1. Find a big open field and practice! -Not a baseball diamond, but something with no obstacles like trees and wires...and people.
2. Flying sideways and backwards is your enemy! That's when you run into things. On your first couple of flights NOT in the cow pasture, take off and climb above anything that you can hit. When you're down low, that's the most likely time you'll hit something.
3. Sport mode should only be used when up high. Before landing, turn it off.
4. Don't fly at night. Not only is it against the law, but you won't have the normal visual clues to help.
5. A spotter is a good idea. Unfortunately in the real world, we tend to fly by ourselves.
6. Sensors will not see branches and power lines.
7. Remove the lens cover and gimbal lock. Find some way to remind yourself.
8. Take off with both the remote and drone battery fully charged.
9. Be careful of the advanced modes. "Follow me" can easily put your drone into a tree, especially when you go around a curve.
10. When landing, raise the camera lens to the horizontal position.
11. Always use a landing pad. If you don't have one, stop by your local Post Office and pick up a (free) large shipping box.
12. Avoid a crowd. Nothing good will come out of a mixture of drones and people.
13. Be aware of the local laws.
14. Register your drone with the FAA. The fines are draconian.
15. Do a preflight inspection. Make sure your battery is clicked into place and the propellers have no nicks or tears.
16. Don't fly in the rain or high wind.
17. Don't fly indoors. Expensive things like big screen TV's, chandeliers, children, spouses, can easily be damaged. Also, return to home or low battery will cause an uncontrolled ascents to 30', or whatever you've set the drone to. By the time you figure it out, the damage is done. I know of one drone pilot who damaged his drone because of that scenario.
18. Don't fly from any moving object. Again, bad things can and will happen. Also, it's against the law.
19. In your settings, allow your drone to be able to look 30° up. It'll save you one day.
20. Avoid "dramatic" shots. Your mind can create all kinds of cool shots that your abilities will foul up. -Like the beginning close up, flying backwards through an opening in a tree. -Great idea and very dramatic, but the tree will become one with your drone. Instead, start from a distance, then fly close to your subject. You can reverse the action in post.
That's enough for now.