Tap frequently. The best defence is to not get caught. You need to stop a submission when they're putting the precursors down not when the submission is locked in. Number 1 objective: don't get hurt or hurt someone. After that worry about learning :)
Forget the belts. Wrassle, wrassle, wrassle
Skim through an Eddie Bravo book. Ask your instructor when he's going to teach the "real shit" like crackhead control and the Jiu Claw 
GaspareBJJ - Shower before AND after classThis
Wash your ass
Shower before AND after class
Brush your teeth
Shower before AND after class
Cut your finger and toe nails
Shower before AND after class
Wash your gi after EVERY use
Shower before AND after class
Shut up and listen
Oh yeah and....Shower before AND after class
Bobby Lupo - Skim through an Eddie Bravo book. Ask your instructor when he's going to teach the "real shit" like crackhead control and the Jiu ClawYES. tell them you wanna learn rubber guard first.
1.)Keep a journal and take notes after class. As you techniques get revisited go back to your old notes and add in additional details you may have missed.
2,) Focus on learning the technique properly rather than trying to muscle your way into things all the time.
3.) BJJ is not easy and expect your progression to be slow, but don't quit.
4.) Be friendly, don't get too competetive after all it's class not a tournament.
Be receptive.
Think of the BJJ academy as college for Jiu Jitsu. Drill/Study like a motherfucker. Pay attention to everything and take notes in class. Fuck mad drunk bitches at the bar after school
Consistency
Be quiet!
listen more then you talk.
don't try to demonstrate to others techniques you just learned .
Not everyone is into BJJ or really knows what it is so don't talk about it relentlessly.
Sometimes you're the hammer sometimes you're the anvil .
Don't bully noobs or people smaller than you it will come back to haunt you.