Principles: A basic truth, law, or assumption; a basic source.
American Heritage Dictionary
My personal Working It rules distilled from many Work Lessons Earned are:
- Action spurs activity from which you can learn (take a risk).
- Do what you hate, first.
- You’re now a risk manager.
- Risks create opportunities in your life and work.
- 80% of life and workinvolves just showing up (take a risk).
- Go after the upside of life and work– manage downside risk.
- Know your risk appetiteand how you make decisions.
- Have a risk plan and direction before you start.
- If the direction you’re taking doesn’t workfor you, then change direction (risk control).
- Focus on the end first and work
- Focus on the ‘critical few’ things, not the ‘insignificant many’.
- When in doubt, talk with your wife or best friend about it.
- Find the value in what you’re doing?
- Finding the meaning in what you’re doing, because without it, there’s no commitment.
- Pain of changing must be less than the pain of staying the same.
- Structure what you do. VUCANsneed structure and focus.
- 80% of what worries you will never happen (RBPS/RBDM).
I like these Working It rules because they’re personal. I’ve borrowed shamelessly. Some rules and tips are from others. I don’t remember where they originated, but I’ve internalized them and share them with you. Now do I follow these consistently? I try. I have them in the back of my mind all the time. For example, take a look at the first rule. I’m a worrier. Why? I do risk management. I see the downside in too many things as I do my ‘what if’ analyses.
Work Lesson Earned: What’s your list of Working It rules? You know most of the above, but how many do you follow consistently?