More Simple Rules For A Better Life
Previously we published a post titled simple rules for a better life.
Several people said they found it helpful, so it made sense to follow it up with a second post on the topic.
Who knows, we might go crazy and publish a third at some point?
In this post, we look at ten new skills that you can become better at than the average person just by observing a handful of rules.
Read on to learn more.
Simple Rules for Presenting
“It takes one hour of preparation for each minute of presentation time.”
It’s not the best idea that wins; it’s the one that’s most well presented. If you want to give your ideas the best chance of succeeding, then learning how to present them well is a good use of time. The following tips are worth keeping in mind.
1. Don’t present; tell a story
Watch any TED talk. The speaker always starts with a story. Why? Because we are hardwired for stories. It’s the medium through which we passed on ideas long before we invented writing. The better the story, the more you have your audience’s attention.
2. Keep your slides simple
Your brain is lazy and likes to conserve energy. Therefore, it filters out anything that is ‘cognitively effortful’ like lots of text, complicated charts and endless rows of data. So what can you do? A good place to start is Guy Kawasaki’s 30/20/10 Rule of Powerpoint.
3. Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse
In property, the three most important words are ‘location, location, location’. When it comes to presenting, they are ‘rehearse, rehearse, rehearse’. Knowing your stuff well keeps you calm, which makes you a better presenter. It also means you can focus on maintaining eye contact with your audience because you won’t need to constantly look at your slides.
Simple Rules for Investing
“It’s time in the market, not timing the market that is the key to success.”
Investing is one of the best things you can do with your money. This is because keeping it in the bank or under your mattress leaves it vulnerable to inflation. And it’s a lot less complicated than you think. The key is to keep things simple and stick to a plan.
1. Be wary of fees and hidden charges
The buying and selling of stocks involve charges in the form of commissions. Also, if you are buying a fund, understand that the service fees can vary significantly. These can eat into your investment returns. Therefore, for most people, low-cost index funds are best.
2. Be patient
Investing is a long-term game. The stock market is volatile in the short term but rewards those who are patient. Trying to time the market is a fool’s game and frequent trading of stocks will cost you money. The answer? Buy right and sit tight.
3. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
There is no such thing as a 100% safe investment. For this reason, it’s important to diversify your portfolio to balance out the risks. Review your asset allocation (the mix of asset categories you have in your portfolio) regularly to maintain a healthy equilibrium.
Simple Rules for Decision Making
“The only thing you have control over that can influence the way your life turns out is the quality of your decisions.”
You make thousands of decisions a day. Most of them are trivial, but a few of them might be important. This is why it helps to learn how to make better ones. After all, your decisions determine the quality of your life.
1. Don’t let your emotions hijack your decisions
Avoid making decisions when you feel tired, stressed or are in an altered state. You make the best decisions when you’re emotionally detached but not disinterested. This is the origin of the phrase ‘sleep on it’.
2. Understand that not all decisions are equal
The more small decisions you need to make, the less likely you will get the big ones right. For this reason, it pays to develop good habits and automate as many of the small, repeated daily decisions as you can. This frees up your mental energy for when good judgement is required most.
3. Seek the counsel of wise friends
You see the world through your particular lens. This is why it’s crucial to seek the opinions of intelligent friends to help illuminate your thinking biases and avoid overlooking essential factors. No smart friends? Ask your virtual boardroom members instead.
Simple Rules for Problem Solving
“Solving problems using rationality is like playing golf with only one club.”
Every day you are faced with problems. Some of these might cause you significant anxiety or harm. The good news is that nearly all problems can be overcome by following a few simple rules.
1. Accurately define the problem
This is the most critical part of the problem-solving process. First, you must get to the root cause of the issue to address it instead of the symptom or symptoms of the problem. You may even make the situation worse as the result of an unintended consequence.
2. Look for existing solutions
Before you devote hours of your life to finding a solution to your problem, do some research first to find out if someone else has solved the same or similar problem in the past - no need to reinvent the wheel, my friend.
3. Try different solutions
Solutions that sound good on paper don’t necessarily work so well in reality. For this reason, you will need to try different approaches to your problem until you find the solution that works the best. It truly is a game of trial and error!
Simple Rules for Negotiation
“A negotiator should observe everything. You must be part Sherlock Holmes, part Sigmund Freud. ”
Put simply, negotiation is a means of getting what you want from others. It is one of the most valuable skills you can develop because it applies to any aspect of life. Everyone can benefit from being a better negotiator.
1. Remember that negotiating is about people
Avoid seeing your negotiating counterpart as the problem. Instead, make them feel like a partner in helping you shape a favourable outcome instead of the enemy you are trying to outwit. Attack the problem, not the person!
2. Be flexible on the outcomes
Avoid coming to the table with a fixed idea of your desired outcome. Instead, allow for a range of potential solutions to be considered so that you don’t end up in a battle back and forth with each party repeating their favoured resolution without any attempt to find a workable compromise.
3. Listen carefully
Try to put yourself in your negotiation partner’s shoes by listening carefully to what they say. In doing so, you may uncover opportunities for a mutual agreement that didn’t seem possible at the outset.
Simple Rules for Public Speaking
“There are certain things in which mediocrity is not to be endured, such as poetry, music, painting, public speaking.”
Most of us are terrified of speaking in public. This is a shame because it’s a useful skill that can be learnt. The biggest thing to overcome is your fear. Following the below can help.
1. Speak clearly and slowly
When you speak in a rushed and convoluted manner, it gives the impression that you lack confidence and don’t understand your subject matter.
2. Project confidence
The mind-body connection works both ways. Assuming a confident stance with open body language sends a signal to the brain that you are relaxed. Read Amy Cuddy’s excellent book Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges for more on this topic.
3. Use a little humour
When used correctly, humour is a great device for gaining trust and likability. These qualities make what you say more believable. You might even want to try taking advantage of the Pratfall Effect.
Simple Rules for Brand Building
“Products are made in a factory but brands are created in the mind.”
It’s no coincidence that the world’s most valuable companies all invest heavily in their brand. This is because a strong brand allows a company to charge a premium for their product or service. The key rules for building a brand are below.
1. Be different
Your brain has an effective filtering mechanism for the thousands of messages that bombard you each day - it only pays attention to things it hasn’t seen before. Getting noticed is the first rule of branding, so make sure you’re not just like the rest of your category.
2. Be consistent
If you think of a brand as a person, then imagine what feelings you experience when that person starts behaving inconsistently.
3. Have recognisable assets
Most of your brain is devoted to visual processing, which means images stick in your brain better than words. Therefore, having instantly recognisable brand logos, fonts, and colours is an essential thing to get right.
Simple Rules for Copywriting
“Never forget who it is you’re talking to and write as you speak. Don’t preach, don’t show off and never be boring.”
Learning how to write effective copy gives you an enormous business advantage. This is why big companies pay a fortune for advertising agencies to write their ads. Follow the below rules to level up your copywriting skills.
1. Use simple words
Reading takes effort, so your job as a writer is to make it as easy as possible for your audience to read your writing. Using fancy words might boost your ego, but they won’t make life any easier for your readers.
2. Be concise
As William Zinsser said, “Examine every word you put on paper. You’ll find a surprising number that don’t serve any purpose.” Use as few words as possible to communicate your point and edit ruthlessly.
3. Be interesting
Human beings are a curious species. We are constantly on the lookout for new information that can improve our lives. We immediately discount anything we think is boring or overly familiar.
Simple Rules for Leadership
“The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision. You can’t blow an uncertain trumpet.”
Despite popular opinion, leadership is a skill that anyone can improve. While you might not set out to be a leader, you will inevitably become one at some point as you progress in your career. In addition, learning how to lead well will make your life much easier.
1. Clearly and regularly articulate the vision
This is the most important role a leader plays. Without a clear vision, it is difficult to get everyone else to follow in the same direction. It’s surprising just how many leaders fail to adhere to this point.
2. Do what you say you will
People will follow someone they trust. Therefore, as a leader, you must always follow through on what you say. Trust is quickly lost when your actions don’t match your words.
3. Learn to delegate effectively
You cannot do everything on your own. Great leaders have the power to delegate tasks and trust people to carry them out to the best of their ability.
Simple Rules for Storytelling
“We are, as a species, addicted to story. Even when the body goes to sleep, the mind stays up all night, telling itself stories.”
Storytelling is the most effective way to communicate your ideas. This is because people will remember the story long after they’ve forgotten the facts. It’s a skill that pays dividends if you keep a few points in mind.
1. Make your audience care
People pay attention to the stories they identify with. Therefore, you need a relatable character at the heart of your story who undergoes a transformation. Seeing something of themselves in the story helps readers empathise with the moral of your story.
2. Have a beginning, a middle and an end
Good stories observe the 3 Act structure - they have a beginning, a middle and an end. The first part involves setting the scene and the cast of characters. The second part is creating a challenge to overcome, and the final part is the resolution.
3. Create tension
A good story keeps you on your toes by containing a few twists and turns along the way. Think about ways you can build tension in your story without overdoing it.
What are your simple rules for life? Please feel free to add your suggestions in the comments.
