Rules.
Where do they come from and why do we follow them?
It is an important question to ask because many people just follow rules blindly, without question, even if it compromises how they really want their business, family life and lifestyle to be.
Don’t get me wrong, I believe there is a value in certain rules. Rules like it is not OK to kill someone or don’t text while you are driving. Great rules. Totally on board.
But it is the unwritten and self imposed rules we live our lives by that concern me. The rules that society or our parents or peers have decided are the “norm”.
When I challenge the rules that are holding people back from having the business, family life and lifestyle they want I often get the response of “well everyone does it” or “that is just the way it is”.
Rubbish. Just because everyone does it doesn’t make it right for you, your business or your family. It used to be “normal” to put kids up the chimney but it didn’t make it right.
All rules are made up. Are you living by rules you made up or someone else’s?
Here is my point:
Conformity is the killer of creativity
Conforming to rules set down by anyone other than yourself, based on your values and what is most important to you is stopping you from living, working and having family life on your own terms. Blindly conforming is like getting on the train to mediocrity central.
So, I invite you to look at the rules you are running your business and family life by. Ask questions such as:
- Is believing and operating within this rule helping me or hindering how I want things to be?
- What if this rule isn’t true?
- What new rule could I put in place that more closely matches my values?
- If I wasn’t buying into those rules what would I do differently?
So, here’s the challenge folks – start breaking all the rules (obviously not the ones that would mean breaking the law!). Start creating your own rules and “norms” based on your values and what is most important to you.
What unwritten or self imposed rules is it time for you to break?
