Advice For My Daughter

Since I wrote a book about deviance and debauchery on Wall Street that included anecdotes about the celebrated misogyny and objectification of women in the workplace, I get snidely asked all the time, “What are you going to say to you daughter?”

So now that I have a daughter, here’s my advice for her as she grows up:

1. Stand up straight.

2. Know how to change a tire, but whenever possible, let a man to do it for you.

3. Your physical appearance matters. That’s the world we live in, and it’s also how we’re wired.

4. Inner beauty — intelligence, personality, confidence, and a sense of humor — becomes more important as you get older. Wits never sag.

5. Know that you are more beautiful than you will ever give yourself credit for.

6. It’s my job to keep you safe. That’s why it’s also my job to teach you how to use a gun.

7. Take good care of your skin.

8. Don’t worry about dieting. Eat healthy, exercise, drink in moderation, and everything will fall into place.

9. Gender is not a social construct. Embrace the differences between men and women.

10. Read more. It allows you to borrow someone else’s brain.

11. It’s safe to assume that almost every man you meet will want to sleep with you.

12. If anyone says its okay to be fat, they’re lying to you.

13. Let him pay for dinner most of the time.

14. Just because you can fit into that tiny dress doesn’t mean you should wear it.

15. Don’t sleep around.

16. Play sports. You’ll probably run, throw, and fight like a girl, but that’s magnificent.

17. Money is important. It won’t make you happy, but it solves many of the problems that will make you unhappy.

18. You will most likely regret getting a tattoo.

19. If you are blessed with the gift of being able to create and shape a life, embrace it. You’ll probably find it more rewarding than any career, but you can still have both.

20. You have all the power over boys. Let them cherish and revere you.

21. Ignore the boos; they usually come from the cheap seats.

22. Don’t try to party like one of the guys. You won’t metabolize alcohol at the same rate, and that’s how bad things can happen.

23. Success is doing whatever it is that you love, and doing it well. But… (See #17)

24. Just because your brother might go on spring break with his friends doesn’t mean you can. (See #6, #9, #11, #22)

25. Finally, remember that rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of a smart, strong woman.

John LeFevre is the creator of @GSElevator and the author of the New York Times bestselling book, Amazon Book of the Month, and TIME Book of the summer, Straight To Hell: True Tales of Deviance, Debauchery, And Billion-Dollar Deals.