Years ago, Bob Parsons, a Vietnam vet, created a domain and hosting company called Godaddy. When he was small, he used numerous innovative tactics to beat the big boys at their own game. Godaddy is now the world's biggest domain register, and one of the REALLY big boys! Sometimes I think they are just as bad as the guys they were attacking. I understand they make most of their money from "fees" which most other companies don't charge.

I have had some issues with them charging fees to "unblock" a domain after a malicious complaint has had it suspended... and they don't care whether there is any foundation on the claim. However, when I came across Bob Parsons 16 Rules for Life, I thought they were so powerful that I should share them with you.

There is a lesson or 16 in the following words of wisdom.

Bob's 16 Rules

1. Get and stay out of your comfort zone. Not much happens of any significance when we're in our comfort zone. Bob says, "But I'm concerned about security." My response to that is simple: "Security is for cadavers."

2. Never give up.  Almost nothing works the first time it's attempted. Just because what you're doing does not seem to be working, doesn't mean it won't work. It just means that it might not work the way you're doing it. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it, and you wouldn't have an opportunity.

3. When you’re ready to quit, you’re closer than you think. There's an old Chinese saying that I just love, and I believe it is so true. It goes like this: "The temptation to quit will be greatest just before you are about to succeed."

4. With regard to whatever worries you, not only accept the worst thing that could happen, but make it a point to quantify what the worst thing could be.  Very seldom will the worst consequence be anywhere near as bad as a cloud of "undefined consequences." Bob's father would tell him early on, when he was struggling and losing his shirt trying to get Parsons Technology going, "Well, Robert, if it doesn't work, they can't eat you."

5. Focus on what you want to have happen.  Remember that old saying, "As you think, so shall you be."

6. Take things a day at a time. No matter how difficult your situation is, you can get through it if you don't look too far into the future, and focus on the present moment. You can get through anything one day at a time.

7. Always be moving forward.  Never stop investing. Never stop improving. Never stop doing something new. The moment you stop improving your organization, it starts to die. Make it your goal to be better each and every day, in some small way. Remember the Japanese concept of Kaizen. Small daily improvements eventually result in huge advantages.

8. Be quick to decide.  Remember what General George S. Patton said: "A good plan violently executed today is far and away better than a perfect plan tomorrow."

9. Measure everything of significance.  Anything that is measured and watched, improves.

10. Anything that is not managed will deteriorate. If you want to uncover problems you don't know about, take a few moments and look closely at the areas you haven't examined for a while. It's guaranteed you problems will be there.

11. Pay attention to your competitors, but pay more attention to what you’re doing. When you look at your competitors, remember that everything looks perfect at a distance. Even the planet Earth, if you get far enough into space, looks like a peaceful place.

12. Never let anybody push you around. In our society, with our laws and even playing field, you have just as much right to what you're doing as anyone else, provided that what you're doing is legal.

13. Never expect life to be fair. Life isn't fair. You make your own breaks. You'll be doing good if the only meaning fair has to you, is something that you pay when you get on a bus (i.e. the fare).

14. Solve your own problems.  You'll find that by coming up with your own solutions, you'll develop a competitive edge. Masura Ibuka, the co-founder of SONY, said it best: "You never succeed in technology, business, or anything by following the others." There's also an old Asian saying that I goes like this: "A wise man keeps his own counsel."

15. Don’t take yourself too seriously.  Lighten up. Often, at least half of what we accomplish is due to luck. None of us are in control as much as we like to think we are.

16. There’s always a reason to smile. Find it. After all, you're really lucky just to be alive. Life is short. Bos says his brothers often says: “We’re not here for a long time, we’re here for a good time!”

Copyright © 2005-2007 Bob Parsons. All rights reserved.