Those rules are patently false. A few months back my partner threw me a surprise birthday party- invited all my friends, and took me to a restaurant and activity I wanted to go to but haven’t. A good friend of mine wanted to work in another department but didn’t say anything. Their boss called them in and said they’d noticed they were good at that type of work and asked if they’d like to take a promotion to that department. Rule 1 disproven.
Rule 2... At work I wanted to order a bunch of equipment but the procurement process sucks and even though it was MAYBE $300k or less- I needed it in the departments hands quickly. So I just ordered it up. The next day the board met and decided to order the stuff and I got an approval. Never asked. Still a yes. Numerous friends never asked heir partners to move in. They started staying over- never left. As cute as it is most people don’t ask you to be their partner or even ask to “go steady” as adults. Rule 2- disproven.
Rule 3: physics says that’s BS. If you don’t step anywhere you’ll be thousands of miles somewhere else by tomorrow because the earth is moving. In a more metaphorical sense though- Sun Tzu is often credited as hire wise and once said “if you wait by the river long enough, the bodies of your enemies will wash up at your feet.”’Even if you don’t take initiative life will often force you into growth through experience. So metaphorically just as in physics you can’t really “stay in one place” unless you actually expend effort to do so, or the circumstances like up. I’ve worked with several people (one of whom just retired from a prestigious post) who showed up one day, and by virtue of luck or being the only person there were promoted again and again to the top of their field without any ambition in their part. Rule 3 is disproven.
Perhaps call these “my rules for my life...” as they may be the rules this person uses and observed as rules. Objectively they are not rules. Objectively- the secrets to success or whatever are subjective. Your circumstances, your talents, where and when you are, the opportunities you can see and the ones that pop up- these will vary greatly as will your goals and what YOU think success looks like.
In general it is a good idea to always be learning and growing. The world changes as does what it values and if you aren’t improving yourself you are likely to miss opportunities.
In general it is good to keep your goals in mind and have a flexible plan to achieving those goals. An actionable plan broken into smaller parts that you can measure progress on and take smaller bites out of.
In general it is good to be mindful of that which helps you achieve your goals and that which doesn’t, when to speak up for yourself and when to be tactically inert.
The basic general rule for me is:
- see what you want.
- figure out how to get it.
- do that.
- get it, or set another target of opportunity.
- repeat.
In general it is good to keep your goals in mind and have a flexible plan to achieving those goals. An actionable plan broken into smaller parts that you can measure progress on and take smaller bites out of.
In general it is good to be mindful of that which helps you achieve your goals and that which doesn’t, when to speak up for yourself and when to be tactically inert.
The basic general rule for me is:
- see what you want.
- figure out how to get it.
- do that.
- get it, or set another target of opportunity.
- repeat.