In What It Takes, Stephen Schwarzman, Chairman, CEO, and Co-Founder of Blackstone, shares the story of his success. Below are his 25 rules for work and life woven throughout the book. It might be a worthwhile exercise for you to reflect on how each of these rules may apply to you. You'll see under each rule, [...]
Are you clever or are you wise? “Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” - Rumi, Persian Poet, Theologian and Scholar
What are you putting off today that you may regret tomorrow? Exercise for your future health? Continuous learning for your future career moves? Time spent with your loved ones for your future relationships? "You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today. - Abraham Lincoln, American President
If you want to keep performing better than others, then you'll have to prepare and train better than others. What are you willing to do now that others are not willing to do? These actions and sacrifices will be what separates you from them in the future. "Today I will do what others won't [...]
If you want to succeed, do the hard work it takes to separate you from everyone else. If you persevere, you'll eventually get there. The extra bonus is that the journey itself will help you to grow and increase your chances of success. Don't waste your time looking for a shortcut - you're only prolonging [...]
"We live on an island surrounded by a sea of ignorance. As our island of knowledge grows, so does the shore of our ignorance." John Archibald Wheeler, American Physicist (Scientific American (1992), Vol. 267.) The more you know, the more you realize how much you don't know. To be successful in your career, keep learning new things. Learn broadly about many [...]
... stop. You have nothing to gain. It doesn't matter what has happened, stay away from complaining, getting bitter, or blaming others. If Stephen Hawking, who has every right to complain, whine and be angry about his condition, recognizes this, you should too. This mirrors the advice from Dale Carnegie in his book, How to [...]
A good character is foundational to your success. It'll help you build trust and enhance your reputation. To assess the type of character you are, look at your recent choices, thoughts, and actions. Ask yourself: Would I trust and want to work with someone like me? If not, choose a better character for yourself.
... DO something about it. Warren Buffett's timely reminder: "Predicting rain doesn't count. Building ark does." The world is changing constantly and the magnitude and pace of that change is accelerating. By keeping your eyes open and observing closely, you might see what's actually happening and even predict what might happen. The questions to ask yourself are: What [...]
... think about whether your "personal branding" behaviors actually lead to the real results that would make you truly impressive. Ryan Holiday, in his new book, Ego is the Enemy, makes a great point about not confusing talk and recognition as real accomplishment. Look at what you've done and what you're currently doing and ask yourself - is it of substance? Are [...]
... remember what you can control. You can do the work but you can't control the results. Whether or not you get promoted, make a deal or get the resources you need all depends on the decisions of other people. Unfortunately, Peter Drucker is right - the decision maker may not be the best person to make [...]
When times are tough and you're not seeing the results you want, or when everything you touch turns to gold and you can't seem to fail, remember these words from Churchill and keep doing the small things that matter. keep pursuing the big things you love.
