Yes, I am suggesting to break the rules! This is coming from someone who likes rules. After all, rules create structure, limits and avoid chaos. Rules create expectations, discipline and define actions. Don’t we want rules?
Social
Rules can be social norms as well. I hate how people I do not know, ask me how I am doing?. It has become the social norm. I hate it because the person does not care about me. It has become an opening statement until someone answers in an unexpected way. Then we have social awkwardness. In Los Angeles, the supermarket clerk asks you how you are doing with the casualness of the scanner they are using to ring up your groceries. What is interesting is they do not listen for your answer.
Most telephone conversations start with similar statements. I realize friends and family are different than the store clerk or other strangers, but many of your casual friends do not want to know about your problems. Do you really want to listen to health issues or someone complaining about their problems? I know I don’t! I usually avoid those people. Why do we maintain these social norms or rules, if we don’t want to hear the answer?
Rule Breakers
One of the rules is go to college, get good grades and you will be successful. In this economy, there are a lot of recent college graduates who would disagree! There are a number of famous college dropouts who are very successful. Bill Gates and Steve Jobs are the more famous of many. There are even more that no one ever heard of! My parents started businesses in the height of the Great Depression and became successful, although they broke the rules. I achieved financial freedom at 38 years old in a non traditional way as chronicled in my journey to success.
Many people break the rules and succeed. I am not talking about breaking laws! I am referring to normal expectations in a business context. Steve Jobs did not follow the rules, he created his own. He helped create new products and made us want it. He created products that were not necessary, but we had to have it. All the most accomplished people break some rules. We want people to follow some of the rules such as stopping at red lights. Don’t we?
In this economy, can you go by the rules when you want a job? If you go by the rules, you will fill out applications; send resumes, use recruiters, network and search online. In fact, the candidates who break the rules distinguish themselves and get hired. Sticking with the rules means you have to compete with thousands of others for that one job. You need to find that back door to the hiring manager which is not the norm. You may want to create a snazzy You Tube video, email campaign or Twitter campaign to get some attention.
Work
Do you go along with the rules? Do you come in late, leave early or take 2 hour lunches? These rules will affect your fellow employees too. You are part of a team and other employees need to depend on you. The rules I am talking about involve doing things differently. It is making things happen versus letting things happen. It can mean formal rules versus informal rules. How you view rules will affect how you do things. What rules are you willing to break to succeed? When I was a member of an organization, I often used unwritten rules to my advantage to get things done.
I have a reputation for getting things done! How do I do it? Persistence, tenacity and determination! I keep going until I hear a positive answer. Doesn’t everybody? I think most people get discouraged too soon and give up. I don’t give up. I try different things and ask questions. It is amazing what asking questions will do! I also take the position that everyone wants to do the right thing. They just do not realize that the right thing is satisfying you.
Don’t businesses break the rules? Nordstroms provides the best customer service because they value their customers. The customers reciprocate with their loyalty. Customers are loyal to companies they feel treat them well. Companies like Apple, Zappos, Amazon and Starbucks are just a few of the companies that provide a good product or service. These companies can demand higher prices because they distinguish themselves through their service. They are breaking the rules.
Final Thoughts
Every successful person breaks the rules. The do not do what everyone does or what is expected. They exceed their expectations and find new ways to succeed. If they did what everybody expects, they failed! What if Apple did just sold computers? Could they get the higher price? No! They sell what people want by designing the perfect product. Other companies try to compete on price! No matter what you do, you need to break the rules!
Photo by: Abode of Chaos
Carnivals
Bucksome Boomer hosted the Yakezie Carnival and included Money or Your Life?
Remember, break the rules!
Love it! If done well, rule breaking generally involves some form of creativity, so I’m all for it. Think outside the square, question rules and do what others don’t – I think this is often what sets successful people apart from everyone else.
Although we want structure, we need to question and take our own path to success. Breaking the rules is part of it.
I think some people were just not made to follow convention, whereas other need rules to help guide them because they have trouble thinking outside of the box. I think people in both camps can be very successful. However, I do think it is harder for some than others based on many other factors, some as simple as just not having positive role models. (Meaning, ‘break the rules’ by not going to college. However, what do they do instead?? They broke the rules, but have nowhere to go.)
You definitely need post secondary training, if not college. If you go to college and have difficulty finding work, you need to find a different path to that career. It may mean entrepreneurship or other ways to distinguish yourself.
I do think a healthy degree of rule breaking, with respect to social norms, is just fine. It’s sometimes hard to walk the pre-specified path and be extraordinary. As long as someone is doing this as a part of stretching themselves to perform optimally and is quick to correct course when necessary, I think it is just fine.
Question the rules! Everything can be done better and Apple is a great example of doing it better.
Learn from the mistakes others have made, but don’t let that stop you from carving a new path! Knowing the difference between the two could be a challenge!
Many people do not question or challenge the existing rules. Finding your own way to success may mean breaking some rules.
Yes – rules are for the guidance of wise men and the obedience of fools! In fact progress only comes from breaking rules because rule-following is convergent and we all end up in the same place. Breaking the rules under your definition is really divergent thinking and all creative thinkers are divergent. Nowadays marketing people have given it different lables – think out of the box, green field thinking or whatever. But is always done by breaking the rules. Which is a rule!
I like your thought of rules are for guidance. I see many of the rules as recommendations or a benchmark. I can use it or skip it..
I have tended to break the mold numerous times in my life. Sometimes it has worked out well and other times I have learned some real good lessons. I think for me I just try to be who I am and be honest about it. So many people try to hide or change who they are. I just be myself, do my best to make good decisions, and try new things if I don’t like how something is to begin with . I like to be individual and my own person.
I think you should always be yourself. I have a reputation for getting things done over the years. I am successful because I am persistent and tenacious. I just do not take no for an answer. Those are my rules based on my values.
One of the most important reasons to break the rules is because the world is constantly changing. What used to be a “rule of thumb” or conventional wisdom never holds true forever (remember 10% annualized returns in stocks? LOL). It’s good to constantly be adapting (Darwin just couldn’t help it, I know…)
Very true! There are many rules that should be ignored or changed! Most successful people do not just accept the status quo.
Very nice reminder that there are other paths. I sometimes get caught up in doing the “right thing.” Instead of the right thing for me.
Usually the right thing is right for you. Isn’t it? I usually find ways around the rules to make things more effective and better overall.
I definitely agree on the ridiculousness of some of our social norms (check out the Big Bang Theory) for a show that points it out on a daily basis. Speaking of breaking the rules as far as educational stereotypes, I’m going to write a post on this video soon, but I thought you might enjoy it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U
My approach to education constantly breaks the rules, but it is good for the kids.
Great post!
hanks, I hope I broke some rules! 🙂
I made the mistake once of asking someone how they were and not listening and then they went on to say how bad things were and I said “oh that’s good” not paying attention. Well then the person went off on me about how no it wasn’t good etc.. LOL oops I guess that’s what I get for not paying attention!
Caught ya! I think most people do not listen or care.
There is a fine line between breaking the rules to gain something and then breaking the rules just because you feel like it hehe. like doing 75mph in a 45mph
That would be breaking the law! 🙂 I believe rules are guides and I can choose to follow or not.
This is so true, especially about job search rule breakers. At a previous job, there was a woman applying for a position, and she was not even considered a candidate. But she called the boss every day and asked how the application process was coming. After two weeks of talking to this woman every day, my boss threw her hands up and said, “If I hire you, will you leave me alone?” Of course, the woman said yes, and she ended up being one of the best workers in the place.
Persistence works! It shows what kind of person she is.
Interesting. Made me think and thinking about it I never break rules knowingly. It is an entirely different matter that I often do try to change them. But you are right: playing by the rules often doesn’t deliver; we have to learn to beat the rules intelligently.
I am glad I made you think about it! After all that is the objective. Don’t break all the rules, but just accept them either!
Great job on this article. It was well thought out and had great examples. I really enjoyed what you said about college expectations. I forget who it was, but they said: “Colleges create excellent employees.” Anytime I attend a college business course, I never hear about entrepreneurship, I only hear about jobs, resumes, interviews, and career fairs.
It’s refreshing to read an article that encourages the breaking of rules (in a good way). Indeed, many of our social norms have become quite tiresome for me as well. What about you Krant? How are you doing? 😛
Thanks,
Timothy
College prepares the vast majority of people who want a career working for someone. There are many schools that offer entrepreneurial classes and some even offer a degree! I don’t know if that is important as much as your choices after you finish school.