Rules Can Be a Good Thing

Summary

• I believe some rules are not useful, but I make personal rules to protect my time.
• I often negotiate with myself about compromising on my rules, but I remind myself that it's about setting a principle.
• Letting small exceptions happen can lead to a slippery slope, where soon enough, your day is full of commitments.
• To be proactive rather than reactive, think about the personal rules you need. This will make you a better teammate and leader.
• Following these personal rules will help you progress faster in your company and feel better by the end of the day.

Video

How To Take Action

I'd suggest starting with creating a few personal rules to protect your time. Think about what really matters to you and what activities drain your energy or waste time. Write down these rules and keep them in a place where you can see them daily.

A good way to stick to these rules is to remind yourself why they are important. When you're tempted to bend the rules, think about the slippery slope you might be on. If you let small exceptions happen, soon your schedule could become chaotic.

Practice saying "no." It’s tough but necessary. If you're asked to do something that doesn't align with your rules, politely decline or suggest another time. This helps you stay focused on what truly matters.

Evaluate your commitments for the day or week and see if they are aligned with your personal rules. If something looks like it's one of those slippery slope exceptions, reconsider or adjust.

Lastly, reflect on your progress. At the end of the day, take a moment to consider how well you stuck to your rules and how it made you feel. This will reinforce good habits and help you become more proactive, making you a better teammate and leader, both at work and in personal growth.

Full Transcript

I think sometimes rules are stupid and worked against us but I create rules for myself that help me protect my time I negotiate with myself all the time in my head I'm like you could take it you can step out for 30 you could I'm like no it's the principle because it's a slippery slope it's like you say yes to this what's going to happen next week and next week and then all of a sudden you have that entire day full of meetings I've seen it happen for all of you like what are the personal rules that you need to set for yourself so that you can stay out of this reactive space and get more into a proactive because it'll make you a better teammate a better leader you're going to get ahead in the compan faster and you'll feel better when you go home or end your day