Thursday, January 25, 2018

The Rampey rules for success!

Here's the summary of the Rampey rules for success!

#1 - Show up everyday
#2 - Pay attention
#3 - Remember lots of stuff
#4 - Get stuff done
#5 - Assume command
#6 - Surround yourself with others using the first five rules

I hope you have started using my success rules.  As I've mentioned, they are listed in the order for a reason and each rule builds upon the success of the previous rule.  If you can execute these rules in order, without skipping any, I'm confident you have success in whatever it is you do!

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Rule #7 - Teach people the rules.

In an effort to continue writing down my life success rules I've come to the last rule #7, "Teach people the rules."  Remember, the rules are in order and build upon each other for a reason.  Get the first 6 rules working in your own life before you try this rule out.

In my experience, when it comes to success, very few things come naturally.  That is where rule #7 comes into play.   "Teach people the rules."   Teaching people the first three rules will have the largest impact, however, it is the most challenging.  Some people simply don't understand the correlation of these first three rules to success.  My advice is, don't waste time with people who don't already follow the first three rules (knowingly or unknowingly).   You can certainly share those rules in the effort to help them understand why they never seem to have success.  However, trying to teach those rules will likely frustrate you and for some they will never see success because of an unwillingness to change.  The best advice with regards to the first three rules is to "show" not "tell" and wait for them to ask.

If you are ready to teach the rules (because your have success while following rules 1 to 5) then here's some additional advice.   Explain the rules in order.  Emphasize the importance of each rule building on the previous rule.  As I said earlier in the description of those first three rules, people can be successful in just doing those three so don't worry if that's all they intend to ever do.  It doesn't limit your success. Anyone who is already demonstrating the first three rules regularly is a good candidate to invest your time and energy into teaching.   One final bit of advice,  the most difficult rule for many successful people is generally rule #5, "Assume command", because for many people it will be outside their comfort zone.  You should have rule #5 down well yourself, before teaching that rule, because drawing on your own experience of seeing success with that rule will be the best way to teach others.

Now, if you're ready, get out there and tell people about these rules!

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Rule #6 - Surround yourself with people following the first 5 rules.

In an effort to continue writing down my life success rules I've come to the rule, #6, "Surround yourself with people following the first 5 rules."

This rule is very simple.  Teams are stronger than individuals.  Like minded teams are even stronger.  When you are living the first six rules and having success with them it is time to surround yourself with other like minded individuals.   This will allow you to achieve even greater success.  It might take you some time to find people following the rules but if you've been living rules you already have some people around you.  You should quickly weed out anyone that is not following rule #1, #2, or #3 for obvious reasons.   It is worth noting that sometimes you might have to leave one job for another to find other people following the rules.

I hope you've enjoyed reading about my rules for success.  Please let me know if you're trying out the rules and if they have made a difference for you.

Thursday, January 11, 2018

Rule #5. Assume command

I have been writing down my rules for success.  You can find the first four here: #1#2#3 and #4.

Today is rule #5, "Assume command".  I learned this rule from my grandfather Timothy R. Rice who was a Lt. Colonel in the US Army.   My grandfather was a big part of my early childhood and I spent many hours of my life doing things with him.  He was the kind of man who lived by a personal code of conduct.  He was compassionate, generous and kind to everyone he met but he was also strong, direct, and intolerant of wrong doing.  Everywhere my grandfather went he assumed he was in charge.  This was probably directly related to his military career but obviously in the military that might not always have been true.  It was this very approach to life that is the essence of rule #5, "Assume command".   When you are living rules #1 to #4 then (and only then) can you exercise rule #5.  In fact, if you are truly doing the first four rules most people you work with, and many you associate with, will actually assume you are in charge.   By contrast, failing at the first four rules and trying to do rule #5 will get you into trouble.  "Assuming command" is NOT about actually being in charge.  It is about understanding that a majority of people have no desire to make decisions and be accountable for their decisions.  "Assume command" is about situational authority. You'll find that if you are showing up everyday (rule #1), paying attention (rule #2),  remembering lots of stuff (rule #3) and getting stuff done (rule #4), that living these rules will put you in the situation that most people will simply assume your in charge.   You can leverage this situational authority to accomplish even more than you otherwise could on your own.

Get busy living the first four rules and then step into the world of rule #5,  assume command!

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Rule #4. Get stuff done.

I've been writing down my rules for success.  You can find the first three here: #1, #2, #3.  Today is about rule #4.  This rule was inspired and crafted by my good friend Bob Lasch who is an excellent software engineer.  Bob is a "doer", and simply put he gets stuff done.  I've called him "Bob the Builder" (after the cartoon) because he has an outstanding attitude and always works to get stuff done.

Many years back Bob and I were working on a software project together and we started discussing the first three rules.   As Bob so eloquently put it after that discussion, those first three rules are important but don't mean anything if you can't get stuff done.  I happened to agree with him and that's where my rule #4 was birthed.  If you are going to have success, you are going to have to get stuff done.  This rule is entirely context specific intentionally using the words "stuff" and "done". Whatever it is you are doing (selling real estate, programming computers, managing a household, etc.) you must get something to a finished state to have real success.  If you're in the business of selling real estate but you never actually get a sale to go all the way through a closing,  can you be successful?   If you develop software but you never actually ship the software, can you be successful? Success is measured by finishes.  Start finishing things in whatever you've chosen to do and you'll be on the road to success.

Stay tuned for rule #5 coming next week.  It's quite possibly my favorite rule of all because of who taught it to me.

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Rule #3. Remember lots of stuff.

I'm writing down my rules for success so I can share them with my friends and family.  Hopefully they are seeing these blog posts.

This is the third rule you need to follow in order to be successful at anything you're doing. This must be paired with rule #1 and rule #2 to be truly effective.  You can see this skill demonstrated by a good server at your favorite restaurant.  That server will have showed up (rule #1) be paying attention (rule #2) enough to notices that your glass is empty but you know they have rule #3 down when they refill your drink with exactly what you originally ordered without having to ask you.  It seems simple right?   It can be if you're following the rules and actually truly paying attention.   Working as a software developer or real estate agent I have to remember lots of things.  Actually remembering everything is impossible.  This rule is really about remembering the right stuff.  The server in your favorite restaurant doesn't need to remember everything about your order,  just those things that are going to resurface.  You don't need to remember everything about the work you do, just focus on remembering things that will get repeated or replayed.   I've learned that it's best to remember where the answers can be found rather than remember the exact answer.

You now have the first three rules for success.  Some people, like to stop here.  I believe you can probably be really successful by knowing and following but these first three rules.  However,  stay tuned,  the road to success does have a few more rules.  Rules 4, 5, 6, and 7 coming your way shortly. Remember that.  :)

Thursday, August 17, 2017

Rule #2. Pay attention

I've adopted some life rules.  I've shared many of them with friends and family over the years.   I'm going to be sharing my seven rules to success over the next several weeks.  They've come from many different sources.  My friends Michael F. Johnson and Bob Lasch, my grandfather,  and my own experiences.

If you missed rule #1 you can find that post here.

Today's rule is rule #2 is "Pay Attention".   It is in the top 3 because of its relationship to having success with anything you are doing. You can see this skill demonstrated by a good server at your favorite restaurant.  That person will pay attention to your table and notice things like empty glasses that need refilled. It is a skill that requires effort in our world full of distractions but it is essential if your going to be successful.  If you don't "pay attention" you really can't be successful.  Take a listen to my good friend Michael F. Johnson talk about "Paying Attention" as only he can describe the rule.  -->  I suspect this will be the best three minutes you spend today if you pay attention.

The Rampey rules for success!

Here's the summary of the Rampey rules for success! #1 - Show up everyday #2 - Pay attention #3 - Remember lots of stuff #4 - Get s...