Never stop learning and you’ll never get bored.

I don’t even need to go into this one. If you have read through my blog then you know my view on learning. Besides which it is so much fun!!

It doesn’t have to be large feats of learning, take on small things. But try it, in fact, I suggest making it one of your 2008 resolutions. Learn something new every day of this year. Imagine, you would know 366 new things by the end of the year. Wow! Doesn’t that impress even you?

As a business owner or manager, strive to become a “jack of all trades” rather than a “talented specialist”.

So many people go into business because they are good at X. They think that because they can successfully do X, they will be successful in a business that does X. Of course, the generally high failure rate of businesses shows us how wrong they are.

A business owner needs to know so much more. They in fact need to have some knowledge of all areas of running a business - how to market the business, how to sell the product, how to manage customers, finances, inventory etc. This list continues to grow as the business grows and they need to learn how to interview and hire employees, how to manage employees, etc.

It’s no wonder that so many people shy away from running their own business. The key is preparation. Learn about the different areas before going into business for yourself. Even if you plan to outsource some of the functions, for example, have an accountant manage your finances, then you still need to understand the fundamentals.

This holds even in our personal lives. Don’t become so focused on one area that you cannot function in other areas. Learn as much as you can about all sorts of other things and you will be more rounded and ultimately more successful.

A smart marketer never reinvents the wheel.

Wow, this rule started out by saying ‘don’t be too original or different in your ideas’. That is a little drastic. The main point is really to not waste too much effort relearning those lessons learnt by others, or put another way learn from the efforts (and mistakes) of others.

There is a lot to be said for this. Though there is same value is learning the hard way, you should look out for those times when you could gain by skipping over the shaky first steps and building on what someone else has done.

The truth is we have become very accustomed to doing just this. When writing letters we don’t sit and try to start from scratch every single time - we use templates already created that will fit what we need. We use maps that someone else worked out for us so we don’t have to guess how to get where we’re going.

Try doing it in other areas. Starting a business? Get advice from someone who has been through it. Then go right ahead and apply your own original and different spin on things.

Effective communication is the key to self-determination.

There is no under-estimating the importance of communication. The most successful people you know are usually also excellent communicators. They may not have excelled in all areas of communication but they have found some way to express their ideas and share them with others.

If you recognize that you have weaknesses in the area of communication, then strive for improvement. Don’t only focus on written communication but examine your skills in spoken communication, especially public speaking. Another critical area is that of body language which communicates so much without words.

Communication alone will not lead you to success. But improvement in those areas will become a tremendous asset that will follow you wherever you go and will always serve you well.

To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;
To know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.

This is to have succeeded.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

If there’s anybody out there that has been reading these golden rules, I apologize for the little break in transmission. I had just finished typing up Golden Rule #19 and when I hit post, the internet connection chose that moment to act up and my post vanished into the wilderness of cyberspace. I now need to psyche myself up to type it over.

Leaders lead, followers scramble.

You should always aim to set the pace rather than follow behind someone else. In business this means be proactive and innovate rather than procrastinate and mimic someone else’s work. This really equates to being the best, or at least striving to be the best. If you are the best then you have set the standard for others to follow.

On a personal level, this rule can still be put to use as you should aim to set your own direction and be the best that you can. You will similarly be setting a path for others to follow with you as an example. Don’t settle for following in the footsteps on another. Find your way for yourself and lead your life.

Those who plan and act for the future don’t get walked all over when it finally comes.

There are those people who believe that destiny is what will determine their future. These people honestly believe that life will unfold and you will get what you are to get when the time comes.

There are other people who believe in actively participating in the direction that their life takes. These people prefer to have a say in their life’s path and will involve themselves in planning and moving towards the future.

If you have read enough of this blog, you should know which way I lean (though I have not perfected the whole goal-setting and following through just yet). But the quick summary, life is made up of choices which determine the way our life goes. Even not choosing is a choice that will have an impact on our future so choose wisely.

You can’t be all things to all people.

If you think about it, there is no product in the world that meets the needs of all people exactly as it is. That’s one reason a lot of companies will provide a base model and then allow for custom options. The other thing we see in the business world is companies accepting that not all people will be their customers. Trying to go after all people leads to a company without focus and a series of confusing messages.

This philosophy applies generally in the world of business where it is often said that people want things quick cheap and good, but they can only get two of the three at any one time. If you apply this to human relations we quickly see the root of stress for many people as they try to be all the things that other people want of them, all at the same time.

You need to decide who you want to be, what you want to do and then fit the people around you into that because trying to be all these things to please other people will only burn you out and then at the end of it there will still be somebody who feels sleighted. So focus on being a few things to a few important people and see how much happier you are.

Change is the gateway to innovation.

Change begets change. A series of changes will require new infrastructure, new products, new services, new ways of thinking. This is true in society, in business and in personal relationships. Small changes may have a small impact or a large one. Large changes typically require significant change to support them.

In all things, we must be aware of changes around us, but not just observe them - encourage change as that is the path to improvement, and then look for opportunities in that change.