My Rules for Living

As the new year approaches, I find it is helpful to write down one’s rules for living. I have done this for the last few years and find it is help. Published below are some of my (non-personal) rules.   I would also be very interested in hearing your rules — feel free to email them to me.

– don’t waste your talents. If you are blessed, help others.

– if you are reading this, chances are that your life is better than at least 90% of the people on earth. Always remember that. Use your talents and wealth to make the world better for the other 90%.

– always be adamant about learning. Time is not on your side. Listen to books on tape. Read the paper every day. Incorporate learning into your daily routine

– force yourself to read at least 10 pages of a book every day. A real book (with at least 150 pages) — not a periodical.

– go out of your way to help people. Always be the first to proactively volunteer to drive a friend to the airport or help her move. Always try to connect people to one another if they can mutually benefit.

– don’t complain … ever. Don’t sweat the little things …

– don’t hang out with people that complain

– fire people that complain

– never, ever be unethical. Follow the ten commandments to a tee. In the rare case that you tell a lie, make sure you force yourself to feel bad about it.

– always be on time and respect other people’s time

– always have something to read

– fix little problems right away

– always carry a pen

– "the perfect is the enemy of the good". There are things that need to be done right and there are things you need to do right now.

– "one does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time" – Andre Gide

– "the worst thing you can do for those you love is the things they could do and should do for themselves." – Abraham Lincoln

– "you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take" – Wayne Gretzky

2 thoughts on “My Rules for Living

  1. Neven Cvetkovic

    Hey Auren,
    These little gems are so true! Some people say that it is even better to help people that cannot return your favour! I really believe in making this world a better place! Actually, every company that I start will have a positive impact, not just on my cashflow, but on the society in general.
    Good luck with your new venture!
    Cheers!
    Neven

    Reply
  2. paul

    do you have a source for the gretzky quotation? i’ve seen it as:
    you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take
    and
    you miss 100% of the shots you never take
    and
    100% of the shots you don’t take don’t go in
    wikipedia sources their other quotation, but not that one.
    argh!

    Reply

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