16 Rules for Success

posted by Christopher on June 26, 2008

{{stephanie}} A blog post made more than three years ago is still making its rounds amongst business professionals…sounds like a good one! Bob Parsons, GoDaddy.com CEO and founder lays out his 16 rules to live by.

Last week, the President of Spark Internet Marketing, Clive Lobo, sent us all an email with the “16 rules to live by” laid out by GoDaddy.com’s CEO and founder, Bob Parsons, on his blog. The rules are timeless and hold value in any business. What made me laugh about all of this is that the article was written more than 3 years ago and is still being circulated amongst the business community around the world. It is my turn to spread these rules a little further if I can. Great advice and a fun read…enjoy!

Directly from Parsons himself…

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 co-founder 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!”

Which one was your favourite? My favourite is number 10: “Anything that is not managed will deteriorate”. This is true of everything in each area of life. Your health will deteriorate should you not monitor what you consume and do. A marriage can crumple if energy is not placed in that space. The good news is that with focus and energy, those things can be turned around. A failing department can be uplifted; and a fractured relationship can be mended…that is something that we do have control and power over in this world.

Share and Enjoy:

Comments (17 Comments)

DrSeo
June 26, 2008

7. Always be moving forward. I 100% agree witht his statment.

thank you for the positive post!
Monavie
June 26, 2008

Number 3 was my favorite.”When you’re ready to quit, you’re closer than you think.” It is something that I need to keep in mind. I can see why this post has been going around still after 3 years. It has tips that can be used for anything in life, work, relationships, personal goals. You name it. Great list, thanks for sharing.
Email Marketing World
June 27, 2008

hhhmmm…really nice topics you have mentioned over here…this will help to build confidence yourself..I most like #8..We should have confidence to take decision quick in any situation..

Thanks for share.
Free Backlinks
June 28, 2008

Sure, it is sound advice, but I doubt he was thinking any of those when he made it big. It was afterthought if you ask me. Maybe a reflection afterwards of what worked for him, but my point is if you spend more time reading these things and trying to figure out how to do them, then you probably will not make it anyway.
Tianyi
July 1, 2008

Thanks for the encouragement. Got me motivated again
Stephanie
July 1, 2008

Thanks Tianyi and everyone for your comments!!

~S
Michael
July 1, 2008

I really like the number 3 so much “When you’re ready to quit, you’re closer than you think.” That is very inspiring.
Utah SEO Firm
July 1, 2008

This really got me going. I have been slacking a little and am going to get my game back. Thanks.
Watch Free Movies Online
July 2, 2008

Wow! Almost everything that you said back there is awesome. No wonder this post is so popular…Motivating post…Thank you
Neugent Reality
July 2, 2008

Nice post….really admire it
Car Rental Atlanta
July 3, 2008

Wonderful tips! Thanks for sharing.
Car Shipping
July 3, 2008

I agree — Life isn’t fair.. Life is tough!

Great post!
BCBSNC
July 7, 2008

Never giving up is key.. Failure should only motivate one to work harder and keep pushing to meet their goals!
Ron X Jansen
July 7, 2008

I don’t agree with post no 8: decide quick. Decisions made on rational and emotional basis. Several studies proved that the best decisions are based on our under consciousness. This doens’t have anything to do with quick or slow deciding.
Reno Nevada Real Estate
July 9, 2008

Great post. Thank’s a lot for sharing.
sample marketing plan
July 15, 2008

sample marketing plan…

I stumbled upon your blog by accident a month or so ago and have found myself coming back to it at least a few times every week. You have become my favorite pick me up in the middle of a hectic work day. I love your writing and your thoughts — both ar…
Erin Campbell
November 12, 2008

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16 Rules for Success

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