- Win Tampa Am: has there truly been anyone whos won that contest, and went on to become a top pro- or is it me? id personally always considered it the Rose Bowl of skateboarding contest. but the more i pay attention, im starting to realize its more like a Patriot League championship game. weird…

- Ride for a random board/truck/wheel company: why do people do this? you guys do realize, this is like working for a lemonade stand. and then, trying to walk up in Mountain Dew and become a full-time employee but using your lemonade stand duties as a “reference”- right? smarten up, kids. i realize you gotta start somewhere. but, damn. at least be reality.

- Dont Skate: if your name aint PJ Ladd, or Gino Ianucci- dont try this at home. i mean. them dudes can pick up a board, and do damn near anything in the world- effortlessly. you? well, you might be kicking it in the van on tour one summer. and cleaning out vans the next. so as i said. dont try this. 

- Get a girlfriend: imma be reality, for 2seconds.. i love woman, more than i love chicken. but, unless shes got a full-time job. decent friends. and doesnt really care whether you go pro, or not. shes a complete waste of your time. you’d be better off getting a dog. at least it can pull you to the store, actually pick up MORE girls. and knows when to quit barking. 

- Don’t leave the East Coast: ive elaborated on this before. if you want a career in skateboarding. you HAVE to spend a good bit of your time out West. look. i dont make the rules. but i know them! and one rule is- dont post up out East like its “all good”. theres little, to no media coverage. and theres always some dude twice as thirsty as you, who’ll be more than glad to take up some floor space out West to create a future for himself. 

- Tear up a hotel room/tour van: i dont know why people think its all good, to just ruin something you KNOW you have no possible way to replace or fix. its always the dude who dont got nothing in the first place, so maybe they deem it as “ok”. but if i were your TM, id focus your board. then, leave you there w/the keys and no money. 

- Get non-skateboard related sponsors/ads: why do people do this? look. if you aint getting free cars. computers. or anything worth real value- why bother? energy drinks. of course. you know how much a case of(insert energy drink) goes for, at your local convienant store? anything else. is pointless. i mean. who REALLY uses hair products, to go skate? 
 
- Running your mouth, to the wrong people/person: ive seen this go down, waaaaaaay too many times. dudes think because they filmed their lil video parts, or because they running with a certain crew. they can say what they want. yeah. yall obviously watch too much wrestling, or something. because talking sideways, will get you on monster. and i aint alking about the energy drink, either.

- drinking/drug problems: jesus. where, and what decade can this go back to and people STILL havent gotten the memo? kids. stay off the devils dandruff. especially, the lean. and quit drinking like you just exited a damn pirate ship. the only “good” thats gonna come out of it, is me mentioning your bummy ass in a editorial few years down the road. 

- being, over hyped: The good ole, Phillip Rivers syndrom. or as my man Jay-Z would say, “…started off with a spark, and now you just garbage.” and truthfully, it happens all too often. some under-qualified team mangaer, pushes this new guy all in everyones face. were all wondering, what the big hub-bub about. next thing y’know, 2yrs later. dudes Chris Branaugh status.. classic