Set Personal Standards Do you sleep nights? I know I do, but then I set personal standards that I simply wont break. I will not knowingly hurt or hinder another human being in the pursuit of my career. I will not knowingly break any laws in the furtherance of my career. I will have a moral code that I will follow no matter what. I will endeavor to provide a positive contribution to society by what I do for a living. I will not do anything that I would be ashamed to talk to my children about. I will put my family first at all times. I will not work evenings or weekends unless it is an emergency and I have discussed it with my partner. I will not unfairly harm anyone in my pursuit of new work. I will always endeavor to put something back. I will pass on freely and openly any skills, knowledge, or experience to anyone who could use them to benefit themselves within the same industryI wont hog information for the sake of it.

I will not be jealous of anyone elses success in the same industry. I will question the long-term ramifications of what I do constantly. I will play by the Rules at all times. 112 T H E R U L E S O F W O R K R U L E 4 7 This code of conduct is my own personal set of standards. It might not suit you. You may need or have a better set. I do hope you dont opt for a worse one. We must endeavor to be the very, very best we can at all times. W E M U S T E N D E AVO R TO B E T H E V E R Y , V E R Y B E S T W E CA N AT A L L T I M E S . L O O K A F T E R Y O U R S E L F 113 R U L E 4 8

Never Lie This Rule, as in the case of Rule 42: Dont Swear, is very easy. It sets a limit that you dont have to think about. Never lie means exactly thatnever lie. Under no circumstances do you lie. Once you have got a reputation as someone who never lies, you wont ever be asked to cover up, or cover for anyone else. If you do decide to lie for a living, you have too many choices and decisions. Where do you draw the line? Do you only tell little lies? Great big ones? Do you lie to save yourself? Others? Do you lie for the company? For your boss? For colleagues? How developed will your lies be? Will you add lie to lie when the first lie looks like its about to be detected? Where will you stop this process? Will you involve other people in your lies? Or will you be a lone liar? Can you see the problems? If you have a simple Rulenever lieyou have a default setting that requires no thought, no choices, no decisions, no alternatives, no picking, no preferences.

Not ever lying also saves you from guilt, fear, recrimination, having to remember the lies, the risk of being punished or sacked or embarrassed, ostracizing your colleagues, putting your family in jeopardy, running the risk of a criminal prosecution, and not sleeping nights. Never lie is really the simplest, cleanest, most honest approach to your working life and career. It is, of course, OK to embellish and hype up your resume or experience or enthusiasm, but please dont actually lie. You will be found outI guarantee it. 114 T H E R U L E S O F W O R K