Given how busy entrepreneurs are, it is interesting to note that the average successful entrepreneur reads about 17 books a year. “Every book teaches me something new or helps me see things differently,” Gates says. “Reading fuels a sense of curiosity about the world, which I think helped drive me forward in my career.” Bill is often credited as being an oddball who strives to read a book each week. Books serve as a fountain, a collection of condensed knowledge, ready to be poured out to anyone who would partake in its pages. Developing a habit of reading will yield dividends in all areas of one’s life.
Today we will be looking at “12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos”. A Canadian clinical psychologist turned controversial author and personality, Jordan Peterson has described himself and his style as “traditionalist.” Regardless of one’s political affiliation, it is essential to explore available media to extract information that may be beneficial.
Highlighted for discussion below are some rules that are of particular interest.
Rule 1: Stand up straight with your shoulders back.
This rule is presentation, the way we present ourselves to others and, most importantly, to ourselves. Behavioral psychology indicates that proper posture displays self-confidence, competence, and self-respect. These are all qualities that are important for making great first impressions with people.
Rule 2: Treat Yourself like someone you care about.
Imagine you had a child or a ward you were responsible for. How would you treat them? Would you approve of their every desire? Or allow them to wallow in unproductive behavior. Often, this is how we treat ourselves; we forget that we are responsible for our actions and wellbeing. Therefore, we ought to treat ourselves like someone worth caring for. This is frankly a hard thing to do. This isn’t the same as being nice to yourself. It means picking yourself up when there’s a job to do, being disciplined and focused. It means adopting responsibility and ownership over your life.
Rule 3: Associate with those who want the best for you.
We are, by and large, a function of the community that surrounds us. Having the right people in one’s life can often be the difference between success and failure. It is rare to find individuals who are genuinely concerned with one’s wellbeing and personal success. However, it is not impossible. A support system is vital for our social and emotional wellbeing. A consequence of having people who want the best for you is accountability. They will demand the best from you and help you along your journey through life.
Rule 4: Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today.
“Envy is the art of counting the other fellow’s blessings instead of your own”- Harold Coffin.
To move forward in life, we need some goals to aim at. Be it wealth, happiness, etc. A consequence, however, is that we can become envious of people who we think have attained that goal we are striving for. The fact of the matter is that every person is on their journey. It is far more productive to have yourself as a rival. Measure improvement and progress by who you were yesterday. This mindset will teach you to constantly take stock of your life and propel you to your goals.
Rule 5: Assume that the person that you’re listening to might know something you don’t
This rule isn’t necessarily about respect; it’s about humility and a willingness to learn. You have to decide what’s important- What you know or what you don’t know.
Mentors, experts, and so on will have more experience and knowledge. Pay attention. Practice listening more and speaking less. Humility in conversations allows you to learn more, forge better connections and improve as a person.
For entrepreneurs or business owners, it is vital to learn and update ourselves constantly. There are many ways to learn and even more subjects to study. Besides learning about business and finance, we should not neglect to gain personal virtues.
“Don’t just go through life, grow through life” -Eric Butterworth
