Rule Number Six.  It works every time.  It doesn’t matter what business you’re in, how young you are, where you live, or how much money you have.  If we all learn to apply Rule Number Six to all situations in our lives, we would all be happier, treat one another much better, and the world will be a better place.  Want to know about Rule Number Six?   Read on . . .

Ben and Rosamund Zander encourage readers to lighten up by practicing Rule Number Six.  In doing so, we can break the hold on us of the calculating self, the competitive self, the judgmental self, and let the central self shine through.

Michael Port wrote that children laugh an average of 450 times per day, while adults laugh an average of 15 times.  If that’s true, Michael asks, “…how did we end up 435 laughs short of a good time?”  What’s needed here, in my opinion, is a good dose of Rule Number Six.

My Grandpa Boyer was a hard-working auto mechanic who got very frustrated if things didn’t work.  Long before he had heard about Rule Number Six, he learned to practice it.  He enjoyed telling this story about himself:  Once, Grandpa was working on a car that refused to get fixed.  No matter what he tried, the old car wouldn’t work.  In anger and frustration, he picked up a heavy wrench and threw it – right through the windshield of that car!  After buying a new windshield – and yes, finally fixing the car – he could laugh about it.

A late friend, a brilliant scholar, musician, and music school Dean, most enjoyed being a funny, friendly, down-to-earth guy who took delight in taking the wind out of old windbags.  He said his delight in life was “…poking holes in pomposity…” and he did it well.   Bob was a prime example of someone who practiced Rule Number Six.

Wayne Dyer says “…there is no way to happiness;  happiness IS the way…Enjoy the flowers…tune in to the sunrise, the little children, the laughter, the rain and the birds…”  Rule Number Six at work here, too.

The most important lesson for leaders in any profession is to learn to apply Rule Number Six.  So, just what IS this Rule Number Six?  Here it is – enjoy, enjoy!

Two prime ministers were sitting in a room discussing affairs of state.  Suddenly an aide burst in, shouting and stamping and banging his fist on the desk.  The host prime minister quietly said, “Peter, kindly remember Rule Number Six.”  Peter was instantly restored to complete calm, apologized for the interruption, and left the room.  The prime ministers resumed their discussion.  Several minutes later, another aide rushed in, shouting and stamping.  Again the host prime minister quietly said, “Marie, please remember Rule Number Six.”  Marie calmed down immediately, apologized, and left the room.

The visiting prime minister said “I’ve seen many things in my life, but never anything as remarkable as this.  Tell me, what is this Rule Number Six?”  The host prime minister said, “It’s really very simple.  Rule Number Six is ‘Don’t take yourself so damned seriously.’”  After a moment of pondering, the visiting prime minister inquired, “And what, may I ask, are the other rules?”

The host replied, “There aren’t any.”

Keep alive and well your ability to laugh.  Laugh with – never at – others.  Laugh loudest at yourself.  Poke holes in pomposity.  Keep smiling – people will wonder what you’re up to!

Here’s my challenge for you:  Apply Rule Number Six to your life on a daily basis, and notice what happens…

Points to Ponder . . .

Life is tough, and if you have the ability to laugh at it you have the ability to enjoy it.  (Salma Hayek)

A sense of humor is part of the art of leadership, of getting along with people, of getting things done.  (Dwight D. Eisenhower)

The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.  (e e cummings)

You don’t stop laughing because you grow old.  You grow old because you stop laughing.  (Michael Pritchard)

The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter.  (Mark Twain)

Laughter is the closest distance between two people.  (Victor Borge)

Selected Resources:

Port, Michael.  Book Yourself Solid.  Hoboken, NJ:  John Wiley & Sons, 2006.

Dyer, Wayne.  The Power of Intention.  Carlsbad, CA:  Hay House, Inc., 2004.

Gordon, Jon.  The Energy Bus.  Hoboken, NJ:  John Wiley & Sons, 2007.

Zander, Rosamund Stone and Zander, Benjamin.  The Art of Possibility.  Boston:  Harvard Business School Press, 2000.

NEXT ISSUE:  People Conducting.  Whether you lead a business, lead a band, or lead a team, it’s all about people.  Learn to conduct people as well as a maestro conducts an orchestra, and you’ll be a successful leader.

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