Sunday, May 15, 2011
427. Train with all your heart, 30% Rule
Remember that when training in the Martial Arts, it will be a lot tougher on the street. You will only be able to deploy about 30% of your skill and strength when you are under real pressure. For that reason, when you are training put all of your mind body and heart into it. That way you will have more to use in your 30%. The more you sweat, the less you will bleed.
426. Beware of Prizes
A prize can be held out to two or more people in such a way as to make the competition between them so fierce that they forget their own ambitions, duties and plans. This leads to strife for them and ultimately, destruction.
425. Immediate Implementation and Respect
Implement all your good habits plans and ideas immediately, otherwise they will never get done. That way you will be respected and not treated as a child.
424. Make it Clear that You are in Control
Hear people's complaints and petitions personally. Avoid showing too much favour to your closest friends or making them too powerful.
423. Catherine de Medici On Advisors
"The magistrates and office holders are difficult and loquacious. They spoil everything and try to control everything with their arguments, verbosity and knowledge. This makes them so overbearing and presumptious that they expect their opinions alone to be considered. It is far better, therefore, to have military men as advisors who say what they mean and are brief and to the point. They have nothing but common sense and are not lettered or opinionated. They are more easily manipulated and more naturally loyal and their intentions are easier to read." - Catherine de Medici
422. Catherine de Medici's Advice to her Son, King Henry of France
"Open and read all letters and dispatches yourself. Do not leave the job to secretaries who might respond without consulting you. This way you show the hand of a Master." - Catherine de Medici.
421. Your Critical Faculties
Keep your critical faculties sharp. When you hear a report either favourable or unfavourable about a person, place or thing, do not simply accept it at face value. Find out the real agenda behind the report - where the person making it is coming from. To what extent are they likely to benefit from the actions you may take based on it ? Cui bono ? (Who benefits?) Always favour disinterested reports over biased or coloured reports, the one by the person who has nothing to gain or lose by any actions you may take. Always react neutrally to reports so that others won't be afraid to give you bad news and so that they can't know from your reaction what your plans are. (None of their flamin' business.) ~Treat all nformants on a need to know basis.
420. Whatever is Measured gets Improved
In order to become efficient, learn to measure everything that you do. Make it a habit. Begin to set parameters for yourself and learn to live by the numbers in order to develop a real feeling for the significance for all your Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
419. The Relationship between Budgeting and Poverty
Make friends with your budget. Create one from scratch and keep refining it. Always live within it - this will make you disciplined about money. Your budget is your first line of defence against poverty. Without one, hou have no hope of avoiding red-lining. Keep your budget under review, line by line and week by week. It is not enough just to create it and file it away. It must be a document that you live by.
418. Record Keeping
Keep copies of all correspondence both incoming and outgoing. Keep everything, forever. The Law only reqires you to keep files for 7 years but you should keep it all forever. At the very least it will help you write your memoirs. Modern technology (2011) allows you to keep a huge amount of data on DVD or in cyberspace. Institute a properly indexed filing system for all your papers and maintain it carefully.
417. Enid Blyton on being an Only Child
"You can't help being an only child. They are always a bit odd unless they are very careful. Children who have others around them are taken out of themselvves and don't have time to brood or sulk or get into a temper...." -Enid Blyton.
An only child has all the advantages and disadvantages of being the eldest, youngest and middle child as well as all those in between. I you are wise, you will learn from all of these.
An only child has all the advantages and disadvantages of being the eldest, youngest and middle child as well as all those in between. I you are wise, you will learn from all of these.
416. Physical Security
Keep the security of your home strong. Fit dead bolts, 5-lever locks, anti-ram hinges and whatever new physical barriers that come on the market from time to time. Keep your alarm system serviced, armed and up to date. Fit video surveillance systems. Conduct a review of your security arrangements every 6 months.
415. Other Peoples' Wars (OPW)
Have nothing to do with religious wars or racial conflicts. These forms of madness are simply brand loyalty taken to extremes. Whenever you see it, ask "How has this brand become so successful?"
414. Vision and Insight
Do not allow appearances to cloud your vision and insight into the truth of things. Look, listen and smell for the signs of truth in any matter. Seek WISE counsel, second opinions, agent's reports etc. Act only when you are as near to 100% certain as you can be.
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