Rules I No Longer Follow
Rules to unlearn or outdated ideas that just get in the way
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“You have to wait for inspiration to create.” Inspiration is unreliable. The best work comes from showing up consistently, whether you feel inspired or not.
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“Hard work guarantees success.” Hard work is essential, but it’s not enough. Timing, luck, leverage, and choosing the right problems to solve matter just as much.
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“The customer is always right.” True in some cases, but often, customers don’t know what they need. Great design, writing, and art come from leading, not just responding.
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“You should finish everything you start.” Sometimes quitting is the smartest move. Knowing when to pivot or abandon something saves time and energy for better opportunities.
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“Follow the rules first, then break them.” Understanding principles is valuable, but blind rule-following kills creativity. Sometimes breaking rules from the start leads to breakthroughs.
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“You must specialise to succeed.” Deep expertise matters, but in a connected world, generalists who can bridge different domains often create the most value.
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“Good things come to those who wait.” Patience has its place, but waiting without action is often just procrastination in disguise. Most good things come to those who act.
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“Never mix work and personal life.” Artificial boundaries between work and life often create more stress than they prevent. Integration beats separation for many people.
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“More effort = better results.” Working smarter beats working harder. Sometimes the best results come from doing less, not more.
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“Success means always growing bigger.” Bigger isn’t always better. Mastery, autonomy, and depth are just as important as scale.
Honorable Mentions
- “You need permission to start.”
- “Productivity is about doing more.”
- “Being busy is a badge of honor.”
- “If it’s not perfect, don’t share it.”
- “Creativity is something you’re born with.”