Rules, rules everywhere there are rules

I just finished reading a digested version of a book called 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan B Peterson. I thought it was an interesting read and from it grew other rules. The first one I read was My 12 rules for work, and then a response to My 12 rules for work.

If you love rules and believe that rules are made by those who know what they are doing, then having someone write the rules for you makes it easier to navigate life. However, if you are not a big believer in rules, or understand that rules are usually made up by people who don’t know anything but are trying to remove chaos from their lives, then these rules are an interesting read at least and at most a set of rules to be ignored.

If you are interested in the rules for life, then I suggest you read the book to get an understanding of what the author means. If you like rules, remember that rules usually need interpretation and for the most part, do not stand on their own.

Keeping that in mind, here are the digested version of the rules of work, followed by my rules for retirement

·        Stand up straight with your shoulders back."

·        "Treat yourself like you are someone you are responsible for helping."

·        "Make friends with people who want the best for you."

·        "Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today."

·        "Do not let your children do anything that makes you dislike them."

·        "Set your house in perfect order before you criticize the world."

·        "Pursue what is meaningful (not what is expedient)."

·        "Tell the truth — or, at least, don’t lie."

·        "Assume that the person you are listening to might know something you don’t."

·        "Be precise in your speech."

·        "Do not bother children when they are skateboarding."

·        "Pet a cat when you encounter one on the street

Here are some more rules for work 

·        Never forget work is much bigger than what you do.

·        Although you are good at what you do, remember that doesn't mean you are good at everything.

·        The person that you forgot about will throw a wrench into what you want to accomplish.

·        When someone asks if there are any questions... ask one.

·        Work is an intellectual pursuit, not an emotional one.

·        You know your business when you know your numbers.

·        Nothing gets done without good people.

·        You will get nothing done without objectives and expectations.

·        It is better to ask for forgiveness than ask for permission.

·        Measure as much as you can.

·        Raise the bar once you think you know what you are doing.

·        People don't pay for easy.

More rules for work

·        Be passionate about your work, or at least find an element of it that excites you.

·        Be prepared to do your best work. Be on time and get organized

·        Dress the part. Never show up looking like a slob.

·        Be open to ideas and input from others. Two heads are better than one.

·        Make decisions and move forward.

·        Establish deadlines and adhere to them

·        Establish objectives and meet them.

·        Be flexible enough to change your objectives or path if it no longer seems relevant or appropriate.

·        Share the load by offering help to others and by accepting help from others.

·        Admit your mistakes and dare to learn from them.

·        Be light-hearted. Nobody wants to work with miserable people.

·        Be brave and do the right thing, even when nobody else is.

Finally, my rules for retirement

1.            Find your passion

2.            Understand that you are in control of your time and your resources

3.            Be open to adventures 

4.            Ignore most deadlines, because in retirement deadlines are self-imposed

5.            Admit your mistakes and correct them.

6.            Forgive yourself for all the mistakes you made when working

7.            Smile and look on the positive

8.            Continue to do the right thing for you

9.            Learn new things

10.         Be open to new ideas.

11.        Show your love to those closest to you

12.        Help and support your children and grandchildren.