Rules That Don’t Exist

We are constantly bombarded with rules that don't exist. This collection of “rules” comes from everywhere: parents, grandparents, politicians, first grade teachers, old dead white guys, and young celebrity trendsetters. We follow them (often subconsciously) for reasons that range from irrelevant to superstitious to downright stupid. Sadly, they often limit us from living better stories. Below are some we've identified so far. Did we miss one?

5 Rules You Should Totally Break This Week

- - - | written by Jason on 5/7/2017 | - - -

It's been almost two years since Penguins Can't Fly was published. It features forty of the most common rules that don't exist, but with each passing day, I am even more convinced that there are more like forty million, keeping us enslaved to Adultitis without us even noticing. A few weeks ago, I asked Escape Adulthood Insiders to share some of the so-called rules they most love breaking. I got so many good ones! This week, I wanted to play mild-mannered reporter and pass along a few of my favorites, because I they are great reminders for everyone. Thou shalt only observe morning once a day. (Melissa LeFever) "Why can't we start the day over whenever we need? Sometimes we need a couple chances in a day to get it right. I learned to break this rule when I had my worst parenting day ever. I told my daughter that the day started over after nap because we both needed a new start. It worked. We started with a fresh plate and fresh attitude. Sometimes we need discipline and …

6 Rules That Don’t Exist That Will Surprise Most Parents

- - - | written by Jason on 1/14/2016 | - - -

We are inundated with rules that don’t exist. Not speed limits and tax laws, but the seemingly invisible norms, assumptions, and superstitions that we follow (often subconsciously) and which drive our lives. The more I write and talk about them, the more I uncover. And there is no shortage in the realm of education. My wife Kim and I homeschool. In the grand scheme of things, we’re in the shallow end of the pool; the oldest of our three children is only seven. But these past several years may have been the most important of all, because we’ve had to un-learn pretty much everything we knew about education. It was especially challenging for Kim, who is a former kindergarten teacher. After a five year career, it’s taken at least that long to slowly purge all of the things she kept from her classroom because, frankly, we don’t need them. We have a really good foundation beneath us, because we’ve taken the time to identify, and consequently ignore, several rules that don’t exist. Here …

The Danger of Eating Dessert First

- - - | written by Jason on 11/8/2015 | - - -

A few weeks ago, I was on a Navy base in Florida, delivering my first program for a military audience. The meeting planner was very hesitant about me encouraging them to break rules, especially since they had just spent several (long, boring, excruciating) days being briefed on new procedures, policies, and regulations. I still told them to break rules. Of course, I am not calling for anarchy here. I understand the need for rules, especially in the military, where if you break a rule, someone could die. The problem is that too often, we assign the same gravity to all the rules in our life, even though most of them don’t exist and the penalty for breaking them is non-existent. Although it may feel like it, asking your boss for a raise — or that friendly person in line ahead of you at Starbucks for a date — is not a life-or-death proposition. Who cares if they say no? You are already NOT making more money or having dinner with that person, so in effect, nothing’s …

The Complete Guide to Raising Your Kids to Be Rulebreakers without Ruining Their Lives (or Yours)

- - - | written by Jason on 8/9/2015 | - - -

Kim and I are well-known for encouraging people to be more childlike and act more like kids. A few brave souls have asked (although I suspect there are countless others who have wondered): How does this philosophy impact our role as parents? In other words, how does a parent walk the line between teaching kids to break rules that don’t exist, without descending into total anarchy? Great question. While it’s true that our kids regularly say “#Notarule” in its proper context during normal conversations, any speculation that our kids are living in Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory is grossly over exaggerated. Here are some thoughts on the matter. Your mileage may vary, but I believe there are some useful nuggets here, wether you're a parent or not. A Parent’s First Job is Parenting. First and foremost, we are our kids' parents, not their friends or playmates or butlers. No one else has this job, so if we don't do it, our kids will be screwed, destined to live life as soft, …

Breaking Rules Can Help You Be Ah-Mazing

- - - | written by Jason on 7/6/2015 | - - -

I had a wonderful opportunity to sit down for a fun conversation with my dear friend Neen James, who is a productivity guru of epic proportions. Now, many people might put "productivity gurus" into a box of boring, bland and beige individuals who have all these rigid restrictions. Not Neen. She loves the color pink, rides a Harley, and is a first-class rule breaker. We share the sometimes helpful trait where if someone says we can't do something, we automatically want to prove them wrong, just on principle. Anyway, please check out what she has going on, and enjoy this fun video conversation about rules, Adultitis, and my new book, Penguins Can't Fly +39 Other Rules That Don't Exist. …

This Week in Rule Breaking

- - - | written by Jason on 6/25/2015 | - - -

Rules that don't exist are all around us, and they can keep us from living a life of awesome. In honor of the release of Penguins Can't Fly, we are posting different rules all over social media, using the hashtag #notarule. Some are rules we've uncovered, others have been shared with us from people like you. Follow along on Instagram, Tumblr, or Facebook or share your own rule here! This is one of a series of hilarious photos sent to me by a mom in Ohio who quoted her daughter as saying, “Because anyone can have typical senior photos but only a few can have awesomesauce ones!” I recently had a speaking engagement in central Wisconsin and everything in the hotel room they booked me in (lamps, wallpaper, shower curtain, ice bucket, EVERYTHING) was Bucky Badger themed. Which went perfect with the t-shirt I decided to bring that day! One of my favorite ones to break! Take that, fashion police. Photo by Slavica Skracic. And here are some of the great rules …

#notarule: winning at business and life by breaking rules that don’t exist

- - - | written by Jason on 6/10/2015 | - - -

“Blessed are the rule breakers. They shalt inherit the Future. We have always admired the great renegades of business, brave souls who dared to deny the status quo, defy the odds, and pioneer a new normal. Nicolas Tesla. Richard Branson. Tony Stark. One thing all great titans of industry have in common is this: they were able to identify rules that don’t exist and had the courage to break them. Of course, there are plenty of rules that DO exist. If you commit fraud or neglect to pay taxes, I hope you look good in an orange jumpsuit. But the rules that DON’T exist greatly outnumber the ones that do. History is filled with examples of those who profited greatly by dispensing with so-called ‘rules.’” This is an excerpt of my new ChangeThis manifesto that talks about the rules that don't exist and specifically delves into how to get good at noticing these so-called rules and how to muster up the courage to actually break them. It's a quick read and free to download, please feel free to …

Our Unconventional Book Tour

- - - | written by Jason on 6/8/2015 | - - -

The 2015 #Notarule Tour is a curious cavalcade of unusual events united in the purpose of helping you break rules that don’t exist. Fueled by the message Penguins Can’t Fly, this is one unconventional book tour. There will be stops at zoos, ice cream parlors, national landmarks, a few bookstores, and even an art fair! Rather than repeating the tried-and-true (but insanely boring) model most “book tours” subscribe to, our goal was to tell a better story by creating fun, memorable, and engaging events and experiences. Most stops will feature opportunities for you and your companions to break one or many rules. Some stops won’t even provide any opportunities to buy books (although if you bring one for me to sign, I’ll give you a free signed print!) A few will offer the opportunity to decorate ugly cookies! Find Marty Art Drop Every stop will feature a “Find Marty Art Drop,” in which a small cache of goodies (including an adorable tiny toy penguin, a signed and numbered limited …

This Week In Rule Breaking

- - - | written by Jason on 6/5/2015 | - - -

This Week in Rule Breaking

- - - | written by Jason on 5/29/2015 | - - -

Rules that don't exist are all around us, and they can keep us from living a life of awesome. In honor of the upcoming release of Penguins Can't Fly, we are posting a different rule every day on our various social media accounts, using the hashtag #notarule. Some are rules we've uncovered, others have been shared with us from people like you. Follow along on Instagram, Tumblr, or Facebook or share your own rule here! I like when cars get all gussied up. There’s no such thing as too much meringue. #keywest #keylimepie #blueheaven in honor of the 88th anniversary of Charles Lindbergh flying solo in “The Spirit of St. Louis” across the Atlantic...the first time it was ever done. There’s room for whimsy in every room. It’s hard to have Adultitis sitting in one of these. Well done, #oaeyc2015 Kids do not have a monopoly of fun. Finally, here are some fun submissions from Tinye Harding and Chip Lutz: …

Rules That Don't Exist

5 Rules You Should Totally Break This Week

6 Rules That Don’t Exist That Will Surprise Most Parents

The Danger of Eating Dessert First

The Complete Guide to Raising Your Kids to Be Rulebreakers without Ruining Their Lives (or Yours)

Breaking Rules Can Help You Be Ah-Mazing

This Week in Rule Breaking

#notarule: winning at business and life by breaking rules that don’t exist

Our Unconventional Book Tour

This Week In Rule Breaking

This Week in Rule Breaking

be an insider

escape adulthood?

Explore

Become an Adultitis Fighter!

Skip links

Rules That Don't Exist

Footer

be an insider

escape adulthood?

Explore

Become an Adultitis Fighter!