Five Rules for Life

8/2/2019 Five Rules for Life

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/five-rules-for-life 1/10

27/12 Fie Rle Fo Life

elefolife.blogpo.in

Featured Five Rules

The Featured "Five Rules" is selected by the editor, possibly with input from random

strangers. The criteria is simple - I [we] liked it.

The featured contributor is Brian Johnson:

brian johnson is a marketing consultant and professional speaker; he has presented to

crowds that number in the thousands, but he is mos t proud of being a husband and father of

two beautiful daughters.

Here are Brian's "Five Rules For Life":

1.) Challenge yourself.

Set goals that make you s-t-r-e-t-c-h. It is a cop-out to make things too easy - always take it

to the next level and don't be afraid to fail. I would rather fail trying to do something that

made me expand my abilities and work harder than I ever thought I could rather than

succeed at doing s omething I knew I could accomplish with my eyes closed.

2.) Make yourself a brand.

Sit down and decide what you want to be, and what you want people to associate with you.

Map it out and then work hard to make it a reality. When people think of me they think of

three things: someone that helps organizations with their image and messaging; a

captivating and entertaining speaker; a loving husband and father. That is my brand. Who

are you?

3.) Realize that happiness isn't something you "obtain".

The sooner you realize that happiness is not something you obtain like a piece of furniture

or a job, the more likely you are to achieve it. Most people think they will be happy if they

get a promotion, make a sale, start a relationship with someone, or buy a certain kind of

car. But happiness i s created, not acquired. Have you ever wondered why - as a general rule

- people with less are happier than people with more?

4.) L ive responsibly.

This has many meanings to me - but basically it means don't ignore injustices, treat others

with respect, do what is right for the world and environment, and quit thinking it is

"someone else's" job.

5.) Get a dog.

A dog loves you unconditionally. A dog thinks you are the greatest, coolest, smartest, most

successful person in the world. Get a dog and work hard to live up to its expectations.

The premise is simple - people from all wal

share what they believe are the most

important rules to follow for a happy,

successful, and fulfilling life.

At one time or another we have all said "if

only knew then what I know now..."; now

your chance to share. What are your "Five

Rules For Life"?

NEW - get bite-sized chunks of the most

popular rules on twitter; @5rulesforlife

Subscribe / be notified of new posts via R

reader or email

WHA T IS IT ALL ABOUT?

Many thanks to all the supporters who havhelped promote the site - I appreciate the

links and positive feedback. And many mor

thanks to those who have submitted their

"Five Rules"; it is continued participation

from the readers that will keep the site

fresh and interesting. I hope everyone wil

continue to read and spread the word (te

a friend, send an email, post a link, send a

tweet).

On a personal note, I am working on two

things for 2012 - a non-fiction book and a

novella; both promise to be packed with

insight and entertainment! If you are

interested in being notified when they areavailable, send me an email* and I will

provide the details when each is due to b

released. As always, I never sell, trade, or

give away your email address or contact

information.

Regards,

Jon

*email to fiverulesforlife [at] gmail [dot] co

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR:

HELPFUL LINKS:

Share Report Abuse Next Blog Create Blog Sign In




elefolife.blogpo.in

Brian currently resides in New York City.

______________________________

Check back soon for a new Featured "Five Rules".

And check out the new compilation post - "Five Rules For L ife" - editor's choice.

______________________________

1peon

Submitted by Charles Malet

charles malet is a sales manager for an auto dealership, and a father of a teenage daughter

(which, he says, is more much more demanding than his job). in his spare time he coaches

youth soccer and takes his wife antique shopping.

Here are Charles' "Five Rules For Life":

1.) Use kind, encouraging words.

You will be amazed at the difference you make in someones day (and life) when you say

something as simple as “good job”, “I appreciate your efforts”, “I support you”.

Encouraging words fos ter goodwill, and goodwill will come back around to benefit you.

2.) Learn to say “Im sorry”.

Most people hate admitting they are wrong, which feeds the “me vs. you” attitude that

divides us. We all make mistakes , and when we do we should be quick to acknowledge them

and say “Im sorry”. We are all in this together – compassion will help us grow as a society

(Rule 2A – similarly, when someone offers you a sincere apology for something they have

done wrong, forgive them).

Watch the video

Press and Cool Stuff

More about "Five Rules For Life"

Frequently Asked Questions

How to navigate the site

Recent visitor map -

they come from all over!

NEW! FOLLOW US ON TWITTER!

Subscribe / be notified of new posts via R

reader or Email

"Five Rules For Life" - editors choice (3rcompilation)

"Five Rules For Life" - editor's choice (2compilation)

"Five Rules For Life"- editor's choice (1s

compilation)Terry Shannon, Personal Trainer

Brian Johnson, Professional Speaker

John Durham, Senior Pastor at FirstBaptist Church

Baron Roberson, Founder of Elite Trade

Toni Leathers, Creative Professional

Lloyd Wright, CEO of PrescientTechnologies

David Quilty, Author of "The Good Huma

Barry Sigismondi, Actor

Eric Neher, Information TechnologyProfessional

Jon Andre, Founder of "Five Rules ForLife"

Mark Childs, Creator

Michael Pelham, Core Team Leader atHewlett-Packard

Chris Chester, World Traveler andBusiness Expert

David Blank, Author of "The T.A.D.Principle"

Danielle LaPorte, Author and Speaker

Christopher Williams, Financial Officer

POPULAR SUBMISSIONS:

To submit your rules send an email to:

fiverulesforlife [at] gmail [dot] com

Include your name, location, and a brief

(one or two line) bio.

Terms, Conditions, Privacy Policy

SUBMIT OUR "FIVE RULES FOR LIFE":




elefolife.blogpo.in

3.) Learn to say “thank you”.

I am amazed at how many people dont acknowledge the efforts of others. Be it a waiter,

the cashier at the grocery store, or the person in the drive-thru window, be quick to tell

them thank you for their help. I once had someone tell me “Im paying them, its their job.”

This kind of self-absorbed attitude makes the world a little colder and people a little more

distant; resist the urge to be stingy with gratitude.

4.) Take a step in the right direction.

You dont have to conquer the world or achieve your goals in one fell swoop. Instead, you

just need to take a step in the right direction. If you want to lose weight and look better,

put on your shorts (or sweats) and go for a jog. Or take the stairs. Or go to the gym – even

if its just for 30 minutes. Take a step in the right direction, and you will be one step ahead

of the person who will start tomorrow.

5.) Choose happiness.

Happiness doesnt come when you buy something. It comes when you realize you have the

capacity for happiness inside of you, right now. Its a decision, a choice. And it is totally up

to you.

Charles currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona.

______________________________

Recommendhi on

Submitted by Xin Gu

xin gu is a performance coach who helps her clients achieve success. she teaches how to

become a high performer, remove mental blocks and align closely with your ambitions. to

learn more about optimizing your inner achiever, visit her website and subscribe to her e-

newsletter.

note from Xin - "When distilling life rules, I have to generalize. This means these rules are

applicable for most s ituations; please read them in that frame."

Here are Xin Gu's " Five Rules For Life":

1.) Seek self-knowledge.

If you know who and what you are, you will know where and how to go about your life. This is

the most effective way to get to what you want. To gain self-knowledge starts with being

discerning: listen to your own thoughts, be cognizant of your actions, and really feel your

feelings. Whatever comes up, dont react, just accept.

2.) Dont react, just accept and motivate.

Negative experiences in life tend to stall us. The trick is to move on from them as fast and

as effective as possible. Moving on does NOT mean to reject the bad experience, living in

denial, or wallowing in it. Instead, when you encounter a negative experience, simply pause,

acknowledge something bad has happened, and then find a peaceful and motivating way tomove on.

3.) Be authentically successful.

If you can align what it means to be s uccessful with your authenticity, then achieving one

will allow you to achieve the other simultaneously. To be authentically successful means

bringing fruition, realization and materialization to your dreams. This is a worthy goal, as

this is what YOU are about.

4.) Try everything twice.

We are often too quick to judge. When we dont like something, the impulse is to reject it.

Yet, that often carries the price tag of limiting our horizon unnecessarily. One rule that

works well is to try everything twice. When you dont like something at firs t brush, withhold

judgment, and try it again. Youll have a much better formed opinion that reflects what you




elefolife.blogpo.in

truly like or dont like. This will be a clear road sign for you as to where to go and where not

to go.

5.) Laugh.

See the humor in things , especially when you feel stressed out. Alleviating intensity allows

you to be clear-headed, and therefore able to act from a place of power. One quick way to

see humor in things is to simply pretend you are an observer rather than the person going

through the situation. As an observer, youll have a much easier time to laugh at the

situation. After your laugh, trust me, youll have renewed energy to tackle the challenge.

When you know who you are, unperturbed by negative experiences, willing to stay open, able

to see the humor in things, and always align your work with your authenticity, you are bound

to be successful in life.

Xin currently resides in New York City, New York.

______________________________

Recommendhi on

Submitted by Bennett Gavrish

bennett gavrish is a software developer by day and a novelist by night. he graduated from

boston university in 2010 with a journalism degree. he released his debut novel, "train

wreck" , last year.

...editor's note - I met Bennett on the Internets (hey Redditors), and have read his novel

"Train Wreck". It is a unique story and a well-written book - I highly encourage you to check

it out. He also has a site where he reviews books here.

Here are Bennett's "Five Rules For Life":

1.) Make time to be bored.

I hate wasting time, so I have a tendency to over-manage my daily schedule in an effort to

constantly stay productive. It's a great strategy for getting chores and menial tasks done,

but it does not foster creativity. As a writer, I've found that my best ideas come to me

during a state of boredom. To take advantage of that, I have to force myself to leave empty

parts of the day and let my mind wander. Even if you don't consider yourself a creative

person, mak ing time to be bored can give your brain a needed rest and help you focus later

on.

2.) Don't do things you have to pretend are fun.

Throughout college, I played video games on almost a daily basis. The weird part was that I

didn't actually enjoy playing them. But everyone I knew thought video games were fun, so I

tried to convince myself they were. This was supposed to be a form of entertainment, yet

playing them felt more like a task to me. Finally I stopped lying to myself, admitted video

games weren't fun for me, and stopped spending so much time on them. It was a big relief

and gave me a chance to explore other hobbies and activities that I actually look forward to.

Remember – entertainment is supposed to be fun!

3.) Stop drinking soda and switch to water right now.

I'm no health or diet expert, but recently I lost 100 pounds by making just a few changes to

my lifestyle. I know that the most effective change was to completely cut soda and other

sugary beverages out of my diet and become a water drinker. I go through almost a gallon a

day and feel healthier than I ever have before.

4.) Do only one thing at a time.

The invention of computers and smartphones have convinced us that multitasking is an

important sk ill. Too bad our brains and bodies really aren't cut out to handle it. Whether it's

at home or at work, you'll be most productive if you can simplify your tasks and set out to

tackle them one at a time.




elefolife.blogpo.in

5.) Put yourself in the other person's shoes before judging.

It's easy to convince yourself that your own opinion is right and everyone else's logic is

flawed. Don't be lazy. Take the time to adopt the perspective of other people before making

a judgement about them. That guy that just cut you off in traffic during your morning

commute? Sure, maybe he's just a dick – or maybe he's rushing to the hospital to see a sick

family member. Either way, showing some patience and empathy can reduce stress and

make you a more attractive human being.

Bennett currently resides in Boston, Massachusetts.

______________________________

Recommendhi on

Submitted by Thomas Hanes

thomas hanes is a father of two and a sales manager at a promotional products company.

when he isnt working or chasing the kids, he is trying to battle his internet addiction (but

is quick to point out that between facebook, twitter, and reddit, he usually loses the

battle).

Here are Thomas' "Five Rules For Life":

1.) Don't act like an ass.

I learned long ago that life is better for everyone if you dont act like an ass . You dont even

have to be nice and kind – wherever you go, whatever you do, just dont act like an ass.

2.) You are responsible for your happiness.

Others won't change to please you. Your happiness is your job. If you expect otherwise, you

invite a frustrating life.

3.) Look at yourself first.

If you always s eem to have drama in your life, you are probably the one causing the drama.

In my experience, drama begets drama, rudeness begets rudeness, and ineptitude begets

ineptitude.

4.) Change is up to you.

Dont wait for external events to happen before you make an internal change. If you are

waiting, you are just making excuses and you will continue to make them regardless of what

happens.

5.) M ind the company you keep.

You are who you hang out with. Look at your closest acquaintances – the people you spend

the most time with. Do they reflect the morals, the values, the work ethic that you admire?

If the answer is “no”, then you probably dont either. Surround yourself with people that

make you a better person.




elefolife.blogpo.in

Thomas currently resides in Orlando, Florida.

______________________________

Recommendhi on

Submitted by Andy Hayes

andy hayes is known as that travel guy. hes a small business coach, founder of a network

of travel and tourism websites, and a world traveler himself. follow him on twitter,

@andrewghayes.

Here are Andys “Five Rules For Life”:

1.) Get clear on your why.

There are a lot of things in this world that we use to “define” ourselves. Often it is our

career. For others it is where we live or the friends we keep. Maybe for you it is how you

dress. And if those things are so important reflections of yourself, why did you make those

choices? It doesnt matter whether you choose to live minimalist or whether you choose to

be an entrepreneur or whether you have pink hair. But why?

2.) Breathe.

Do it, right now – take a deep breath, down to the core of your stomach. Now, isnt that

much better? So many of us are in such a rush we forget to breathe. We need oxygen, and

we need it deep. Bonus points if youre smiling while you do it.

3.) Get to know your gut.

Speaking of breathing deep, that thing down there, its your gut. Your flinching instinct. Its

usually right – but you knew that. What you probably are having a hard time with is listening

to it – whats it trying to tell you. Spend some time listening. Youll learn what it is saying, if

you listen long enough.

4.) Find someone you trust.

You cant do it alone. It doesnt matter what “it” is – live, life, love, relationships….

sometimes you need the external perspective, the proverbial slap in the face. Other times

you just need someone to share whatever youre experiencing. Its hard to know who to

trust. But try to find them – and once you do, nurture your relationship with them. Theyre

worth more than gold.

5.) Try it.

Ive given this advice more times than I could ever count, and it is advice I could take

myself more often. There are so many cliché quotes about regretting not what we did but

what we didnt do, but the reason there are so many is because were all afraid, and we

need to push past that to really get somewhere. As Melissa Etheridge says, “Our power ends

precisely where our fear begins.”

Andy currently resides in Seattle, Washington.

______________________________

1peon

Moving to Facebook

I've been on Twitter for most of 2011, and I appreciate those of you that have added me to

the list of people that you follow. Like everyone else, I have been trying to figure out what




elefolife.blogpo.in

social media "outlet" is best for me, and after trying different things I have decided that

Facebook is how I would like to communicate.

This site is not going away, and all new submissions will still be published here. But

Facebook will serve as a forum to republish popular rules, as well as other funny and

interesting things that may or may not be "Five Rules" related.

If you have a Facebook account, you have two choices - you can "friend" me (make sure you

say you are a "Five Rules For Life" reader), or you can "subscribe" to my public updates.

As of now, I plan to slow down (stop?) "tweeting", so I hope to see you over on Facebook!

______________________________

Recommendhi on

Submitted by Sam Baker

sam baker is a mom, wife, engineer and an eternal dreamer. her latest project is to share

money making ideas with students in the hopes that they will choose to make some money

instead of taking on debt (and hopefully avoid some of the mistakes she made).

Here are Sam's "Five Rules For Life":

1.) Learn to forgive and forget.

Especially, the ones close to you. Every one of us has our own idea of what is right and

wrong, what should be said/done and what should not. It is very easy to feel slighted by little

things as we rush through the rigors of every day lives. Learn to let it go. Can you live with

being held responsible for every slip up or flaw in your character? Why hold othersresponsible for theirs, then? Learn to forgive and forget - it will come back in the form of

forgiveness for your own shortcomings, which can be very liberating.

2.) Be there for your kids.

Whether it is spending some time making play-doh cookies or having long chats with them

as they grow up, make a conscious effort to be there. With the kind of lives we live,

obviously, we won't be able to be with them all the time, but when you can make it, give

them your 100% (that means, no emails, no tweeting or thinking about your business

meetings during the time you spend with them - period.)

3.) Don't just dream, "Do" things.

Vacations, learning a new language, trying out something new - all of us have some things

that we wished we could do, if only we had the time, money or whatever. Next time you are




elefolife.blogpo.in

wistful about something, take some action in that direction. You may not reach your final

goal, but getting started is half the battle. And every time you "do" something identify the

next thing that needs to be done to move forward in that direction. It will take some time

but, eventually, you can make your dreams come true.

4.) S tand up for what you believe in.

It is not always easy. Sometimes, you will have to choose between which of your values

mean more to you because standing up for one will mean compromising on the other.

Sometimes, standing up for your values means facing down the people you respect the most.

Sometimes, you will cry inside while you have to smile outside. Stand up for them anyway.

5.) Be graceful in the face of life's challenges.

You won't always be able to forgive and forget. You will make some mistakes while raising

your kids. You will not be able to make all your dreams come true. You will sometimes buckle

down in your stand for your values. That's just life. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

Don't gloat or put others down when you win. Don't beat yourself up when you lose. It's a lot

easier said than done, but something definitely worth striving for.

Sam currently resides in Austin, Texas.

______________________________

Recommendhi on

Submitted by Noah Lifschey

noah lifschey is a music composer for television and a songwriter/producer in the record biz

in los angeles. he has a love for great books, travel, cats, long dinners with good friends,

the wilderness, and old british sports cars.

Here are Noah's "Five Rules For L ife":

1.) Give your pride and ego a rest.

Sure, we should all take pride in ourselves; but when it becomes a tool to separate ourselves

from others and promotes a sense of superiority then we're the ones who end up suffering.Same thing with ego - this is a constant battle for me in the music business, but the times

that I'm able to let my ego take a back seat are when things get easier, more productive,

and more creative.

2.) Dump the drama.

This is something I picked up from my Dad by proxy. Give someone a break, accept an

apology, go easy on the waiter who screwed up, let another driver move into your lane

instead of rushing to not let him, actually listen when someone's talking, don't yell at

someone just because you're angry, take a break from mad gossiping, try using logic instead

of emotion when you're riled up. I truly can't understand why so many people prefer to make

their lives difficult by being addicted to arguing, fighting, and theatrics.

3.) Dig yourself.




elefolife.blogpo.in

Yep, this is going into Oprah territory, but it really is the foundation for a content life. I 'll go

on record as saying that loving yourself is without a doubt more important than any other

kind of love. Why? It's the only kind of love that you can truly depend on and that positively

affects almost every portion of your life. I'm not talking Hallmark card love or being a

pompous arse - I'm talking about simply accepting who you are, forgiving yourself when you

mess up, and not comparing yourself to everyone else. It ain't easy for most of us, but damn

does it make an immense difference when you can grab it.

4.) Breathe.

Most of us live in the past or the future, which are two places that don't exist. Fact: This

moment is all that ever actually exists. When you think about all of the mental pain that

goes along with staying mired in what happened or what will happen, it seems positively

absurd to be anywhere else (even though it takes a hell of lot of practice to try and stay

here). Be still for a second. Breathe. Give your mind a break from the miasma of constant

thought and rumination.

5.) Don't spend your life wanting more.

More money, more love, more success, more things, more whatever...you're never

satisfied. There's nothing wrong with having some goals and all, but life doesn't deal an even

hand and one has to try to be content with what's happening right now. S ince the future

never actually happens, spending your life wanting what you don't have is a spot-on recipe

for unhappiness since you'll always want something else and never actually get there.

Noah currently resides in Los Angeles, California.

______________________________

1peon

Submitted by Molly McCord

molly mccord is a communications and inspirations expert who has two books coming out

fall 2011: first as a contributing author to "the thought that changed my life forever" and,

second, her spiritual memoir "my life as a trapeze artist". her blog - conscious | cool | chic

offers - more inspiring articles and tidbits to check out.

Here are Molly's "Five Rules For Life":

1.) Trust your gut.

The small voice that says "no" to a job offer or "yes" to speaking to a stranger is a reliable

compass for decision-making in uncertain times. The gut delivers fast, immediate and clear

messages if I 'm willing to trust it. Allow that small voice in the gut to come to the

microphone often.

2.) Listen to your heart.

Whispers of personal truth come through feelings. Feelings tell with immediate accuracy

what I need in a situation. Ive squashed these messages of truth down before, French-press

coffee style, but the personal needs dont go away. Listening to the hearts true feelings

allows my needs to be addressed sooner. Dont ignore these messages.

3.) Respect your mind.




elefolife blogpo in

Older PostsHome

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Besides being the home of every life memory, a stack of educational degrees and the list of

all-time favorite beers, the mind pinpoints possibilities, actualities and liabilities. Allow the

minds knowledge base to bring out areas of improvement, strategy and commitment. Use

logic and practicality regularly. Respect what the mind says, but dont let it rule over the

other senses all the time.

4.) Follow your spirit.

Your souls eternal wisdom is always accessible through a listening connection to Spirit.

Quiet moments of solitude and peace bring answers that cant be found on a billboard or in

an email message. Find quiet times to just be without distraction, and the souls beautiful

wisdom will pour forth.

5.) Alignment of gut, heart, mind and spirit: Goldmine!

Trusting, listening, respecting and following from every area of your being leads to

purposeful direction and action. The guts compass, the hearts truth, the minds knowledge

and the spirits wisdom illuminate the path that is for your highest and best good. I like to

call this combination the Pure and Utter Brilliant Path for Life Dream-making. And who would

want to settle for anything less in this fabulous game of life?

Molly currently resides in Seattle, Washington.

______________________________

Recommend

hi on

Copyright Five Rules For Life. All rights reserved. Simple template. Powered by Blogger.

Documents

Five Rules for Life