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 …
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?
The Complete Guide to Raising Your Kids to Be Rulebreakers without Ruining Their Lives (or Yours)
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
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. …
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This Week in Rule Breaking
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
“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 …
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Our Unconventional Book Tour
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
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! This week I wanted to feature some of the great rules submitted by readers! (via Craig Price) (via Kristen Clark) (via Sara Gast) (via Jill Schiefelbein) (via Sarah Amburgey) (via Stephanie Finley) …
This Week in Rule Breaking
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: …
Thou Shalt Always Remove Thy Nametag Immediately After An Event
You’ve been there. You’ve attended a conference, a retreat, a networking meeting, or some other event that required you to wear a nametag. And then, hours after the event is over, you look down in horror to find that you are STILL wearing it. It clings to your shirt, mocking you like a group of middle schoolers laughing at your generic bargain buy shoes from KMart. Doh! You shamefully reflect back to calculate how many people must have seen you wearing your idiocy on your shirt, but count yourself fortunate that you didn’t have to undergo death by embarrassment from someone actually pointing out the faux pas to your face. Because as everyone knows, although nametags are useful for things like networking meetings, they are to be removed immediately after such events. Immediately. Or are they? …
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This Week in Rule Breaking
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! You’re not the boss of him, fashion police: Because sometimes you only need 4 McNuggets. Plus, the toy. Edison is a great reminder that there is no silver bullet for success. Except for smart, brave persistence. Beauty transcends labels. This #notarule inspired by Anin Clemons. Delighted to discover Lucy, a wonderfully eclectic gastropub in Key Largo, featuring many kinds of schnitzel alongside Asian inspired treats like spicy sesame drumsticks and donuts. Kim ordered Bananas & French Toast for dinner at Marker 88 Restaurant in …