July 2, 2007

Business and Life: The Rules of the Road

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 7:43 am

Road to Anywhere
I've been thinking . . .

about the rules of the road that make life flow more easily.

I’m not much for rules.

My husband says “Please don’t tell her ‘Don’t touch.’ She’s just like our son — if you do, then she’ll have to.”

But some rules make sense, like those that keep folks safe as we move in traffic. The rules of the road I’ve learned are simple to share, but often hard to remember. I’m thinking I should write some down now. . . . before I forget them again.

Before I set off, it’s good to know my destination or at least what direction I have chosen. I know I’ll constantly be making corrections, be stopping at times to make sure the plan is still a good one.

I need fuel to keep going. . . .

I need to know whether I’m good at mapping the trip, navigating, or making the journey happen. Hardly anyone is good at all of that. That’s why I need a few hearty traveling companions. The joy of sharing the experience, the people we meet, and the stories we make is the return on the investment..

It doesn’t slow me down when I stop to let someone go first. More often than not something good comes of it. I don’t get where I’m going any later.

When I drive extreme, I can’t pay attention to the details on the way there.

When I think I own the road, people act as if they agree, but they don’t. And they don’t see what I want them to see. They see me acting as if I’m important. In other words,

. . . when I think it’s about me, it’s not . . . It’s about them — what they need. Then I think it’s about them causing a problem, it’s not. . . . It’s about me –thinking I’m something special.

I don’t need a car to know the rules of the road — or the value in them. Even crossing the street, I know it’s best to look both ways first and to hold someone’s hand if I can. It makes the trip easier and adds to it.

And the road itself can take me anywhere I want to go.

What do you know about the rules of the road that you’re on? . . .

Liz's Signature


Filed under Motivation/Inspiration, Successful Blog |



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17 Comments to “Business and Life: The Rules of the Road”

  1. July 2nd, 2007 at 10:06 am
    Whitney said

    If you don’t find a way to stop or slow down yourself, someone else will. Stoppages provide time to breathe, reflect, calm down, clean up, think clearly, brainstorm, reconnect. They don’t stop you from being productive, they make you start being productive in other ways. They make you start considering whether you’re really being as productive as you think are.

    Traffic jams happen when too many people are trying to do the same thing at the same time. They’re a big flashing neon sign that says its time to fix problems, find new ways of doing things, redelegate.

  2. July 2nd, 2007 at 1:32 pm
    Kirk M said

    Brings to mind a few sayings (some I just made up on the spur of the moment) :D

    Stop and smell the roses on the way.

    Too many cooks spoil the soup.

    Slow down…you’ll get there faster. (mine)

    Best laid plans of mice and men etc…

    Go ahead, make a plan. As long as you know it will change. (mine too)

    Pay attention when the sign says “End Of Pavement!” (yup. That’s mine also)

    At a 4-way stop when other cars are present…the driver on your left has the right of way.

    The prettiest scenery is always found on the road less traveled. (mine three)

    Okay, enough fun for now. :D

  3. July 2nd, 2007 at 2:16 pm
    Alina Popescu said

    Hi Liz, very interesting association indeed! I like to stick to the basics, no matter on what road I drive or just walk on: never do to others what I wouldn’t really be keen on having done to me :) The simplest, yet most widely applicable rule of them all.

  4. July 2nd, 2007 at 3:22 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Kirk!
    Sorry to make you wait . . . I was at the DMV. :)

    Those are all great rules to live by, but I though it was the driver on the right. Hmmmmm

    Don’t forget that old one. “Smile they’ll wonder what you are up to.” :)

  5. July 2nd, 2007 at 3:24 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Alina!
    I’m with you with “never do” and then I like

    Do unto others as they might wish you would treat them with respect.

    Sometimes what we want, say a hug, is the last thing someone else would want in the same situation. But usually we all agree on the bad things we certainly don’t need. :)

  6. July 2nd, 2007 at 6:05 pm
    Kirk M said

    Oh…ahem…cough…cough…uh, yeah right. It’s right, I mean the driver on the right has the right…of way that is. Man, I’m slippin’.

    And yup, I forgot that “smile” rule altogether. Must be having an off day. :D

  7. July 2nd, 2007 at 7:41 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Kirk,
    I thought maybe you were being cosmopolitan. :) . . . or creative. :)

    It’s the summer heat!

  8. July 2nd, 2007 at 10:00 pm
    GP said

    It’s easier to ride the horse the direction it’s going in.

    gp in montana

  9. July 2nd, 2007 at 10:02 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Oh man, GP!!
    Maybe that’s the part I’ve been getting wrong all of these years!!

  10. July 3rd, 2007 at 4:40 am
    Honman said

    You need to know your destination. You need to have an idea when and where to stop to rest, to eat, to sleep and to refuel. Most important of all, have fun in your journey.

  11. July 3rd, 2007 at 6:53 am
    Kirk M said

    Hi Liz,

    Or humorous even. I can never resist. ;0

    Hi GP,

    Now that is a great rule. Of course once in awhile you may have to rein the horse in and head to your planned destination too. :)

  12. July 3rd, 2007 at 7:07 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Honman!
    Welcome! Thanks for stopping in. :)

    I like that you point out that fun is important. I often say if you’re not having fun you’re just not doing it right. :)

  13. July 3rd, 2007 at 7:29 am
    ME Strauss said

    Kirk,
    I do love your sense of humor. :)

  14. July 3rd, 2007 at 11:23 am
    GP said

    kirk, trust me … been there done that owning a thoroughbred mare. Sometimes she think surely her human’s gone mad when she trots (or would that be a gallop?) past the barn and she thinks I’m the one that ’s lost sense of direction :)

    gp in montana

  15. July 3rd, 2007 at 1:38 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hey GP!
    In my case, the thoroughbred would be right. :)

  16. July 3rd, 2007 at 5:31 pm
    Kirk M said

    Okay, one more…

    I’ll just sleep on the horse when I get tired and enjoy the place I’m at wherever I wake up.

    “Hiyo Paint…Let’s get where we ain’t” :P

  17. July 3rd, 2007 at 6:59 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hey Kirk,
    That was two and both were worth waiting for. :)

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