8 rules for life

A friend sent this short article about one of co-founders of Netflix, Marc Randolph, the 8 rules for life his father gave him. Love it!

Here are the 8 rules:

  1. Do at least 10% more than you are asked.

  2. Never, ever, to anybody present as fact opinions on things you don’t know. Takes great care and discipline.

  3. Be courteous and considerate always — up and down.

  4. Don’t knock, don’t complain — stick to constructive, serious criticism.

  5. Don’t be afraid to make decisions when you have the facts on which to make them.

  6. Quantify where possible.

  7. Be open-minded but skeptical.

  8. Be prompt.

mofro

Just about twenty years ago I picked this album up a few months after it came out. Back in 2001, it was much harder to find new bands. In this case, the local record store that I frequented in Tallahassee had a section where the music was organized by the indie record label it was released on. At that time, Mofro was on Fogcity Records, a label that had released the solo Robert Walter album Money Shot that I loved, so I scooped up the Mofro album Blackwater that had just come out. To this day, it is still in my top go-to list. Check it out.

sasha baron cohen

Big fan of all of Sasha’s work (they should have made this Queen movie!) He has recently become vocal about his feelings on the impact of technology, particularly social media and Google, on our democracy. For some of his thoughts (which I agree with) check out this great podcast: Kara Fisher’s Sway with Sasha Baron Cohen.

The video below is the one referenced in the podcast which is completely worth a watch as well.

trillion dollar coach

Wrapping up Trillion Dollar Coach about Bill Campbell, the coach that worked with folks like Eric Schmidt at Google and Steve Jobs at Apple, among many others. I would highly recommend the book but I particularly loved Bill’s thoughts on feedback.

No gap between statements and facts:

  • Be relentlessly honest and candid

  • Couple negative feedback with caring

  • Give feedback as soon as possible

  • If the feedback is negative, deliver it privately

create

Reading and re-reading The War of Art and Turning Pro over the last few years has really changed by way of thinking about life and my own character. Two things that I am committed to: make a song a week and start writing the screenplays that have been bouncing around in my head. What makes me so excited is I finally got to a place where 1.) I am doing more creative work and 2) I truly don’t care if that work is ever seen, heard, or read. It’s become a thing I do 100% for myself.

ask questions

I would say that I value curiosity above just about any other leadership trait. As John Maxwell would say, good leaders, ask great questions. At MSRE, we teach curiosity as the most critical part of the sales process as well. If you don’t have a genuine curiosity around your client’s needs, how can you ever serve them?

For those with children, I found this great blog I wanted to share. Actually, contains great advise for anyone!

movies watched in january 2021

1/1 - The Other Guys - B+

1/3 - Terminator: Dark Fate - C-

1/3 - No Country for Old Men - A+

1/5 - The Descendants - A+

1/7 - Catch Me if You Can - A-

1/9 - The Count of Monte Cristo - D

1/9 - Greyhound - B-

1/9 - Blue Ruin - A-

1/9 - The Long Kiss Goodnight - B

1/11 - Into the Wild - A-

1/12 - Superbad - A-

1/13 - Hunt for the Wilderpeople - A

1/15 - 30 Minutes or Less - C

1/16 - Enter the Dragon - B

1/16 - Zodiac - A+

1/17 - The King’s Speech - A

1/18 - Panic Room - B+

1/24 - Casino - A+

1/28 - Unstoppable - B

1/29 - The Quick and the Dead - A-

1/30 - Erin Brockovich - A

1/31 - Master and Commander - A-