Jack Brown
Guest Contributor
Jack Brown, former DC and RC of the Southeast region of MDI, shares some rules to life, some he invented himself, some he has updated from others.
Rule No. 1: Life is not fair. Get used to it. Life will knock your face in the dirt. The measure of who you are as a man is what you do about it. B
Rule No. 2: The real world doesn’t care as much about your self-esteem as you do. It expects you to accomplish something before you feel good about yourself.
Rule No. 3: The world doesn’t owe you anything, not a job, a house or someone to love you.
Rule No. 4: Your job is to perform as you have agreed, on time, every time and with high integrity. When you screw up, own it, and clean it up. Your Boss isn’t always right but they are still the Boss.
Rule No. 5: Respecting others is a reflection of your own self-respect. Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity.
Rule No. 6: Where you are in life and how you got there is not your parent’s fault, your wife or ex-wife’s fault, your boss’ fault or the fault of anyone else. See Rule No. 1. And don’t whine about it. Whining will never get you laid.
Rule No. 7: Failures are great lessons for which you often have paid a heavy price. Appreciate them, learn from them, and let them make you wiser, stronger, more aware.
Rule No. 8: You don’t always get what you expect or what you think you have earned. Not time off or a promotion or another chance. If you want more from life than you have, get into action and make it happen.
Rule No. 9: Life doesn’t stop. It comes at you point blank! And it goes on and on. While you are trying to find yourself; get a grip; rest up; recover… your competition is moving ahead.
Rule No. 10: Television is not real life. Your life is not a sitcom. Your problems will not all be solved in 30 minutes or an hour. Real life doesn’t guarantee a happy ending. Only you can do that.
Rule No. 11: Be nice to nerds. You may end up working for them. We all could. Actually, try to be nice to everyone. You never know what hand will pull you out of the suck-hole one day.
Rule No. 12: You may have a need for self expression. In the real world, your self expression may cost you. Weigh your costs and benefits carefully.
Rule No. 13: You are not immortal. You don’t have forever. Time is precious and will run out.
Rule No. 14: Everyday is an opportunity. Whether you take it or not is up to you.
Rule No. 15: Life can be difficult. Joy and happiness, peace of mind, good will to those around you, a positive attitude are each a choice you can make every day.
Rule No. 16: A really good idea will stay dormant until you take action and bring it to life. Inspiration without perspiration will stay on the couch until one day you notice that someone else made it happen.
Rule No. 17: Your body will break down and wear out, especially if you don’t maintain it.
Rule No: 18: What you have is a result of what you have been committed to.
Rule no. 19: Sometimes you will quit. Don’t blame, whine or make excuses. Suck it up, own it, learn from it, don’t make it a habit.
Rule No. 20: Believe in yourself and your decisions. But if four men you trust tell you you’re wrong, at least hear them out.
Rule No. 21: Give back. Many people will have helped you. Some you know, most you don’t. Appreciate your community and lend your shoulder to making it better.
Rule No. 22: Keep an open mind. You might learn something new and it might help you achieve your goals.
Rule No. 23: Make your bed when you get up everyday. Then no matter what else happens you will have accomplished something.
Rule No. 24: When you find yourself losing or lost, deep in the ditch of life and wondering what to do next, just do the “next right thing”. Step by step it will take you back to where you want to be.
Rule No. 25: Don’t quit! Life can pile on but only you can quit.