Axiom 91: Learn to be Analog & Digital

I was born in 1980 into an interesting generation. I was born into an analog world and watched it change into a digital world during my prime mental development years as a youth.

I watched as the old ways died. Rotary phones, televisions with rabbit ears, cassette tapes, paying with cash, handwritten letters, getting the newspaper delivered, and other antiqued transmissions were replaced by cell phones, digital television, music streaming, debit cards, emails, and internet news among other things.

The speed of information and technology was completely transformed before my young eyes. Now I watch as the generation after me cannot grasp the concept of what an analog world looked like and the generation before me struggles to find comfort in having to do everything the "digital" way.

It is important to know that no matter what generation you belong to there is no right or wrong way in doing things the "old" way or the "new" way. Each way has its own advantages and disadvantages. Don't assume that just because it is the habit from a different generation that it is necessarily wrong or right. Speaking as someone from both the analog and digital world there is value in every way of doing something.

A record can sound as good as a lossless digital audio file. A handwritten letter can be as important and meaningful as any email. Don't forget the value in doing things the way another generation does them.    

America's Best Burger - Brindle Room NYC

I was in New York for a day last week and there was only one thing I wanted to eat for sure while I was there, a burger from Brindle Room in East Village (www.brindleroom.com). Sure I'd been to New York many times before and eaten at many great places, but this burger is the best sleeper of a meal in the entire city. It's not only the best burger I've ever had it's also one of the best meals I've ever had. It's that good.

This is what I had been dreaming about for the last seven months since my first visit there:

You'd think that a $16 burger couldn't compete with a meal from a five star restaurant but you'd be dead wrong. Compare this to a $50 burger from the ultra-swank 21 Club in Midtown and it wins by a mile every time.

Here's a picture of this beautiful beast:

So for such a simple looking burger what makes this burger so badass? I think it is a couple of things. First, the cut of meat is different. It's makes the burger more flavorful. It tastes richer and more filling than other burgers. Second, the bread taste like donut bread. It allows the bite of the burger to be softer. It's like eating a heavenly cloud.

And let's not leave the fries out either. Those might be the best damn fries I've ever had also. They're crispy, crunchy, and taste fresh. Overall, I can't wait to go back again next time I'm in NYC. You can't ask for a better meal.

Here's a video of how the magic happens:

Axiom 90: Problem Solving is the Best Skill

"If I had an hour to solve a problem I'd spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and 5 minutes thinking about solutions." -Albert Einstein

"Problems are only opportunities in work clothes." -Henri Kaiser

In school I often wondered, what is the point of doing this assignment? Why do I need this information? In a world of technology that allows us to look up information in seconds or solve a math problem by taking a picture with our phone what's the point of doing things the hard way?

The point is that you need to learn the skill of problem solving.

It is this most valuable skill you can ever learn. Good problem solving skills are a rare asset prized by companies. At the end of the day companies make money by solving a customer's problem, and they have to continue to solve problems to stay in business as industries evolve.

As companies innovate they find new ways to solve problems. In life there is not always one way to solve a problem. There are good ways and bad ways, and if you ask ten industry experts how to solve a problem you will probably get ten different answers.

When I have screwed something up in life I have found my problem solving skills were vital. It is often when times are toughest that our problem solving skills are the most invaluable. I've made many mistakes in life, but rarely have I made the same mistake twice. I can thank my problem solving skills for that.

Develop your problem solving skills. Embrace those boring lessons that seem pointless. The time will come when that information is valuable. When you encounter a problem examine every way possible to fix it. You will find that good problem solving skills might be your best asset.

Axiom 89: Your EQ is Your Destiny

"In a high-IQ job pool, soft skills like discipline, drive and empathy mark those who emerge as outstanding." -Daniel Goleman

“Feelings are not supposed to be logical. Dangerous is the man who has rationalized his emotions.” -David Borenstein

In Axiom 52 I wrote that your IQ has a lot to do with with your success in life. There is also a lesser know intelligence factor known as EQ, or emotional quotient, that has a lot to do with your success in life as well. EQ is your intellectual ability to navigate social situations. In many ways it can be more important than IQ in determining your success.

If you notice someone that doesn't seem that smart but they are extremely successful chances are they have a high EQ. Likewise, if you see someone that is extremely smart but they just can't seem to navigate any social situations with any success chances are they have a low EQ.

Good thing for you is EQ is an intelligence that can be improved with a little effort. It requires you to be more observant about your behaviors as well as the behaviors of others. You must learn to read the unspoken emotions between people. Once you master this then you can predict how your actions will cause others to react. Ultimately you want to be able to influence other people's actions based on your own actions. That may sound like voodoo, but it is simply the result of having a high EQ.

While we are largely stuck with the IQ we are born with we can still improve our EQ, and if you can improve your EQ you can improve your chances of being successful.    

Axiom 88: Catalog Your Life

"What is a diary as a rule? A document useful to the person who keeps it. Dull to the contemporary who reads it and invaluable to the student, centuries afterwards, who treasures it." -Walter Scott

Take a moment every once in a while for some self reflection. Find an outlet that works for your style and fits your schedule. It may be jotting down your thoughts in a journal, recording your thoughts as a voice memo or video, or some other way of cataloging your life all together.

Cataloging your life serves two purposes. First, it allows self-reflection. You are able to evaluate your life, make changes, and set goals easier. When you don't have any thorough way of self reflection then you will continue to drift through life like you always have.

Second, it allows a record of your life that you can pass down to your family and children. Everyone wants some sort of lasting memorial that speaks to who they were as a person. I can only imagine how thrilled I would be to have video or audio of my now deceased family telling me the story of their life I their own words. When you die your life story will fade away unless you have done something to preserve it otherwise.

Take the time to express yourself and reflect. Don't let time get away from you before it is too late.  

Axiom 87: Don't Strive for Perfection

"Don't wait, the time will never be just right." -Napoleon Hill

When i visited Paris a few years ago I was excited about seeing the Eiffel Tower. I had a vision of how quiet and romantic it would be. However, when I actually got there it was nothing like I had imagined. It wasn't the perfect place I had imagined. It was loud, crowded with people selling souvenirs, and was more like a carnival than a romantic destination. It was a simple reminder that nothing is perfect.

Don't let perfection derail your success. There are three distinct ways that the idea of perfection can hurt you:

First, don't be such a perfectionist in starting a project that you never get the ball rolling. Some people want everything to be perfect before they begin a big project. They want to have all their little side projects done, they want the timing to be perfect, they want all their resources lined up first, etc. Don't worry about making a perfect situation before you begin a project. Just dive in and let things work themselves out along the way. 

Second, don't be such a perfectionist that you never complete a project quickly. If it takes five hours to do something 96% accurately, and 12 hours to do it 100% accurately maybe the extra time isn't worth it. Of course this is a question only you will know the answer to but make sure you are not wasting time for the sake of perfection. Most tasks do not have to be 100% accurate.

Lastly, don't let the idea of perfection distort your life view. While you should strive to do good work, don't strive for an idea of perfection that is not possible. Sometimes imperfection is perfection in itself. When I realized that the Eiffel Tower was more of a tourist trap than the idea of perfection I had envisioned I did not let it ruin my time. I simply keep my distance from the crowds and the insanity and enjoyed it from a distance with my wife. From a distance it was as perfect and magical as I had imagined.

The Right Way to Apply for a Job

Every time I post a job to hire someone new I am absolutely floored how bad the resumes are that I get. It seems that no one knows or cares how to properly apply for a job these days. However, when I do get someone that takes the time to put together a nice application I show them the same respect in return by giving them careful consideration. If you're applying for a job it is something that you should keep in mind.

Chances are that if you apply with a company that has less than 50 employees the person reviewing your resume is not a full-time HR person. They have a primary job other than hiring and are probably really busy doing their day-to-day business activities, that's why they are looking to hire someone. That means they don't have a lot of time to go through resumes. When I go through resumes I usually decide in about 5 seconds whether to hit the delete key or to read a little further. 

Because this first impression is so critical below are a few tips to help you get more consideration when you apply for a job:

• Follow the application instructions carefully - I always post a couple things that applicants MUST provide when they send their resume in. I delete all the applications that don't follow these rules. I want to see how well applicants can follow instructions and this is how I test people without them knowing.
• Save your resume as a PDF and name the file properly - A PDF is the only way to guarantee that the viewer will see your resume exactly as you want it to be seen. I've had weird word formats sent to me that won't open or try to start downloading plugins. At that point I delete and move on to the next candidate. Also, name your resume file properly. A filename like, New Resume (2).docx shows me you are lazy and disorganized.
• Write something thoughtful - Write me a note and tell me about yourself. Tell me why you want the job. Tell me why I should be compelled to hire you. Tell me why 'x' on your resume looks bad but you have a good reason for it. Don't send me, "i want the job. -sent from T-Mobile". Again, if you are that lazy in the way you apply what makes me think you aren't going to be just as lazy when I hire you. Are you going to send equally lazy unprofessional notes to our company's clients once I hire you?
• Do a freaking spellcheck - It's 2015 and spellcheck is readily available for you to use. The lowercase 'i' is not an acceptable replacement for word 'I', which should always be capitalized. If you don't give me the respect by sending me something written in proper English then I will not give you any respect in return and will quickly delete your application.

Take your time when you apply for a job. The way in which you apply is an indicator to the employer what kind of job you will do if you were to get hired. Remember that the person reviewing your resume is likely very busy and you will have only a few seconds to make an impression.         

Axiom 86: Don't Take Big Commitments Lightly

"Never cut a tree down in the wintertime. Never make a negative decision in the low time. Never make your most important decisions when you are in your worst moods. Wait. Be patient. The storm will pass. The spring will come." -Robert H. Schuller

"In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing." -Theodore Roosevelt

The biggest mistake that young people make is taking life's big decisions too lightly. Buying a house, getting married, choosing a college, having children, moving to a new city, and quitting a job are just a few of the really huge choices that we sometimes make on emotion only. There needs to be a little logical analysis that goes into making these big choices. Making a choice only because it feels good can come back to haunt you later.

Before you make a decision think about the best and worst case possible outcomes. Don't ignorantly put on those rose colored glasses only to regret a bad decision later. I know we often want something so much that we ignore the bad and only pay attention to the good. You must resist the urge to jump into a bad decision before weighing all the options.

This axiom reminds me of I when I went to shop for engagement rings. I went into a jewelry store to casually look and soon found myself cornered by two high-pressure salespeople holding a ring I asked to look at. 

"If you walk out of here and don't buy this ring you will be making a stupid decision. This is the best possible deal you can get," the clerk said.

It was this statement that made me realize I had to get the hell out of there. Any purchase I was going to make that big was not going to be made without looking at all the options and this was the very first place I had visited.

"You may be right. I may walk out of here and regret this. But I did not come here today to buy a ring yet. I came here to look. I want to consider all of my options before I make a decision. If I decide that this ring is the one then I will come back and buy it. If by that time it was sold to someone else so be it. That is a risk i am willing to take over making an impromtu purchase," I told the clerk before I walked out.

Needless to say that after looking at all my options that ring would have been an awful purchase. I found a much better ring that I bought and have had no regrets.

Think before you act.
   

Axiom 85: Everyone Measures Success Differently

"Measure what is measurable, and make measurable what is not so."

-Galileo Galilei

"The person who scored well on an SAT will not necessarily be the best doctor or the best lawyer or the best businessman. These tests do not measure character, leadership, creativity, perseverance."

-William Julius Wilson

It hit me one day when I noticed that some people do lousy work. For whatever reason the quality of their work is bad. However, you can't always write bad work off to just laziness or stupidity. If this is true then why are smart, hard-working people producing lackluster work? It is all in how you measure success.

Everyone has a different standard they use to measure success. Your boss, your significant other, your coworkers, and yourself might all have different opinions on what doing good work looks like. The key is understanding what all of these different measures look like. Only then can you determine if you are going to be successful in your current situation.

It's not necessarily that one measure of success is better than another, or that there is a right and wrong. Just make sure that the scales of success are generally similar between yourself and the ones that matter when times count. If your boss or client uses a totally different measure to gauge success than you do it could spring a surprise failure on you if you are unaware. 

Axiom 84: When Everything is an Emergency Nothing is an Emergency

"Now when everything has priority, nothing has priority. If everything comes first, nothing comes first." -Larry Geller

"I learned that we can do anything, but we can't do everything... at least not at the same time. So think of your priorities not in terms of what activities you do, but when you do them. Timing is everything." 
-Dan Millman

At one point in my life I began to realize that I couldn't get everything done on my to-do list. I'm naturally a person that likes to have all the items crossed off my to-do list. I had to come to terms with the fact that the older and more successful I became that my to-do list would always remain full. What I also learned in the process was that all tasks are not created equal.

Equal priority cannot be given to all of your tasks. If you have a lot of things on your to-do list focus on the most important ones first. There will be low value "busy" work tasks on your list and there will be high value important tasks on your list. Many times we get caught up in so many low value "busy" work tasks that we never push the ball forward on those big important tasks.

That's why I say when everything is an emergency nothing is an emergency. It is up to you to not treat all the things on your to-do list with the same level of priority. If you do then your overall level of production will remain low and you will never be as successful as if you were to work on high value tasks first.
  

Axiom 83: Rise Above Corruption

"The fight for justice against corruption is never easy. It never has been and never will be. It exacts a toll on our self, our families, our friends, and especially our children. In the end, I believe, as in my case, the price we pay is well worth holding on to our dignity." 

-Frank Serpico

"Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. and if you gaze long enough into the abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you." 
-Friedrich Nietzsche

The further I have advanced in the business world the more I see a shady underbelly that I hoped did not exist. In America I had hoped that corruption did not exist but it lingers in the shadows ready to derail your success at any moment. It is a sad state of affairs when corruption occurs but you must not become part of that corruption also. You will destroy your reputation and your long term success if you do.

I did business with a large customer account for years. Then shortly after a new purchasing person started working for them we began having problems. All of a sudden each small mistake we made was blown out of proportion. We got smoking mad emails from this guy telling us how awful of a supplier we were.

We did everything we could to make this guy happy. We lowered his prices, delivered quicker to him, and did everything we cold to give him better service. However, he was not happy with us and we lost the majority of their business. Later on when he left the company we heard that our competitor was paying him behind the scenes in exchange for business.

Our service wasn't that bad after all. We only got those nasty emails so he could justify ordering from our competitor. It's just one sad example of corporate corruption from many I have seen.

I know who the liars are. I know who the payoff people are, Eventually they all get caught, fired, or shamed. Luckily there is still enough legitimate business out there that you don't have to play their game. Let them think they won for the time being. Eventually they will lose. It is just a matter of time.   

Axiom 82: Being the Boss is Harder than You Think

"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea." -Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

"Don't blame the boss. He has enough problems." 

-Donald Rumsfeld

Everyone thinks that being the boss is easy, but it is harder than you realize. It's not all big money, big perks, and easy street all the time. As you become more successful at some point you're going to have to cross the threshold and become a leader instead of a follower. 

Here are just a few of the things that most people don't realize is hard about being a manager:

1. Long Hours - The manager usually has to work longer hours than their employees. With larger responsibilities comes a larger workload. You have to learn as a manager how to delegate as much out as possible. It's the only way to get everything done.

2. Employee costs are high - You think your boss is a cheap ass and should pay you more, but a manager can only pay an employee what they are worth in productivity. There are a lot of costs associated with running a business, and the company you work for is probably not nearly as profitable as you think. 

3. Always thinking about work - A manager always takes work home with them physically and/or emotionally. The employee is at home enjoying their evening while the manager is at home thinking about work. 

4. Stress level is high - The pressure to perform and deliver is much higher than with the employees.

5. Your boss has a boss - Your boss has a boss that is likely even more unforgiving. It could be a bank, an investor, a landlord, the government, or all of the above. Everyone works for someone else.

6. Firing People - While it feels good to hire people, promote people, and give raises it feels 100x worse to fire someone - even if they have it coming.

7. They can't socialize with you - You're boss can't have lunch with you, can't be your true friend, and is never sure how truthful you're being with them. There is that invisible manager-employee line that should not be crossed.

8. Good managers hate rules - Rules are only in place because of bad employees. Managers don't like having to act like police officers, they have plenty other things to do. All managers would love a perfect environment where employees do what is expected and there is no conflict.

Axiom 81: Learn to Work for Others First

You must learn to work for someone else first before you can ever successfully work for yourself. If you can learn to give someone else your all at work then you will certainly be able to do the same for yourself someday in return.

Here are the 10 commandments of working for some one else: 

1. Always stay busy. Learn to make the most of your time at work. Your boss will notice if you are wasting the company's time.
2. Don't be late or miss work. This causes others to have to pick up the slack for you.
3. Always tell the truth even when you screw up. Covering up something with a lie will make it some much worse for you and your reputation in the long run.
4. Be a sponge and understand how the business works, follow orders, and observe intently. Make yourself indispensable. 
5. Work fast. Be more productive than everyone else. 
6. Offer to do more than expected. Even if you don't get more tasks by asking your boss will take notice.
7. Avoid gossip and conflict. Keep it professional. Always.
8. Complete every task assigned by your boss asap. Keep the ball moving.
9. Dress nice and maintain good hygiene. Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.
10. Make as few mistakes as possible. Learn from your mistakes. Never make the same mistake twice.

Axiom 80: Explore Boundaries

"Every dreamer knows that it is entirely possible to be homesick for a place you've never been to, perhaps more homesick than for familiar ground." -Judith Thurman

“In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration.” 
-Ansel Adams

It is in our human nature to be explorers. From the moment we are born we start exploring our world. It is this exploration that helps us grow and learn. It is when we stop exploring that we stop growing. 

Maintaining a pristine static bubble in which we often live seems like a good thing. The stability brings us comfort. However, the world is not static. The world itself is exploring. It is growing, changing. You must learn and adapt with it. 

Those who explore and push their boundaries will stay successful in life. Those who do not will become stale and outdated. Don't be afraid to embrace the exploring nature you once had as a child.

Axiom 79: Make Your Free Time Count

"You can always find a distraction if you're looking for one." 

-Tom Kite

"The key is in not spending time, but in investing it." 

-Stephen R. Covey

Time is the most precious commodity we have. Often we waste time like it is an infinite resource only to regret doing so later in life. Examine for a moment how it is that you spend your free time. Are you using your free time wisely? Or are you simply wasting your precious life away?  

Everyone needs a little non-productive free time now and then. However, it is when these non-productive activities take over the entirety of your free time that the danger lies.

What will you have to show for your personal life? (Assuming your are blessed enough to live to an advanced age). Are the only things you'll be able to tell your grandchildren things like; When I was younger I spent four hours a night on facebook, I went to the bar every night for happy hour, I was a great Call of Duty player, I watched every home baseball game on TV for 20 years straight, etc.

Or would you want to instead tell your grandchildren things like; When I was younger I brewed my own beer at home, I traveled to all the great regional restaurants, I learned how to build furniture, I painted landscapes of places I visited, etc.

There is a difference the quality of free time activities. Don't waste away what little time you have. If you do then your only identity will be your career and the shallow way you spend your free time.    

Axiom 78: You're More of a Lemming than You Think

"A sect or party is an elegant incognito devised to save a man from the vexation of thinking." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

No matter how hard you try you are a victim of group think. Your view of the world and your actions are shaped by just a few of these groups: 

• Your geographic location (house, street, neighborhood, city, metropolitan area, state, region, country)
• Your education
• Your religion
• Your political party
• Your race
• Your gender
• Your physical appearance
• Your income
• Your employer
• Your job function
• Your hobbies  

When you think about yourself in the context of the groups above you start to realize how much you really think like the people around you. It is no secret that marketing companies can predict your behavior based on the groups you belong to.

If you are starting to feel a little bit like a lemming it's okay. Just make sure that the groups you belong to represent the kind of person you want to be. If they don't then you need to have a plan on how to change to the group that reflects who you are as a person. Granted, we cannot change our race or gender, but every other group is fair game. 

Axiom 77: Always go the Extra Mile

"Do more than is required. What is the distance between someone who achieves their goals consistently and those who spend their lives and careers merely following? The extra mile." 

-Gary Ryan Blair

"There are no traffic jams along the extra mile." -Roger Staubach 

Successful people do more than what is required. Sometimes this extra effort is appreciated and sometimes it goes totally unnoticed. Either way it never hurts to go the extra mile. 

When going the extra mile gets you noticed it can pay huge dividends. It can open doors that would have otherwise never opened. We often get caught up in doing these grueling tasks never thinking twice about going the extra mile. However, we don't realize how going just a little bit further could change our world.

Go the extra mile every time if you think its worth it. If you are not sure go the extra mile until you find out. You have nothing to lose except a little time and effort.

The Best BBQ in Dallas: Pecan Lodge

I've done many BBQ reviews on my site already but there is one place in Dallas worth mentioning: Pecan Lodge. Located in Dallas, Texas, Pecan Lodge has what I consider the best BBQ anywhere in the area. It is definitely worth a trip there, especially for a chance to try one of their giant beef ribs.

My first trip there and I was a little put off. There was a long line to wait in. I thought to myself, "I've waited in line at Franklin Barbecue for BBQ. There's no way that this will be as good. I can't believe I'm waiting in a long line for this."

The inside was not all that impressive to me either. Sure, it was nice and clean but it didn't feel like a BBQ mecca. It felt a bit like a polished yuppie hangout. 

Then we ordered food and I found out that this place is expensive. So at that point I was put off by the line, the decor, and the price. I was really expecting mediocre barbecue. 

Boy was I wrong! I ordered some brisket, sausage, jalapeno mac n' cheese, and burnt ends. It was all fantastic and on par or better than Franklin Barbecue (Which I considered the best BBQ until this point). However, the giant beef rib (pictured above and below) puts all the other meats they have to shame.

The giant beef rib always sells out. They open at 11:00 am and I've seen them sell out by 11:15 am. You have to get there early for one of these, but it is worth it. The giant beef rib takes BBQ to another level. Once you eat it you will forsake all other BBQ. We are talking life changing BBQ here. So if you are ever in the Dallas-Fort Worth area put Pecan Lodge on your to-do list. Any other BBQ place locally is a pale comparison to the food here.

Axiom 76: Everyone is at a Disadvantage

"To every disadvantage there is a corresponding advantage." 

-W. Clement Stone

"Do you know, it's funny, but I never thought of being blind as a disadvantage, and I never thought of being black as a disadvantage." 
-Stevie Wonder

Everyone has a weakness. Everyone is at a disadvantage. From the richest man in the world all the way down to the poorest. Don't let the mountain seem taller than it really is. Often you are on a more even playing field than you think. In fact, sometimes a perceived disadvantage ends up being an advantage.

What we often don't realize is that even the rich guy at the top is struggling to stay there. People are always trying to knock people off the mountaintop. There are many self-made successful people out there and it isn't that hard to be one of them. All you need is a little conviction to do so along with the realization that you are not as disadvantaged as you think.

Evaluate your so called 'disadvantages' from time to time. Are you blowing them out of proportion? Can you turn them into advantages?

Don't let your disadvantages negatively shape your future. Don't use them as an excuse for your failures.

Axiom 75: Arrogance Kills Success

"In hindsight I slid into arrogance based on past success." 

-Reed Hastings

“No man knows less than the man who knows it all." -Unknown

I've been in business long enough to see how arrogance can ruin people. People get so full of themselves that they fail to see the world how it really is. Don't let arrogance get in the way of your success.

I've hired people over the years that were smart, talented, and full of potential only to find out that they were so arrogant they were useless to me. You can't train an arrogant person. The best thing is to avoid hiring arrogant people in the first place.

Here's the problem with working with arrogant people: You can't get them to follow instructions. You can tell them how to solve a problem but they usually decide to solve it a totally different way. They often ignore the experience of their manager in favor of making decisions on their gut instinct. This usually ends in disaster. 

I've dealt with arrogant suppliers that work for arrogant companies also. They think they have the best product, or that their product is the only option I can purchase. Their service sucks because they are so arrogant and they act it like it is an honor to do business with them.

These arrogant companies always fail. A patent runs out on their exclusive product, or another less arrogant company finds a better way to service the market. I've had many calls from suppliers that were once arrogant but now beg for my business because their sales are down.

Arrogance always ends in defeat. You're not the smartest person around. You do not work for the best company ever. You do not sell the best products ever, Don't let everything go to your head.

Axiom 74: Don't Play the Gossip Game

"Gossip is the Devil's radio." -George Harrison

"Everyone notices everyone else's problems but never pay attention to their own." 
-Jerett Parker

If you're consumed with what someone else is doing then you are not focused on yourself and your own goals. Obsessing over the faults of others will only blind you to your own. You must find a way to ignore what everyone else is doing and concentrate on yourself.

I know this is easier said than done. Playing the gossip game can be fun, but it will eventually backfire on you. Pull back and resist the urge to join in. Isolate yourself if you must and make sure your mind is where it really needs to be, on yourself. 

In business we become consumed with what our competition is doing. Sometimes unknowingly we start to think just because our competition is doing something that we need to follow suit and do the same. This is often insanity. Don't copy your competitor's moves. Forge your own path. This is why it is so important to ignore what others are doing. Otherwise you'll drag yourself into an alternate world where you start to second guess all of your decisions... or even worse, you'll develop a twisted ego based on comparing yourself to others. 

Axiom 73: Don't Burn Bridges

"Don't burn bridges. You'll be surprised how many times you have to cross the same river." 
-Unknown

At some point someone will do you wrong. The urge to burn a bridge will enter your mind. Should you or shouldn't you? That is the question....

You must never let your emotions get the best of you. Burning a bridge will almost always do more harm than good. It might make you feel better momentarily to express your true feelings but in the long run you will probably regret it.

For one, you might need to cross that bridge again. This is a small world and you'd be surprised how you may need the same people again for some reason.

Secondly, by burning a bridge you are really admitting "losing" not "winning". You are admitting defeat in a very classless and crude way. The best way to exact revenge is by going out and proving things wrong by your own success.

Thirdly, the people at the receiving end of your bridge burning rant could really give a shit less about you. You think you're poetically putting people in their place and showing them the error of their ways. In reality they could probably care less and are just happy now you are gone.

Use that fuel that you would burn a bridge as motivation for success. Instead of burning that bridge, write down those negative thoughts on paper. Hold onto them for a few days a then revisit them. You will then probably realized how immature and useless burning a bridge can be.

Axiom 72: Silent but Deadly

“The unseen enemy is always the most fearsome.” 

-George R.R. Martin

“Be where your enemy is not.” -Sun Tzu

I was recently at a industry dinner and ran into the upper management from a competing company to the one I work for. Even though we had never met I already knew a lot about them but they had no clue who I was. Considering I've been in my industry for over 16 years now most people in my position might have taken offense that they had no idea who I was. However, I didn't take offense at all, I was actually happy they didn't know anything about me.

As long as your customers, coworkers, and managers know who you are that is all the recognition you need. Don't fall for the urge to make a name for yourself in the eyes of your competition. It may make your ego feel better temporarily, but it will cause you heartache in the long run. Once your competitors know who you are you'll have a target on your back.

It is hard to fight an enemy that remains unseen. Try to stay under the radar as long as possible with your competition. Once they know who you are they will start to study you. They will learn your strengths and weaknesses. They will make each success in business a battle to the end. They will exploit your weaknesses and defeat you more often. They will learn how to defend their prized accounts and will be a step ahead of you.

If you want to win against your competition more in business make sure they know as little about you as possible.