Welcome to Smart Life Dumb Life
You’re not here by accident
You’re here to learn to live Smart, avoid Dumb mistakes and have fun in the process!
If you are ready to level up from life’s curveballs — adulting hiccups, heartaches, feeling stuck, and those “what am I doing?” moments — you’re in the right place!
Bill here. I know what it’s like to navigate your 20’s, 30’s and beyond, I’ve learned a little bit about managing regret, and I’ve spent decades pursuing personal growth. So now I’m sharing everything I wish I’d known back then — unfiltered wisdom, with a hefty dose of humor, and an unwavering belief in your ability to learn, grow and thrive. That’s what it means to Live Smart!
Twenty-eight years of marriage. Two adult kids. Fifty-plus years of figuring it out the long way so you don’t have to. Think of it as an expanded “what would I tell my younger self” if you want to.
That’s how I came up with the “four seasons of life” format for the book.
- 1Getting StartedIt's not about getting lucky. Pick a direction and make the first move.
- 2Growing StrongBuild the habits and beliefs that hold up when things get hard.
- 3Maintaining MomentumKeep going when the novelty wears off and nobody's watching.
- 4Finishing WellClose things out in a way you'd be glad to explain later.
I’ve just hit the fourth season, and am trying to practice what I preach about reframing the ups and downs into lessons to pass on!
What SMART and DUMB actually mean
Here’s one thing I’ll explain up front, because it’s the most asked question: “What do you mean by SMART and DUMB?” The rest you’ll figure out as you use the Chat, read the book or scan the topics — because you’re Smart!
SMART— means being able to think clearly in difficult situations. That’s it. It describes you, and you’re the whole point.
DUMB— is never about a person. It’s only ever about a choice, or the consequence of one. Every topic here lays both out side by side so you can see the difference and pick.