- How To Avoid Confrontations Like a Samurai Warrior
9. Deliver Bad News – Somebody has got to do it. Unfortunately, someday that person will be you.
- How To Deliver Bad News in Writing
- How to Deliver Bad News to a Customer
- Good Ways to Deliver Bad News
10. Change a Tire – Because tires have air in them, and things with air in them eventually pop.
11. Handle a Job Interview – I promise, sweating yourself into a nervous panic won’t land you the job.
- The 25 Most Difficult Questions in a Job Interview
- Job Interview Questions and Answers
- How to Handle Your Job Interviews Successfully
- 10 Sticky Job Interview Situations and How to Handle Them
12. Manage Time – Not doing so is called wasting time, which is okay sometimes, but not all the time.
- How To Manage Time and Maximize Effectiveness
- Managing Your Time
- 10 tips for time management in a multitasking world
- Time Management Tips and Exercises
13. Speed Read – Sometimes you just need the basic gist, and you needed it 5 minutes ago.
14. Remember Names – Do you like when someone tries to get your attention by screaming “hey you”?
15. Relocate Living Spaces – Relocating is always a little tougher than you originally imagined.
16. Travel Light – Bring only the necessities. It’s the cheaper, easier, smarter thing to do.
17. Handle the Police – Because jail isn’t fun… and neither is Bubba.
- What to Do If You’re Stopped by the Police
- How To Handle the Cops if They Knock on Your Door
- How To Handle the Police
18. Give Driving Directions – Nobody likes driving around in circles. Get this one right the first time.
- How To Give a Complete Stranger Driving Directions
- How To Give Directions
- Giving Good Driving Directions
19. Perform Basic First Aid – You don’t have to be a doctor, or genius, to properly dress a wound.
20. Swim – 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water. Learning to swim might be a good idea.
21. Parallel Park – Parallel parking is a requirement on most standard driver’s license driving tests, yet so many people have no clue how to do it. How could this be?
22. Recognize Personal Alcohol Limits – Otherwise you may wind up like this charming fellow.
23. Select Good Produce – Rotten fruits and vegetables can be an evil tease and an awful surprise.
- Produce Primer: Selecting the Best
- Tips on Choosing Produce and Keeping it Fresh
- Buying Fresh Vegetables
24. Handle a Hammer, Axe or Handsaw – Carpenters are not the only ones who need tools. Everyone should have a basic understanding of basic hand tools.
25. Make a Simple Budget – Being in debt is not fun. A simple budget is the key.
26. Speak at Least Two Common Languages – Only about 25% of the world’s population speaks English. It would be nice if you could communicate with at least some of the remaining 75%.
- Free Online Language Courses
- Learn a Foreign Language Online Free
- Language Learning with Rosetta Stone
27. Do Push-Ups and Sit-Ups Properly – Improper push-ups and sit-ups do nothing but hurt your body and waste your time.
- How To Do a Proper Push-Up
- Chris Comfort’s Push-Up Workout (video)
- 19 Variations for a Push-Up (video)
- How To Do Sit-Ups (video)
- How To Do an Abdominal Crunch (video)
28. Give a Compliment – It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give someone, and it’s free.
- How To Give a Good Compliment
- 5 Kick-Ass Reasons to Give a Genuine Compliment
- How To Give a Killer Compliment
- 10 Best Compliments a Man Can Give a Woman
29. Negotiate – The better deal is only a question or two away.
30. Listen Carefully to Others – The more you listen and the less you talk, the more you will learn and the less you will miss.
- Tips on Effective Listening
- Listening Tips for the Classroom Environment
- Techniques for Active Listening
31. Recite Basic Geography – If you don’t know where anything is outside of your own little bubble, most people will assume (and they are probably correct) that you don’t know too much at all.
32. Paint a Room – The true cost of painting is 90% labor. For simple painting jobs it makes no sense to pay someone 9 times what it would cost you to do it yourself.
33. Make a Short, Informative Public Speech – At the next company meeting if your boss asks you to explain what you’ve been working on over the last month, a short, clear, informative response is surely your best bet. “Duhhh…” will not cut it.
- How To Conquer the Public Speaking Fear
- Better Public Speaking and Presentation
- How To Write an Informative Speech
34. Smile for the Camera – People that absolutely refuse to smile for the camera suck!
35. Flirt Without Looking Ridiculous – There is a fine line between successful flirting and utter disaster. If you try too hard, you lose. If you don’t try hard enough, you lose.
- Guide to Flirting
- Flirt Without Frightening
- The Rules of Flirtation
- The Science of Romance: Why We Flirt
36. Take Useful Notes – Because useless notes are useless, and not taking notes is a recipe for failure.
37. Be a Respectful House Guest – Otherwise you will be staying in a lot of hotels over the years.
- 10 Ways to Be and Excellent House Guest
- How To Be a Good House Guest
- Have A Pleasant Visit By Following A Few House Rules
38. Make a Good First Impression – Aristotle once said, “well begun is half done.”
- How To Make those First Impressions Count
- Making a Great First Impression
- Tips for Making a Good First Impression
39. Navigate with a Map and Compass – What happens when the GPS craps out and you’re in the middle of nowhere?
40. Sew a Button onto Clothing – It sure is cheaper than buying a new shirt.
41. Hook Up a Basic Home Theater System – This isn’t rocket science. Paying someone to do this shows sheer laziness.
42. Type – Learning to type could save you days worth of time over the course of your lifetime.
- Online Typing Lessons for Everyone
- Free Typing Lessons for the Standard QWERTY Keyboard
- Free Touch Typing Program
43. Protect Personal Identity Information – Personal identity theft is not fun unless you are the thief. Don’t be careless.
44. Implement Basic Computer Security Best Practices – You don’t have to be a computer science major to understand the fundamentals of creating complex passwords and using firewalls. Doing so will surely save you a lot of grief someday.
- 4 Steps to Protect Your Computer
- Security Basics for Home Computers
- SANS Basic Computer Security Whitepapers
45. Detect a Lie – People will lie to you. It’s a sad fact of life.
46. End a Date Politely Without Making Promises – There is no excuse for making promises you do not intend to keep. There is also no reason why you should have to make a decision on the spot about someone you hardly know.
47. Remove a Stain – Once again, it’s far cheaper than buying a new one.
48. Keep a Clean House – A clean house is the foundation for a clean, organized lifestyle.
- The Keep-It-Clean Plan
- Keeping a Stress-Free, Clean House
- How To Keep Your House Clean in 20 Minutes a Day
49. Hold a Baby – Trust me, injuring a baby is not what you want to do.
50. Jump Start a Car – It sure beats walking or paying for a tow truck.
Check out these books for more ideas on pertinent life skills:
- 3,684 Things You Should Have Learned but Probably Didn’t
- The New York Times Guide to Essential Knowledge
- The Experts’ Guide to 100 Things Everyone Should Know How to Do
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122 Comments
June 2nd, 2008 at 10:11 am
COOL! Thanks.
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:16 am
As a teacher I am successful if I have taught my kiddos:
Problem solving
When to question what is going on around them
How to research the answer (Similar to your Google tip)
Stand up for what is right
See criticism as an opportunity from growth
Show and tell people you love them
Did you have balance a check book on your list?
June 2nd, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Thanks much for the link love. Btw, I just subscribed.
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Wow! This is a great resource list. I’m going to dive into these and learn a few things! Isn’t it funny how using Google effectively is included today with things like building a fire, cooking, and holding a baby? I rely on Google daily so it is a must. Great post!
June 2nd, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Great list! Just realized I have so much to learn..
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:59 pm
What a lovely list. I have some work to do.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Great list of resources! I need to learn a few things, it seems. Thanks for the link!
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Very Good, even at 60 there’s something more to learn….
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Basic statistics is another one to add to the list. I have heard many times that the best engineers are the ones that can quickly and accurately estimate the answer. If you can get close you know if it is worth the effort of solving the problem.
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:18 pm
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June 2nd, 2008 at 11:56 pm
@All:
I’m sure this list could hit 500 if we really thought hard enough.
Thanks for all the kind words and additional tips!
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:01 am
These things are GREAT! I totally agree. Everyone should know how to do these things and so much more. Marc is so right. The list could grow because there are so many basic life skills to learn. There should be a class for this in our public schools. From first grade all the way through to graduation where our kids are taught age appropriate life skills so when they go into the world they are prepared. I would expand on number 8 though. Women sometimes can’t win or avoid a fight, especially if they are being attacked so learning how to purchase and use some sort of self defense product would be helpful. A lot of women don’t even know products like this are available to the average citizen. Good article. I especially appreciate the way you not only gave us the life skill but links to where it is taught. Great job!
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:35 am
[…] 50 Things Everyone Should Know How To Do | Marc and Angel Hack Life WOW! A fabulous list of life ‘howto’s and videos and text to help you do them. E.g. remove a stain, jump start a car, paint a room, remember names, speed read, travel light, handle a job interview, hold a baby, deliver bad news, build a fire, perform cpr (tags: advice article blog communication cook education fun good tips interesting learning useful skills lifehacks howto) […]
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:17 pm
I agree with the teacher who inquired about checkbook balancing. So many young people today do not know how to manage their finances at all. Finance balancing and avoiding bad credit practices should definitely be on the list.
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:22 pm
actually, the Heimlich Maneuver is incredibly dangerous and liable to cause more harm. there are much safer ways to assist a choking person. stjohn.org.au has fact sheets on how to properly assist a person with an obstructed airway.
June 4th, 2008 at 9:11 am
What a great list! I need help with remembering people’s names, negotiating, and speed reading. I could probably use this whole list, but I’ll be starting in these categories first.
I’m great at remembering people’s faces, but names are much harder. I admit I don’t take enough time to really imprint them on my brain. I really should because when that person I met last week stumbles into me, I feel bad that they know my name and I don’t know theirs. It’s a bad habit that I must break.
June 4th, 2008 at 9:58 am
@Debbie:
I completely agree with your point on female self-defense. It’s important. This list was gender neutral though, so I wanted to hit points that applied to both men and women.
@Dat:
Managing personal finances is certainly an important skill. I did include the act of creating a budget which sort of satisfies the issue.
@Monica:
Interesting information. I’ll have to look into this.
@Karl:
Remembering a person’s name is the key to cultivating new relationships. A person’s name is music to their ears, especially coming from someone they don’t know all that well. As always, thanks for keeping the conversation going.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Great list of things that one must be able to do or have in life. It is not hard to decipher everything right, but people do not wish to leave their comfort zones to really learn. It is a nice compilation and crisply told.
God bless ya.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Excellent! This is the list of information our children should learn in school — or at home! Wish I had had this list when I was 18 years old! Wow!
June 4th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Aww, darn, and the only thing on this list I don’t know how to do is start a fire!
… actually, I don’t know how to do most of these, but the most useful one seems to be how to effectively tell a story. I’ll get right on to that.
Great idea for a list, btw, I haven’t seen something like this anywhere else!
June 4th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
This is fabulous, guys! Wow. It’s smart, thoughtful, and totally HELPFUL. Thank you!
June 5th, 2008 at 12:11 am
this is a spot on accurate list, good job
June 6th, 2008 at 4:18 am
51: ride a bicycle
June 7th, 2008 at 7:42 am
Wow, you opened my eyes! What do we need to know a lot
Seriously I really enjoyed my stay…. will be back!!
Keep up the good work….o yes riding a bike is definitely a requirement. I study in Amsterdam for a year and a bike is a survival necessity here. Suicidal at home, survival here.. funny world!
June 7th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Excellent List! It’s amazing how many people cannot perform many of these fundamental tasks. I am thankful to have been brought up knowing how to do many of these things…but there is always more to learn! I will be referencing this page when I have my own children
‘The Fundamentals of Life Training Checklist’! Oh, and I also think that learning how to properly read/write should be on there. It’s amazing how many people go through life still not knowing how to do this…
June 7th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
I always give out-of-towners the wrong directions, I figure they want to explore the city.
June 7th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Oh btw, I don’t send them far in the wrong direction. and i dont send them in the completely opposite direction. And in all honesty i’m just kidding. I’m always wearing my earbuds as a sign: ‘don’t talk to me.’ If people try to talk to me anyway, i say ‘dont talk to me’ and glare at them. Waste someone else’s time, not mine.
June 7th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
[…] Continual Learner 50 Things Everyone Should Know How To Do […]
June 7th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
I agree with the “How to start a fire”. My mother in law told me a story once that my brother in law and a friend of his tried to start a fire for something, probably a camping trip, and no matter what they did they couldn’t get one going. So maybe this is something I should show him. LOL
June 7th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
One to add is at least once have something delivered in a transfer truck your your self i suggest a safe.
June 9th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
This is the best compilation of very useful life-long tips I have come across. I call it “one-stop learning shop” Thanks.
June 10th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Thank you Marc for putting together such a wonderful list of useful knowledge. Your time and effort will make a positive difference to many who take the time to explore these resources.
I came to your site via StumbleUpon and I am glad to find you.
I write about self-development, living with purpose and about progressive ideas to empower.
Have a great week,
Joseph
http://www.ExploreLifeBlog.com
http://www.peace-together.com
June 10th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Such a useful post.. loved it! thanx alot!
June 10th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
How to hold a baby? How to flirt without looking stupid? How on your list of great things to do did you fail to mention the most important? Where are your parenting tips? Childcare? Teaching? Love? Relationships? Is this a male list of what is important in life? It certainly seems that way, I am not saying its not a good list its just patriarchal one.
June 10th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
I would like to add banking online. With the way things are evolving, that is a must for young people.
June 11th, 2008 at 6:37 am
Hmmmm might be gender neutral, but definitely not geographically neutral. Seems to me it’s more important to learn to ride ánd repair a bycicle than anything with car, it’s more important to learn to grow your own veggies than to select them, how to prevent pregnancy is definitely missing, purify drinking water, lose the word ‘driving’ in the directions, etc. etc. And who needs a home theatre?
June 11th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Why is learning how to use google above learning CPR?
June 11th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
An other link in my bookmarks - thx
June 11th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
I think this is possibly the best “list of things” that has ever been posted on the internet
June 11th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
Fabulous list! I just found out I’m better off than I thought I was
June 12th, 2008 at 8:21 am
@All:
Thanks for keeping the conversation going. For those who have had questions on my rationale behind the order of the 50 things listed, this list is not put together in any particular order, nor is it meant to be completely comprehensive. Feel free to leave further additions of things people should know in the comments. I can see some of you have already.
As for the questions regarding the importance of putting together a home theater system… There is no doubt that CPR, first aid, etc. are more important. However, I feel that in the 21st century it is quite important to have a basic understand of electronic components. Everyone should feel confident and be able to figure this kind of stuff out.
June 13th, 2008 at 11:42 am
that is a great list. every adult should study it
June 13th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Nice list! How about listing the necessity of understanding the basics of html and blogging? (Could be that these are ubiquitous now, though)
June 14th, 2008 at 11:06 am
[…] and Angel shared a list of 50 things everyone should know how to do. I think I have about half the list covered, so I’ve got some work to […]
June 16th, 2008 at 7:01 am
[…] out how to do things on your own, rather than paying an expert. This year I’ve managed to rescue a toy from the bottom of our […]
June 18th, 2008 at 4:11 am
I too really enjoyed your list. I do agree with one comment above… Finding pure water or knowing how to purify water is important. I also feel basic knowledge of how to make electricity may be important for the future. 2 cents worth.
June 18th, 2008 at 5:31 am
You rule, man! This article is the best thing that happened to me today. Keep up the good work! =]
June 18th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Found the list to be interesting but how to tie a tie isn’t on there! No one ever seems to know how to do that and clip ons can only get you so far in life.
June 18th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
[…] at Marc and Angel Hack Life says his list of “50 things everyone should know how to do” is far from inclusive. Oh dear, because there are a number of things on the list of 50 that we […]
June 18th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
While I appreciate trying to get people to learn how to drive standard transmission vehicles and parallel park, let’s not forget the basics:
1. Learn how to drive, perhaps courteously? I know, I know, common courtesy is dead, isn’t it? (I didn’t get that memo I guess.)
2. Master the four way stop sign…. So many can’t do it. I hate when you look at me and question who’s going when it’s YOUR turn.
3. Learn how to park your giant SUV/truck in ONE parking spot. See how big the spots are? Yes, it honestly only takes one. Not one and a half, not two, ONE.
Just a couple of my driving pet peeves, the basics you and I take for granted that it seems SO many people can’t do… (At least in the lovely state I live in.)
Oh, and besides, if you can’t drive a manual, you can’t steal either of my cars.
So I think we should keep those skills to a minimum, you can get almost anything in an automatic these days. (Except for a beautiful S2000 like the one I’ve got!)
June 19th, 2008 at 3:36 am
I think an addendum to remembering people’s names could be to develop a sense of humor so that, when you get to the age where remembering even your own name is a problem, you will be able to admit that you don’t know a name and make it a positive situation. But then if you’ve mastered numbers 7, 9, and 30 that will take care of itself.
Great job with the list. Thanks.
June 19th, 2008 at 6:01 am
Awesome site.. helps with alot of lifes modern and not so modern challenges.
June 19th, 2008 at 6:17 am
Marc,
This is an incredible list. I am grateful to have found it. You have great content and I will definitely be referring my readers to this blog. I like the fact that you put in a lot of time and effort to offer value to your readers. That is inspiring.
The other lesson I would add to your list is the capacity to sell or persuade others because in life everything is about selling. Those who have that capacity always get a competitive edge. Thanks again.
June 20th, 2008 at 6:10 am
Wow. This just made the top of my regularly visited sites list. Great list. Great Job. We should teaching our college kids stuff this too. This is truly as ‘essentials’ list. It is amazing at how much of this we have forgotten as adults. Please keep it up.
June 23rd, 2008 at 9:58 am
@All:
Once again, thanks for the kind words and insightful additions to my list. There really is an extensive list of things we should all know how to do. Thanks for pointing more of them out.
June 26th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
You can learn all of these in the boy scouts
…except the personal alcohol limits…depends on your group.
June 26th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
How about “Conserve Resources,” or more specifically, “Conserve Electricity.” Basic thriftiness will save you — and the world — a lot.
June 28th, 2008 at 10:00 am
WOW!! I am pretty proud of myself I can do and have done most of these already. Did I mention I’m just a girl?
July 5th, 2008 at 7:03 am
[…] 50 Things Everyone Should Know How to Do. I need to add air conditioner repair to this list. Ours went out this morning and it is already 80 degrees inside our house! Thank goodness for emergency funds! […]
July 10th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
This is a terrific site!
Living for the past 11 years in Phuket, Thailand and teaching as a volunteer, I often talk about some of the topics listed in this site and discover, time and time again, how strong this culture is in rejecting in part or all of it, that what seems so obvious in the West.
They will not even leave a message on my answering machine because,”… we don’t like to talk to machines.” Even though it is in the Thai language! Given the waiting and waiting in Canada to get a live person on the line, I agree with the Thai people to some extend. At home, no machine no talk! Too technical, too impersonal. I prefer Thailand! (plus the fabulous beaches, food and low prices, but above all the gentle loving people.)
The best to all you readers.
Tony
July 10th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Done with them all!
July 17th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
They’re in wrong order!
August 2nd, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Very nice!!
August 3rd, 2008 at 6:07 pm
This is great!!! I should print this out and cross out everything I know how to do. It would be interesting to see the differences across age groups…. like for example, my grandparents don’t know anything about computers but damn can grandma remove a stain haha.
Barbara
August 7th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
This was a great post! I will be sharing this post around to my friends, and referring to it on my blog as well.
Very comprehensive. Good job.
Sally
http://www.drsallywitt.com
August 10th, 2008 at 12:40 am
Great resource!
August 11th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Wow, I actually know a lot of these items. Need to brush up on my geography skills, though…
Number 5 is especially handy if you’re coming to visit Europe, we don’t drive automatic cars, just manuals…
August 11th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
50 Things Everyone Should Know is a great list, very comprehensive and well thought out, molto brava at ya. But one thing troubles me: Why do the members of your website’s (presumed) target audience need to have a list in the first place? Is that demographic group so motivationally impoverished that they would NOT acquire these skills after 30-or-so years of life if your list was not here to enlighten them? A scary thought, that.
August 11th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Nice post. It’s very useful. Thanks!
August 14th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
[…] 50 Things that you Should know how to do (I love this. The list touches on such things like sewing on a button, how to paint a Room, change a tire and remember names.) […]
August 15th, 2008 at 12:01 am
[…] 50 Things Everyone Should Know How To Do Time and time again I Stumbleupon a site that says “# of ____ to ___” and it annoys me. Example. “10 ways to save money on gas!” or “15 life hacks you can’t live without!”. But when I stumbled upon this, I gave it a shot. And I must say, most of these are very good and I’m glad I read. Some things I don’t agree you need to know (that’s why it’s titled SHOULD know not NEED to know). Like selecting good produce… who cares if you get a bruised banana, shit happens. But things like “how to start a fire” or “swim” etc, these are vital things that when in a bind you should definitely know. […]
August 15th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Great Site. Great Info. The Brain is an amazing thing, and I believe in exercising it.
It is important to keep it active!
August 22nd, 2008 at 5:09 am
[…]This fantastic list of 50 things that everyone should know is a good read. If you don’t know any of them maybe you should learn […]
August 22nd, 2008 at 7:04 am
Very good resource for living successful life. I think it covers every aspect of healthy life. Though list is very long, but again success doesn’t come that easily. You have to work hard to achieve anything significant. I am quite surprised that I myself actually don’t know most of things listed here. So sad
August 31st, 2008 at 3:42 am
excellent list and well structured!
September 1st, 2008 at 12:23 am
Great guide!! It’s very useful. I’ll comeback for more great info.Thanks
September 5th, 2008 at 7:46 am
I guess I can file this away under ‘things you are going to need to know how to do one day in life.’ I mean, seriously, this is like a resource you can hand your children and tell them ‘when you are older, you will understand.’ Great list.
http://yinvsyang.com/
September 16th, 2008 at 11:17 am
this is a really helpful and resourceful list! thanks so much for gathering all those links.
September 19th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
[…] 2. 50 Things Everyone Should Know How to Do […]
October 22nd, 2008 at 7:08 pm
I found this through stumble upon and like many sites I stumble, I was skeptical when I saw the headline. “Great! It’s yet another lengthy list from some ignoramus that thinks he/she knows what is best for everyone else.” By the time I finished the first ten, I realized that you have actually constructed a very useful list of important skills to possess, very pertinent to the modern human experience. Kudos to you, and thank you for making me realize a few things that I should learn to do.
On another note, I would like to suggest that you remove number 41 from the list :-). This is one of my many sources of income, probably the most lucrative. Of course, I’m joking, but it really is amazing to see what people will pay to have someone else do the “dirty work” for them. I can’t tell you how many times I have been paid a few hundred dollars for less than an hour of extremely elementary work … square peg goes in the square hole, etc.
Thanks again!
October 24th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
well said… I don’t think there was anything on this list that I don’t agree with. I might add ‘how to lift weights properly’ - theres no point in going to the gym if you don’t know what you are doing or if you are going to stay on the elliptical the whole time.
October 27th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
It’s reassuring to know that I know most of the list, with the exception of packing light, handling an ax and knowing my geography.
Guess I have some work to do.
Great list!
October 28th, 2008 at 6:42 am
Hey Marc,
I have another great resource for you in the area of self defense and keeping yourself safe in dangerous situations. Krav Maga is one of the easiest martial arts to learn (anyone can do it) and is the most effective in real-world situations (like how to survive and escape from a mugging, or a gun being held to your head etc.) check out http://www.kravmagabootcamp.com for more info.
cheers
Amir
October 31st, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Wow, I’ve got allot to learn, about half of this list i am not too proficient in!
Great article.
Thanks.
November 1st, 2008 at 9:55 am
reminiscent of “excerpts from the diary of Lazarus Long” but more up to date…
nice.
November 4th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Why oh why would I need to know how to either avoid or win a fist fight? At 47 years of age, I’ve never felt the lack of that one. I’ve got the other 49 down cold but a fist fight?!
November 6th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
[…] 50 Things Everyone Should Know How To Do - We start off basic. This list is fantastic. Some of you could spend weeks just mastering this list, and let me tell you, it would be well worth it. This list has everything from survival techniquesto computer basics, cpr to giving great speeches, job interviews to time management, travelling to swimming, and so much more. This must be one of the coolest lists compiled that I have ever seen (a special thanks to Marc and Angel Hack Life) […]
November 20th, 2008 at 12:09 am
[…] A little while ago Marc and Angel Hacks Life linked to Dating Tales from a post called “50 Things Everyone Should Know How to Do.” And guess what? They linked to me because of a post I wrote on complimenting a […]
November 20th, 2008 at 11:57 am
This list is fine if you live in an apartment in the suburbs or something. But in the real world, one should be able to field-strip, maintain, and service one’s personal firearm, be it sidearm, shotgun,or assault rifle.
Hard times, they are a-comin’. If you’re not armed now, you better do so before it’s too late.
November 27th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Great stuff you guys, thank you.
November 30th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Holy cow! Over 90 comments….perhaps you should list 50 ways to get 50 comments on your blog…sweet.
November 30th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
I agree with all of these EXCEPT the ones that have to do with cars / driving. Given all the environmental problems in the 21st century, shouldn’t we be looking at alternative methods of transportation? Bicycles and mass transport are just some of the more eco-friendly ways to get oneself around, thus rendering these “must know-hows” useless.
December 5th, 2008 at 12:42 am
What about how to get a date in the first place?
December 6th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
#3 is in the right priority order, but should be re-worded as “Search the Internet effectively.” There is so much information on the Internet that Google cannot find at all, and there are so many instances in which Google is not the most effective search tool. This Guide to Web Search explains this in much more detail, and offers information and advice on dozens of other search tools.
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/guides.topic__ss_categories_ss_featured-guide.xa_1.html
December 29th, 2008 at 2:52 am
Thanks, really helpful!!!
January 12th, 2009 at 5:18 am
This is a wonderful list of valuable information. I am definately bookmarking this. Thanks for sharing.
Kathy Clark
January 15th, 2009 at 3:50 am
all this…? man..i only have 60-100 years to live!
January 16th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
Well, at least I know how to hold a baby. 49 other things to learn, so many activities, so little time…
January 20th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
What a great list. As a FACS teacher we cover many of this in classes. Personally, I think using a budget should be at the top of any list.
February 4th, 2009 at 5:05 am
wow, this is all in one how to do list, nice
February 20th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
This is a great list - definitely a keeper. Thanks!
February 24th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
How about “learn to communicate effectively” as most of the difficulties in our human experience are attributable to our fundamental lack of ability to understand and be understood? (ps is tire actually tyre?)(pps I do reside in England
March 9th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
I love this blog!!
March 11th, 2009 at 2:30 am
Wow, this is an excellent blog. These are some great common sense tips to learn. I’m really interested now. Thanks. I would love to see more of these things. Nice work.
March 16th, 2009 at 11:34 pm
Great article!
I’ve bookmarked it and I will be back!
Here is a great video on making fire the Indian Way: http://www.wayofthescout.com
Have a great day!
Twenty Twenty
Ex Hostage - Pro Visionary
March 29th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Fantastic site! I will definitely bookmark and return often. Thank you for putting it together.
March 29th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Perhaps the list could contain learning Morse code, or as it is called amongst ham operators: International Radiotelegraph Code.
April 2nd, 2009 at 3:13 am
I really like this list. I would add manners. There is hardly anything worse than being around people or their children who are poorly behaved and inconsiderate of others. I’m not talking about the “which fork to use” manners, but the “wait til the hostess sits down and is ready to eat” basics. I will pass this great site on to others. Thanks!
April 8th, 2009 at 5:20 am
A very useful post. Very good! thank you!
April 8th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
I would add: learn to operate appliances like, washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, I mean, come on, people, they’re automatic!
April 10th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
This is amazing!
Definitely worth looking over
and over
May 6th, 2009 at 7:20 am
basic philosophy or even just knowing logical fallacies would be a nice addition.
May 17th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
Impressive list there buddy. It is a good thing that you wrote about first impressions. Pretty solid post!
May 18th, 2009 at 5:54 am
These are some good posts, and excellent resources. Im sure theres enough stuff here to keep me busy for the coming weeks.
May 20th, 2009 at 8:46 am
nice article..i’ve learned a lot from this.. =))
May 21st, 2009 at 11:04 am
I’ve done all but number 26. I do some sign language. Does that count?
May 27th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
#34 is probably the toughest for me. 26 was pretty easy as i lived in Chile for 2 years. fun post.
-Jack
June 7th, 2009 at 9:59 am
Start a conversation is pretty fundamental yet the amount of people that don’t how to do this most basic of tasks is frightening.
June 7th, 2009 at 10:29 am
Remember Names… as a teacher remembering the names of your pupils is one of the hardest part to memorize especially if you are aging thanks for the tips
June 12th, 2009 at 3:50 am
Marc,
Great post. It may motivate me to finish my list of the top things you should know for the workplace, but did not teach you in school. I listed the top 10 that I am always amazed that they still do not teach our childern and the workforce is always expecting.
1. computer skills (ICDL), google research, typing, communicating effectively with Office 2007/OpenOffice
2. communication skills (talking/body language/culture differences)
3. Basic finances: checkbook, balance sheet, profit/loss. Time value of money: 5th grade math applied in practice that would help them avoid debt and help understand commerce world
4. Basic human factors in the workplace (stress, different learning styles, personality styles), teamwork and high performance productivity
5. Knowledge management & capture and recall of information you or co workers spent so much time doing
6. Time and personal mission management (Work & Life balance)
7. Goal setting and basic task management toward objectives
8. Basic Problem solving skills
9. Basic Analylitical skills
10. Basic Initution skills (Emotional Intelligence), NLP
June 20th, 2009 at 1:38 am
Wow… I’m impressed by the amount of useful information in this single post. I feel like I could spend all day clicking through the links you’ve provided. Thanks for taking the time to find these for us.
July 1st, 2009 at 8:21 am
Wow!! Thanks for the list!! You’re are absolutely right that these task should be well known to each and everyone to live in life and morevoer you’ve boosted my spirits through one of those tips!! Thanks!
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