1.
Don't compare yourself to others.
Everybody,
and I mean everybody, starts out in a different place and is headed on their own
journey. You have NO idea where someone else's journey might lead them, so
drawing comparisons is a complete waste of time.
2.
Never obsess over things you cannot control.
While it's
often important to know about other things--like the economy, the markets that
you sell to, the actions that others might take, your focus should remain on
what you actually control, which is 1) your own thoughts and 2) your own
actions.
3.
Know and keep your personal limits and boundaries.
While your
job might sometimes seem like the most important thing in your world, you're
killing a part of yourself if you let work situations push you into places that
violate your privacy and your integrity.
4.
Don't over commit yourself or your team.
It's great
to be enthusiastic and willing to go the "extra mile," but making promises that
you (or your team) can't reasonably keep is simply a way to create failure and
disappointment.
5.
Remember you get the same amount of time every day as everyone else.
You may feel
you're short on time and that you need more of it, but the simple truth is that
when the day started, you got your fair share: 24 hours. Nobody got any more
than you did, so stop complaining.
6.
Don't take yourself so seriously; nobody else does.
The ability
to laugh at your foibles not only makes you happier as a person, it makes you
more powerful, more influential and more attractive to others. If you can't
laugh at yourself, everyone else will be laughing behind your back.
7.
Daydream more rather than less.
The idea
that daydreaming and working are mutually exclusive belongs back in the 20th
century. It's when you let your thoughts wander that you're more likely to have
the insights that will make you both unique and more competitive.
8.
Don't bother with hate; it's not worth the effort.
Hate is an
emotional parasite that eats away at your energy and health. If something is
wrong with the world and you can change it, take action. If you can't take
action, you're better off to forgive and forget.
9.
Make peace with your past lest it create your future.
Focusing on
past mistakes or wrongs inflicted on you is exactly like driving a car while
looking in the rear view mirror. You'll keep heading in the same direction until
you collide with something solid.
10.
Don't try to "win" every argument.
Some battles
aren't worth fighting, and many people are easier to handle when they think
they've won the argument. What's important isn't "winning," but what you and the
other people involved, plan to do next.
11.
Remember that nobody is in charge of your happiness except you.
While some
work environments are inherently difficult, if you're consistently miserable
it's your fault. You owe it to yourself and your coworkers to either find a job
that makes you happy or make the best of the job you've got.
12.
Smile and laugh more frequently.
Contrary to
popular belief, smiling and laughter are not the RESULT of being happy, they're
part of a cycle that both creates and reinforces happiness. Find reasons to
smile. Never, ever suppress a laugh.
13.
Don't waste precious energy on malice and gossip.
Before you
tell a story about anybody else, or listen to such a story, ask yourself four
questions: 1) Is it true? 2) Is it kind? 3) Is it necessary? and 4) Would I want
somebody telling a similar story about me?
14.
Don't worry what others think about you; it's none of your business.
You can't
mind read and you don't have everyone else wired into a lie detector. Truly, you
really have NO IDEA what anyone is REALLY thinking about you. It's a total waste
of time and energy to try.
15.
Remember that however bad (or good) a situation is, it will inevitably
change.
The nature
of the physical universe is change. Nothing remains the same; everything is, as
the gurus say, transitory. Whether you're celebrating or mourning or something
in between, this, too, will pass.
16.
Trash everything in your work area that isn't useful or beautiful.
Think about
it: you're going to spend about a third of your waking adult life at work. Why
would you want to fill your work environment and that part of your life with
objects that are useless and ugly?
17.
Believe that the best is yet to come, no matter what.