Geoff Steck’s

THANK GOODNESS IT’S MONDAY

TGIM #235

NEW YEAR,

NEW RULES?

About the middle of last year (2009) we recounted a bundle of “Universal Rules” – remember? (If not, you may want to click back to TGIM #206.)

With New Year 2010 significantly under way, I’m wondering if, as part of your year-end resolution-making and goal-setting and planning, you’re thinking of enforcing any New Rules for yourself or recommitting to any Universal Rules you try to live by.

For starters: I’m sticking by a Universal Rule that’s guided my actions for many, many years. I’ve shared it with you before. The shorthand version goes –

EHFTB-FTWMIH

That stands for Everything Happens For The Best – For Those Who Make It Happen.

And for 2010 I’m going to keep applying a New Rule I recently discovered called:

“The 15-Minute Rule”

It works like this: When I don’t want to work out (which is pretty much most of the time) I have a little negotiation with myself. I tell myself that I’ll work out 15 minutes and then renegotiate. In the limited time I’ve been applying it, I find that the 15 minutes of activity breaks down my resistance and I roll on. (And, honestly, a few times I’ve called it quits; but I’m still ahead by 15 minutes, right?)

TGIM ACTION IDEA: Next time you’re confronted with a huge project … a mundane task … a craving … an action-blocker… whatever – try The 15-Minute Rule. And remember, EHFTB-FTWMIH.

But wait, there’s more. You didn’t think I’d end the first TGIM of 2010 with only that wisdom, do you?

Much more: I’ve gathered 20 “Rules” for success that are traditionally linked to famous names we recognize. To check them out – and learn a really terrific Rule Of How To Make The Most Of R.U.L.E.S. —

Zig Ziglar’s Rule: You can have everything in life you want, if you will help enough people get what they want.

Ann Lander’s Rule: It’s not what you do for your children, but what you have taught them to do for themselves that makes them successful human beings.

Walt Disney’s Rule: If you can dream it, you can do it.

Jim Henson’s Rule: Be kind to one another.

John Wooden’s Rule: It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.

Marian Anderson’s Rule: You lose a lot of time hating people.

Pearl Buck’s Rule: The secret of joy in work is contained in one word – excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it.

B C Forbes’ Rule: If you don’t drive your business, you will be driven out of business.

Malcolm Forbes’ Rule: Executives who get there and stay there suggest solutions when they present the problems.

Harold Geneen’s Rule: It is an immutable law in business that words are words, explanations are explanations, promises are promises – but only performance is a reality.

J. Paul Getty’s Rule: No one can possibly achieve real and lasting success or “get rich” in business by being a conformist.

Henry J. Kaiser’s Rule: Problems are only opportunity in work clothes.

Woody Allen’s Rule: Eighty percent of success is showing up.

Alex Noble’s Rule: Success is a process, a quality of mind and way of being, an outgoing affirmation of life.

Irving Berlin’s Rule: Talent is only a starting point in this business. You’ve got to keep working on that talent.

Bill Cosby’s Rule: If you drop out, you miss out.

William James’ Rule: The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.

Rudyard Kipling’s Rule: If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting, too …

Dr. Benjamin Spock’s Rule: Trust yourself. You know more than you think you know.

Mr. (Star Trek) Spock’s Rule: Live long and prosper.

Welcome to 2010. Learn the rules. Make up your own. Abide by the ones that work for you. Set aside old rules that no longer apply. And live long and prosper.

Geoff Steck
Chief Catalyst
Alexander Publishing & Marketing

8 Depot Square

Englewood, NJ 07631
201-569-5373
tgimguy@gmail.com

P.S. No, I didn’t forget. Here’s –

The Rule

Of How To

Make The Most

Of R.U.L.E.S.

Read them.

Use them.

Live them and

Encourage others by

Sharing them.

And that leads to the Rule Of Making Up Additional Rules: Please share your useful rules via a response to this blog post or to tgimguy@gmail.com.

P.P.S. If your plan at this juncture is to make 2010 Your Best Year Ever, it probably makes sense to investigate the many useful secrets and strategies for creating the future of your dreams in the Best Year Ever Program. You can find out more HERE.

GEOFF STECK leads Alexander Publishing & Marketing, a company he formed in 1986. The core AP&M mission: To create and publish leadership, sales mastery, self-improvement and workplace skill-building resources and tools. The focus: Areas such as business communication, staff support, customer care and frontline management. Geoff also puts his corporate and entrepreneurial experience, independent perspective, and skills as a catalyst to work for other firms (ranging from multinational corporations to more modest operations), not-for-profits, and individuals who have conceived or developed programs or initiatives but are frustrated in getting them implemented.

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