Thank Goodness It's Monday #325

THE WORLD IS FLAT

AND OTHER UNIVERSAL RULES TO LIVE BY

(OR NOT)

The world is flat. In your youthful grammar school days (daze?) weren’t you taught that “flat world” … you’ll sail off the edge … “there be monsters” in the uncharted ocean, were “universal rules” that Christopher Columbus didn’t accept, and by his voyages, subsequently demolished?

Did this picture of Columbus
hang in every grammar school?

If you went to my grammar school when I did (shortly after Chris made his voyages) that was the simplistic lesson that conveyed a kinda complicated --

Kid-hood Takeaway: The history lesson suggested that abiding by conventional wisdom and “universal” rules was, perhaps, not the correct path.

On the other hand: I say the message was kinda complicated because, at least in my upbringing, there were “Universal Rules” that were, no doubt, the correct path. And you defied these at your peril.

Example: The absorbed-in-childhood rule for crossing the street: “Look both ways!” No doubt a necessary bit of guidance.

Example: Or “Don’t talk to strangers” -- a cautionary kid rule which you should now disregard at every networking opportunity.

Example: Or “Do as I say, not as I do.” What’s a kid to make of an imperative like that?

Uh oh …

As good as those rules may be at some point in our growing up, clearly our adult successes are often built around or improved by other rules -- often presumed to be Universal -- which we incorporate into our lives and our philosophies and aspire to live by.

Example: The fundamental Rules of Self-Improvement –

#1: It will be difficult.
#2: It will be worth it.

Got it? Great! So a good rule for getting even more from this TGIM is to consider these –

Universal Rules To Live By

(And even if you don’t find them “Universal”

You’ll no doubt find them Useful)

The Universal/Useful Rule of …

• Time management: Make the time because you’ll never find the time.

• Happiness: Don’t seek happiness. Create it.

• Laughter: Be able to laugh at yourself.

• Winning: The will to win is not nearly as important as the will to prepare to win.

• Preparation: Dig the well before you’re thirsty.

• Sales: Stop selling and start helping.

• Overcoming adversity: The best way to forget your own problems is to help someone else with theirs.

• Getting what you want: Ask for it.

• Dealing with others: Patience.

• Goal setting: Shoot for the moon; even if you miss, you’ll end up among the stars.

• Risk taking: If you don’t take a chance, you’ll never stand a chance.

• A successful product or service: Be first, best, or different.

• Fitness (or healthful living, or weight loss): Eat less and exercise more.

• Overcoming procrastination (aka The Nike Rule): Just do it.

• Starting the day off right: Say “Good morning!” even if it isn’t.

• Being interesting: Be interested.

• Being a great student: Ask good questions.

• Being a great teacher/leader: Keep being a student.

But wait, there’s more.

(Not much more.)

But an important “more.” Although we now know that the many learned folks on the scene in 1492 or thereabouts understood the earth as a globe and other scientific truths, let’s call it --

The Columbus Day Rule

(The rest of the year it’s called The First Rule of Rules.)

There’s usually an exception to every rule

– including this one.

Were these Useful Rules for you? Did they make you smile … or say, “That’s true” … or at least bring some long “forgotten” rule you’re guided by back to top-of-mind awareness?

TGIM ACTION IDEA: Share please. Post a response. Or reach out directly at tgimguy@gmail.com.

It would be cool if your Universal/Useful Rule can be stated concisely like these.

But it’s not necessary. I’d love to read your rules and maybe even include them in future TGIMs.

Just tell your story to the best of your ability. And if you have a source or attribution, please share that. Thanks.

But wait, there’s more.
(But not much more, really.)

TGIM IDEA IN ACTION: Here are just two more Universal Rules that should guide our thinking:

• • The Last Rule of Rules: Reading these or any other rules is not enough. If they are to work for you, you have to use them.

• • Geoff’s personal rule: Everything Happens For The Best – For Those Who Make It Happen. (EHFTB-FTWMIH.)

Make it happen.

Geoff Steck
Chief Catalyst
Alexander Publishing & Marketing

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

P.S. “Rules are made up for people who aren’t willing to make up their own.” Charles Elwood "Chuck" Yeager -- retired major general in the United States Air Force and noted test pilot (the first pilot to travel faster than sound in1947) said that.