The Obvious: Everything You Need to Know to Succeed. James Dale

      JAMES DALE

      THE OBVIOUS

       Everything you need to know to succeed

       Dedication

       To my wife, Ellen. I was going to make a list of all the things you mean to me, but the publisher said I had to leave room for the book. I love you. Obviously.

      Contents

       Cover

       Title Page

      Dedication

      

      Introduction

      

       Part I – Work is a verb

      The bottom is a good place to start

There are no shortcuts

Work is a challenge. Or it should be.

Part II – It’s not about you

It is about everyone but you

Go on an ego diet

The credit will find you

Part III – Don’t be a jerk. Be reasonable, kind, decent, fair – in a word – nice.

There’s something to this Golden Rule thing

The bad guys make the good guys look better

Play fair – what a concept

You’re judged by the company you keep

Part IV – Listen more than you talk

Shut up

Listen. Then hear.

You can learn a lot from great listeners. And bad ones.

It’s okay to be ignorant. It’s not okay to stay that way.

Ask. It’s a great way to find out what you don’t know.

       Part V – Every job is sales

       Don’t sell. Solve.

       Give people what they want (not what you want them to want)

       Buying is selling

       The customer is always right … even when she’s wrong

       Part VI – Simple is better than complicated

       You can see more clearly from a distance

       Ahem. Pay Attention.

       Throw out your mental trash

       Part VII – Less is more

       Extra long is for suits, not meetings

       Don’t write in ink (50% of all meetings get changed)

       Cut the budget

       Cut your losses

       Part VIII – Say what you mean

       It’s more important to do business than to speak business

       A weasel is a rodent

       Mean what you say

       Part IX – Honesty – the most oowerful weapon in business

       There’s no such thing as a good liar

       An excuse is not a reason

       Apologize

       Take responsibility

       Part X – Open your mind – let ideas in

       Whatever you think, think the opposite

       Failure is good

       Change happens

       Global is the new local

       Just because someone is rich doesn’t make him smart

       You have to get old. You don’t have to think old.

       Part XI – Reality – deal with it

       Life isn’t fair. Get over it.

       Consistency beats a hot streak every time

       Don’t look backward. There’s nothing there.

       Most things aren’t as serious as they seem (but some are)

       Part XII – Don’t keep score

       Envy is ugly

       Grudges are stupid

       Forgive and forget – or at least one out of two

       Ignore titles, especially your own

       Money is a tool, not a god

       It’s 0–0 tomorrow

       Part XIII – Energy – the unfair edge

       Show up

       Today is a good time to do something

       Obsessive–compulsive isn’t all bad

       Patience is a virtue. So is impatience.

       Don’t take “no.” Press “0.”

       Work is not a hobby

       Part XIV – Imagine you worked for you

       Be the boss. Don’t be bossy.

       Take Boss 101. Learn from best and worst.

       Hire someone smarter than you

       Promote someone who isn’t ready

       Trust someone – besides yourself

       Firing hurts – or it should

       Everyone has a boss – even the boss

       Part XV – Take inventory

       If you wait for things to be different, you’re in for a long wait

      If you