If you have principles or rules that you live by, it will automatically dictate what needs to be done when certain situations present themselves to you. Here are five principles that I try to live by after listening to an “Art of Manliness” podcast a year ago…
1) Direction over speed. You need to know where you’re going, or have a goal in mind, before you hastily make decisions trying to get there. It doesn’t matter how quickly you’re moving or how busy you are…if you’re not aiming in the right direction, it will take you much longer to get to where you want to go.
2) Live deliberately. Time, and life, is fleeting. It can be taken from you or a loved one at any moment. Make sure that you are intentional with how you spend your time. Pursue your passions today.
3) Thoughtful opinions held loosely. If you are willing to share your opinions, make sure that they are thoughtful. That being said, do not be tied to the words that you say. You should be focused on getting to the truth, not being viewed as correct or intelligent. Be willing to change your mind as new information is presented to you.
4) Principles outlive tactics. Tactics, such as memorization, don’t necessarily mean that you understand the what, the how, or the why. Seek to understand those aspects first, then work on implementing different strategies to spread the word.
5) Own your actions. Take ownership of your mistakes. Not only is this the right thing to do, but it will actually garner you more respect than if you hide from it. It is much harder to admit a mistake than it is to blame others, but you will never grow as a person or as a leader if you constantly point the finger at someone else’s wrongdoing. Don’t let your ego get in the way of truly owning your actions.