I started working when I was 13 years old, and I’ve been working ever since. Over the course of four decades, I’ve adopted four rules for myself to help me keep a happy, productive working life. I don’t always follow them, but when I do, I look forward to the beginning of the work day more than the end. Hope you enjoy reading them and sharing your own rules and comments:
Rule 1: THINK BIG. start small. Act Now.
I credit Phyllis Tilson Piotrow with teaching me this great mantra. By following it, I’ve found myself ahead of the curve by three to five years in innovations. It’s so simple and powerful at the same time. Thinking big means to me that we should allow ourselves to envision great victories. And when we do, it naturally gives us general directions. Starting small means to me that one can afford to make mistakes at first by testing different approaches to achieving the greater vision. The investment is not so great that it creates barriers, and the exposure is not so daunting to us. Act now means to me that we should take our small steps without engaging in excessive planning, policy-making, and preparation. Certainly, we should start doing these right away, and they are very important to long-term success. But acting now allows us to create a feeling of momentum that excites, motivates, and focuses us on our work.