Lots of different events inspired me to share something I think about all the time. I wanted to write about the norms and rules and how to relate to the phenomenon of the norms and rules from my point of view. Do not expect others to follow the rules and be an exception yourself.
The norms and rules are specially formulated and voiced primarily for one purpose – and no, the purpose is not to bypass them – but to learn how to follow them first.
Clearly, unquestioningly, without any options, without discussions, without “may I”, without “but”, without “I’m special”.
We know the rules – we follow them. This is the very beginning. It is the start of your career success, your financial independence, the formation of your team. This is the beginning of everything. And don’t tell me about the rebels, I’m sure they passed this stage too.
A couple of personal cases.
CASE 1
I’m boarding a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Paris. Everything passes quickly, no stress, no fuss. There are businessmen on the flight, a few elderly German couples, several mothers with children, and a couple of young girls. Even those who seem to be flying for the first time follow the instructions along with everyone else.
CASE 2
Next time I’m boarding a WizzAir plane from Kyiv to Warsaw (with a Ukrainian flight crew). The stewardess turns to an elderly woman and says: – let me put your bag on the shelf, there should be nothing lying on your knees during the onboarding … – Oh no, no, no, leave my bag alone, something may get broken on your shelf (the discussion takes about 10 minutes).
– WTF? Do you know all the intricacies of flight safety? Or do you know the rules for opening windows and turning off electrical appliances and forbidden things on your lap (although the latter is obvious)? For example, I don’t and I have never delved into this, because this is not my area of interest at all. I fly 2-3 times a month and I want the flight to be fast and safe. Anyway, I bought a ticket, trusted these people. So I do follow all the rules and want to get an excellent result. I don’t set the rules in this situation and do not know all the specifications of this profession. They tell me what to do – I do it. Period.
CASE 3
Another day I’m boarding a plane by Malev, flying from Budapest to Kyiv (with a Hungarian flight crew). A tipsy young man, our compatriot, does not want to open the porthole because of the sunbeam hitting his eye. After three requests from the steward the situation does not change and the steward leaves for the cockpit. Three minutes later, an imposing man wearing uniform comes out of the cockpit and speaks with a slight accent, says: – I am the captain of this ship and I want you to leave the plane, due to failure to follow the instructions and your drunken state. The entire Hungarian part of the plane, including me, begins to applaud. Then, suddenly, a comment sounds from the Ukrainian part of the crowd – Come on, forgive him, let’s take off already.
– WTF? No, we won’t forgive him. Everyone should follow the rules. Stop relying on “maybe” “what if no one notices”, “whatever, I’ll do it anyway.” Enough of feeling sorry for yourself and everyone around you, stop fidgeting and trying to get around with the norms, no more hiding and pretending that this does not concern you. It applies to everyone and everyone, without any exceptions. After the “Hungarian example”, we were an hour and a half late with the departure and everyone had to adapt to the new conditions, including me, but the passenger was dropped off with all his luggage. One and a half hours of time is a worthy payment for a lesson, which, I am sure, was remembered by everyone.
TAKEAWAYS
Do the rules lead us into the position of a victim? No, they don’t. Do they deprive us of a degree of personal freedom? No, they don’t.
Only by learning to obey can you lead. Exclusively by following the rules can you improve them. Only when you fully understand the system can you change it. This way will you become the owner of the situation, space, life.
Only after the first stage of personal development comes the second, third, eightieth… After a long path of awareness, a truly correct motivation appears: to change the rules not for selfish or mean motives, but in order to upgrade the system as a whole.
Recently, my kid told me: the cool ones are those who do what they want. It was my first (I know it won’t be my last) maternal shock. Where did he get such thoughts from: kindergarten, friends, cartoons? The entire system of our space is imprisoned by these pernicious thoughts.
No! The cool ones are those who follow the rules. Those who find imperfections in these rules and have enough strength, influence, energy, and tools to convey to society, the company, and their social circle the changes that must be done. The cool ones are those who change the world.
All the rest are the ordinary people who are indignant at the norms and rules invented for them.
With deep respect for the rules, norms, and people.
Kulikova Uliana
CEO at PROFI Space
Talking about the rules. Here are our 10 commandments of an employee.
