Successful people play by the rules. Not most of the time, but all of the time. Sure mistakes are made, but successful professionals don't live by their mistakes. Truely successful professionals do not break the rules to achieve their success.
The best athletes in sports take the time to know the rules of the game. Not just at an overview level, but specifically. They don't just "think" they know them, but often have a rule book within easy reach. They aren't afraid to check the rules regularly. They also aren't afraid to remind others of the rules when appropriate.
Successful professionals have the same characteristic. Not only do they know the rules for accounting, licensing, professional ethics, and social functions, but they follow them. They are quick to refer to ethics laws and licensing laws and often have copies of them nearby for reference. They aren't afraid to check the rules, and to remind others of them when they are violated.
Successful professionals aren't afraid to perform near the line. They have taken the time to learn not just what someone said, but exactly where the line is. Where they are safe and where they are not.
Athletes have not only the rules of the country and state, the rules of the game, and the rules of physics to deal with.
Successful professionals have not only the rules of the land, but rules of professional ethics, and rules of personal professional behavior.
Perhaps my least favorite part of organized sports is the tendency to teach the players it is OK to cheat if you are not caught. Imagine a big league football player calling a penalty on himself. It just wouldn't happen. This works because at a bigger level it is just a game. About the worst thing that can happen is they lose the right to finish the game.
Real life is different. It is not OK to cheat just because you are not caught. You must often call penalties on yourself. Perhaps redoing a report and resubmitting it. Perhaps telling someone you made and error and requiring them to return for extra work. Perhaps resubmitting a tax form. This is important because the penalty for real life mistakes can be a trip to jail, loss of professional license, or an injury to a patient, client, or customer.
If you want to be successful learn the rules for your arena and then follow them as if your professional life depends upon it. Because it does, just ask Michael Vick.
Rick
