Play By The Proven Rules.

BE PERSISTENT AND WORK HARD

Successful people play by a proven set of rules — principles that keep them on track whether they’re working on long- or short-term goals. Those principles govern the way they think, act and relate to others, says Richard Templar in his new book, “The Rules of Life.”

Here are a few golden rules from Templar and others:
Be the best at everything you do. “Failing (on your way to the top) is fine. Aiming for second best (and succeeding) isn’t,” Templar said.
Be flexible. The art of perseverance turns on flexibility. You’re more able to second-guess failure and come up with several ways to reach goals.
“Once you think you have all the answers, you might as well call it quits,” Templar said. “To get the most out of life, keep your options open. Be ready to roll as the storm breaks — and it always breaks when you least expect it.”
Flexible thinking “is a bit like mental marital arts — being ready to duck and weave, dodge and flow.”
To see how flexible your thinking is, answer a couple of questions, he advises. “Are the books by your bed the same sorts of books you’ve always read? Have you found yourself saying anything like, ‘I don’t know any people like that?’ If so, perhaps it’s time to broaden your mind and clear out the cobwebs.”

Handle criticism well.
A test of a leader’s strength is how he reacts when criticized, notes leadership coach James Neal Jr., author of “Job Survival Strategies.”
When being criticized or corrected, “state your position, admit errors in judgment and above all be honest and maintain emotional control.”

Ask questions.
A mentor once told Templar: “The better you understand the beliefs, actions, desires and wants of others, the more likely you are to make the right response, alter your thinking,” build relationships and succeed.
Successful people are usually the ones asking questions “while others are reacting, panicking, misinterpreting, assuming (and) losing control,” Templar noted.

Do the grunt work.
If big money and corner offices are the visible parts of success, the invisible part is the heavy lifting, says management coach Jeffrey Fox in “How to Become CEO.”
“It’s the homework, the early mornings, the weekend travel away from home, the checking and rechecking, the trial and error, and the endless hours of inch-by-inch progress that the glamour masks,” he said. “If you begrudge the grunt work, you’ll not get the glory.”

Never underestimate an opponent.
Second-guess his strategy and have a plan in place to counter it. If you overestimate him, you’ll be pleasantly surprised, Fox says.

Practice WACADAD.
It stands for “Words Are Cheap and Deeds Are Dear.” Notice where the problems lie, and work on solutions.
“Test them. Write up your proposals, and get proper distribution of your ideas,” Fox said. “Don’t talk about how good you are. Prove it with action, over and over.”

Be a credit maker, not a credit taker.
Give your people 100% of the credit for their work. They’ll strive harder, Fox says, and you’ll look good as a result. Cord Cooper

From Investor’s Business Daily