Peter Diamandis’ Laws for Life

This guy has boatloads of courage. He’s Peter Diamandis, creator of the XPrize and Singularity University. I’m always interested in what motivates people who have achieved great things and seem to be having a lot of fun in life. Peter’s Laws are shockingly bold and beautiful.

Here they are, to inspire or surprise you, in the same giant font Peter originally used…

Peter’s Laws ^™

The Creed of the persistent and passionate mind

1. If anything can go wrong, Fix It!!… To hell with Murphy!

2. When given a choice… Take Both!!

3. Multiple projects lead to multiple successes.

4. Start at the top then work your way up.

5. Do it by the book… but be the author!

6. When forced to compromise, ask for more.

7. If it’s worth doing, it’s got to be done right now.

8. If you can’t win, change the rules.

9. If you can’t change the rules, then ignore them.

10. Perfection is not optional.

11. When faced without a challenge, make one.

12. “No” simply means begin again at one level higher

13. Don’t walk when you can run.

14. Bureaucracy is a challenge to be conquered with a righteous attitude, a tolerance for stupidity, and a bulldozer when necessary.

15. When in doubt: THINK!

16. Patience is a virtue, but persistence to the point of success is a blessing.

17. The squeaky wheel gets replaced.

18. The faster you move, the slower time passes, the longer you live.

19. The best way to predict the future is to create it yourself!

20. The ratio of something to nothing is infinite.

21. You get what you incentivize.

22. If you think it is impossible, then it is… for you.

23. An expert is someone who can tell you exactly how it can’t be done.

24. The day before something is a breakthrough it’s a crazy idea.

25. If it were easy it would have been done already.

26. Without a target you’ll miss it every time.

27. Bullshit walks, hardware talks.

28. A crisis is a terrible thing to waste.

29. The world’s most precious resource is the passionate and committed human mind.

30. If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.

Copyright, 1986, 2009, Peter H. Diamandis, All Rights Reserved.  Laws # 14 & #18 by Todd B. Hawley.  Contact info:  peter@xprize.org

Best Life Lessons from 3 Great Philosophers

Life is good, the journey is easy. Reading the words of three wise minds has taught me some new lessons on how to live, and how to enjoy living.

Here are the top 3 take-away messages from Emerson, Robinson, and Seneca.

(I’m still looking for great female philosophers. Let me know in the comments if you have favorites!)

This beautiful mandala is courtesy of the amazing Richard A Waters. Happy reflecting!

1. Trust yourself, be yourself.

Source: http://www.emersoncentral.com/selfreliance.htm

Emerson writes a compelling essay, not only fiercely authentic but advocating fierce authenticity. Be yourself, even when others around you don’t agree. Don’t conform, he says, and don’t even worry about being consistent with yourself. Allow yourself to be in every moment, and stick to the principles that you have chosen for your life. His final words? “Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.”

2. Find your passion.

Sources: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html

and http://www.amazon.com/Element-Finding-Passion-Changes-Everything/dp/0670020478

Robinson is a modern philosopher, polio survivor, and educational reformer. His message is simple and strong: Follow what you love doing, let that be ok. Don’t try to change yourself to fit our abominable education system; learn in the way that suits you. He gives the powerful example of a “hyperactive” child who wouldn’t sit still in school. Her mother got the enlightened advice to let her go to a dance school, because she so obviously loved to move and thought by moving. She ended up being the creator of amazing dance productions like CATS.

Robinson’s work is filled with dozens of these inspiring, thought-provoking stories. One of my favorite quotes: “Often we need other people to help us recognize our real talents. Often we can help other people to discover theirs.”

3. Live for today.

Source: http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2009/04/24/on-the-shortness-of-life-an-introduction-to-seneca/

Thanks to my friend Tim Ferriss for this one. My take on Seneca’s message is to use your life to do only what you love doing at every moment instead of sacrificing today for a potentially better but non-existent tomorrow. This one sentence sums it up: “It is not that we have a short space of time, but that we waste much of it.”

So here’s to doing what you love, being yourself, and enjoying life! Be well and thanks for reading.