ZigZag

Hey Mind Warriors.

Thought I'd share this excellent article by Bob Parsons with you. (Found it while looking through some old documents.) It was quite popular and distributed all over the Internet in 2005. So I thought I'd post it for those of you who haven't read it and as a reminder for those of you who have. The success principles and timeless wisdom you're about to learn can help you become more successful today and for the rest of your life.

Bob Parson's is the entrepreneur who founded GoDaddy.com and before that sold his company Person's Technology to Intuit Inc for $64 million. So you're getting advice from one of the Internet's most successful and well-known entrepreneurs.

Here's the article. Enjoy.

1) Get and stay out of your comfort zone. I believe that not much happens of any significance when we're in our comfort zone. I hear people say, "But I'm concerned about security." My response to that is simple: "Security is for cadavers."

2) Never give up. Almost nothing works the first time it's attempted. Just because what you're doing does not seem to be working doesn't mean it won't work. It just means that it might not work the way you're doing it. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it, and you wouldn't have an opportunity.

3) When you're ready to quit, you're closer than you think. There's an old Chinese saying that I just love, and I believe it is so true. It goes like this: "The temptation to quit will be greatest just before you are about to succeed."

4) With regard to whatever worries you, not only accept the worst thing that could happen, but make it a point to quantify what the worst thing could be. Very seldom will the worst consequence be anywhere near as bad as a cloud of "undefined consequences." My father would tell me early on, when I was struggling and losing my shirt trying to get Parsons Technology going, "Well, Robert, if it doesn't work, they can't eat you."

5) Focus on what you want to have happen. Remember that old saying, "As you think, so shall you be."

6) Take things a day at a time. No matter how difficult your situation is, you can get through it if you don't look too far into the future and focus on the present moment. You can get through anything one day at a time.

7) Always be moving forward. Never stop investing. Never stop improving. Never stop doing something new. The moment you stop improving your organization, it starts to die. Make it your goal to be better each and every day, in some small way. Remember the Japanese concept of Kaizen. Small daily improvements eventually result in huge advantages.

8) Be quick to decide. Remember what General George S. Patton said: "A good plan violently executed today is far and away better than a perfect plan tomorrow."

9) Measure everything of significance. I swear this is true. Anything that is measured and watched improves.

10) Anything that is not managed will deteriorate. If you want to uncover problems you don't know about, take a few moments and look closely at the areas you haven't examined for a while. I guarantee you problems will be there.

11) Pay attention to your competitors, but pay more attention to what you're doing. When you look at your competitors, remember that everything looks perfect at a distance. Even the planet Earth, if you get far enough into space, looks like a peaceful place.

12) Never let anybody push you around. In our society, with our laws and even playing field, you have just as much right to what you're doing as anyone else, provided that what you're doing is legal.

13) Never expect life to be fair. Life isn't fair. You make your own breaks. You'll be doing good if the only meaning fair has to you is something that you pay when you get on a bus (i.e., fare).

14) Solve your own problems. You'll find that by coming up with your own solutions, you'll develop a competitive edge. Masura Ibuka, the cofounder of Sony, said it best: "You never succeed in technology, business, or anything by following the others." There's also an old Asian saying that I remind myself of frequently. It goes like this: "A wise man keeps his own counsel."

15) Don't take yourself too seriously. Lighten up. Often, at least half of what we accomplish is due to luck. None of us are in control as much as we like to think we are.

16) There's always a reason to smile. Find it. After all, you're really lucky just to be alive. Life is short. More and more, I agree with my little brother. He always reminds me: "We're not here for a long time; we're here for a good time."

The above article is published with the permission of Bob Parsons (BobParsons.com) and is Copyright by Bob Parsons. All rights reserved.

"Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen."—Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

bobcath

ZigZag

Thanks for posting this, it's the best post I've seen in ages. Each point is made simply but when combined into an everyday approach will be extremely powerful. This is one I'll be saving!

Regards
Bobby

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jayden.fellze

Wow, that is very well said.. it is always nice that from time to time, we'll go out form our comfort zone to live a more meaningful life.

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Mari_Quint

The first one really hit home. I am having second thoughts about moving out of my comfort zone. Not for myself really but more of my kids welfare.
I guess getting out of one's comfort zone is akin to birthing. The early stages is always painful.

honestbizpro

For someone named ZigZag that post could lead a person Straight to Success. Thanks.

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Charan Saini

Great post , please keep on posting these threads...thnks.

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MemberWing

GoDaddy.com might benefit from Bob's own rule #10 nowadays...

Gleb

Vincelog

Those are really great points! Thanks for sharing.

Cheers
Vincent
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Madame_Imm

Love it..I am so printing this out and hanging it on my wall.

Thanks!

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procoach

LOL, honestbizpro!

Thanks for the post, ZigZag. Luve it!

Sid Kaplan

Thanks Zigzag. That got printed out and put on stickies pretty fast..lol If it was a tad smaller I might have it tattooed on my forehead!

I may disagree with some of GoDaddy's practices but I sure like the content of the post.

Best

Sid

gee1

I Love it!!


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15) Don't take yourself too seriously. Lighten up. Often, at least half of what we accomplish is due to luck. None of us are in control as much as we like to think we are.
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I especially love No.15 as it puts a lot of life, success, accomplishment and happiness into perspective.

ricaparaleho

Here are also some Rules to Live by........

1) Never make a threat you don’t intend to carry out.

Your word is the only thing you have. If you make statements that you don’t carry out you will not be believed when it is very important. Think carefully when you say something and if you define a cause and effect ("If you leave, I’ll never talk to you again") be prepared to make good on the threat.

Therefore it is important to think carefully, word carefully and leave yourself an out ("If you leave now, I won’t talk to you until you apologize.")

If you do this consistently, then when you do talk people will pay attention, and as a bonus you will be more precise in your communication and less reactionary.

2) Don’t **** where you eat.

This usually involves sex, but could also include a multitude of unsavory activities. Mostly it means don’t do things that might effect you negatively close to home. For instance, don’t sleep with the daughter of an important client. Don’t steal from a friend.

3) Don’t mess with the devil in his own backyard.

Don’t get greedy. If the risk is too high, pull out. It is better to make several smaller scores then get busted on one bigger one.

4) The Glass Is.

Aka… Life begins today.

Is the glass half empty or half full? The glass simply is. Play the hand you are dealt. Enjoy life as it is, don’t waste life wishing it were different, or waiting for something to change..

I have a lot of trouble remembering this one.

5) Don’t **** with trucks.

Aka… Know what battles not to fight.

Sometimes it is better to walk away. Know when a battle is going to cost you more than winning is worth.

6) Never get angry because someone stops doing you a favor.

Aka... Don't take things for granted

Aka... Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened.

This occurs most often with family, friends and associates. Just because someone has taken it upon themselves to do something repeated, does not give you the right to get upset if they suddenly decide they no longer wish to. For example: the office worker that always brings the donuts, the family member that always sets the table. If they decide not to, do not be angry remember to be grateful for the favor they saw fit to grant for that time period. This extends to larger issues like relationships and Government "entitlements" as well.

It is human nature to feel neglected, slighted or wronged in these situation, but really you are just pissing on the past favors - and if you can manage that mental manipulation you will be much happier and more grateful for what is around.

7) Inflow equals outflow.

Aka… You reap what you sow

Aka… Kindness is it’s own reward

Aka… Kindness begets kindness

Flipside… The downward Spiral

When you are happy with your life, it is easy to eliminate or reduce envy and bitterness. Without envy it is natural to do the little things that promote harmony and peace in those around you. With peace in your environment you will become happy.

The only trick to this cycle is starting the ball rolling. You can do that at any time.

8) The price is the price

Aka… Know your worth.

Set a fair price for your product or service and then strive to produce the best produce or offer the best service, but do not negotiate on the price. If they are not willing to meet the price then your product needs to be improved.

9) Loyalty beyond self

We are lucky if in this world there are one or two people we truly trust at our backs. Treat these people as if they are yourself. When they need you be there even if it is a sacrifice. Be generous; give them the better end of the deal. In life all that really matters is family and friends.

10) Stuff can be replaced.

Aka… Don’t let your stuff rule you

Aka… Your worth is in you.

Nothing you can buy is worth sweating about. If it gets damaged or stolen, no matter what it cost, how hard you worked for it, or how irreplaceable it seems at the moment, it is just stuff. Don’t let your life be dragged down worrying about the state of your stuff. If you lose something, or it is stolen, let it go, don’t waste time dwelling on it.

Money really doesn't buy happiness. Enough money for freedom and security is all you need. Beyond that it can begin to run your life, rather than freeing you to enjoy your life as you want.

This also extends to the idea "Why pay for it twice?" People will buy things and be unhappy with them but still continue to stick with them and use them because they paid for them. In my mind this is paying for something twice, once in cash, and once in unhappiness and inconvenience. Stuff is just stuff, like excess money, it is only as important as the happiness and security it brings. It is not important itself.

11) All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

This is the flipside of ‘Don’t **** with trucks’. Some battles you have to fight, regardless of the cost, if the result of not fighting the fight reduces the quality of your world and lowers the enjoyment of life for those you care about.

Some people are very unhappy and do what they can to stop those around them from being happy. Do whatever it takes to remove these people from your environment.

12) God is an Iron

Aka… Chance favors the prepared mind.

Aka… What you don’t know can hurt you.

Aka… Prepare for the X-Factor

Aka… The early worm gets eaten by the bird.

Think through conventional wisdom. Everything has a flipside. See things from all angles and plan accordingly. Always, always, always have several contingency plans, as the universe has an infinite number of surprises up its sleeve.

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wow..this post enlightens my perspective in life and brings the positivity in me. thanks for sharing these guidelines or rules to live by.

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tamaradaria

Wow...that hit the nail on the head.

#13 is my favorite!

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CalvinB

That about sums up everything you need to succeed in life.

Thanks,

Calvin

moneysoapbox

This list could not be any truer.

I strongly feel for #7, #14, #15 and #16 most of all.

JayMachado

#2, #3, and #7 really hit me square between the eyes. I'm always thinking of the story in Think and Grow Rich about being 3 feet from gold. It gets me every time and this post hit all the right spots. FANTASTIC. Thanks for sharing.

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Achilles1963

I like #15, It reminds me of what a rich tycoon said (i forget who), If you were right 51% of the time, you would be rich, if your not rich then you are probably not even right half the time

powerspike

I love these rules to live by, i also like one that isn't is on the line "Keep looking back to get the motivation to move forward". I have always taken it as, you'll never reach your goals (they always evolve and change), but if you look at what you have done, you'll see that you have accomplished alot and it'll give you the motivation to keep going.

Drew Castle

Excellent list, I do my best to follow those every day.

Biggy Fat

I lost my smile at the age of eighteen. It has been eight years and I haven't found it yet.

Great list nonetheless!

GameOver

Thats some good info. Reminds me of when I used to read zen habits blog.

shatner

thanks for posting this. Now i have the reason to smile

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A. Caples

Thank you ZigZag. Definitely some guidelines to keep in mind when seeking out our own endeavors.

$Layla$

Love it, live by it, did I mention it is hanging on my wall in the computer room where I am most often. Its been forever since I've saw anyone reference it.

Marlinark

"A man must be free for he can always choose his rules and rulers."
~Matthew Christiansen

Sonam22

Excellent posting.Well I can say few rules to live by;
*Realize your own worth. Avoid comparing yourself with others. Each of us is special, because we are different one from the other.

*Set your own goals based on what is important to you, not what others think is important. Only you know what is best for you

*Treasure the things that are closest to your heart. Cherish them as you would your life, without them life is meaningless.

*Live your dreams. To be without dreams is to be without hope; to be without hope is to be without purpose.

Camagu

excellent, thanks

dsanchez

I like all those points.

This is one of those posts that is worth getting a print out of to stick it on your computer, or in a place close enough for us to read it every day, more than once.

Dagmar