You are about to become a Rules Player. You are about to
embark on a life-changing adventure, possibly, if you choose
to accept your mission. You are about to discover ways to
become positive, happy, and successful in everything you do.
So there’s no need to say anything to anybody about it. Keep
quiet. No one likes a smart arse. That’s it. First Rule: Keep It
Under Your Hat.
There may well be times when you do want to talk to other
people about what you’re doing because, quite naturally, you
want to share it with somebody. Well, you can’t and you don’t.
Let people find out for themselves with no clues from you.
You may think this unfair, but it is actually fairer than you
believe. If you tell them, they’ll shy away. And quite rightly
so—we all hate being preached at. It’s a bit like when you give
up smoking and suddenly find this new healthier way of living
and you simply have to convert all your old smoking friends.
Trouble is, they aren’t ready to quit yet and you find they label
you as smug or self-righteous or, even worse, an ex-smoker.
And how we all hate those.
So the first Rule is, quite simply, don’t preach, propagate, try to
convert, shout from the rooftops, or even mention this.
You will get a warm glow from changing your attitude to life
and having people ask what it is you have done, are doing,
and you can say that it’s nothing, merely a sunny day and you
feel better/happier/livelier/whatever. There is no need to go
into any detail because that’s not really what people want to
know. In fact, it’s exactly the opposite of what they want to know. It’s a bit like when someone asks how you are. What
they want to really hear is just the one word, “Fine.” Even if
you are in the very pits of despair, that’s all people want to
hear because anything more requires commitment on their
part. And for a casual “How are you?”, that’s most certainly
not what they want. What they want is just “Fine.” And then
they can be about their business without any further involve-
ment. If you don’t say “Fine” but instead unburden yourself,
they will back off pretty quickly.
And it’s the same with being a Rules Player. No one really
wants to know, so keep quiet. How do I know? Because when
I wrote The Rules of Work, which turned a lot of people onto
the ability to be successful in the workplace without having to
resort to underhand means, I suggested the same thing and
found it worked. Just get on with it, do it quietly, and go about
your daily life happily and smugly without having to tell
anyone anything.
RULE 1
DON’T PREACH,
PROPAGATE,
OR EVEN MENTION THIS.
