The Complete Life's Little Instruction Book
The Complete Life's Little Instruction Book

The Complete Life's Little Instruction Book

When reconvening after a conference break, choose a chair in a different part of the room. (Location 556)

Tags: conference, network

Note: .work .network

Ask about a store’s return policy when you purchase an item that costs more than $50. (Location 574)

Tags: lifetip, refund

Note: .refund .lifetip

If you have trouble with a company’s products or services, go to the top. Write the president, then follow up with a phone call. (Location 638)

Tags: customerservice

Note: .customerservice

If you work for an organization that makes its decisions by committee, make darn sure you’re on the committee. (Location 697)

Tags: lifetip, career, committee

Note: committees are slow and hard to influence from the outside

What you must do, do cheerfully. (Location 733)

Tags: lifetips, attitude

Note: .attitude .lifetips

Choose the apartment on the top floor. (Location 742)

Tags: apartment, house, lifetip

Note: .lifetip

Some things need doing better than they’ve ever been done before. Some just need doing. Others don’t need doing at all. Know which is which. (Location 763)

Tags: prioritise

Note: .prioritise know how well to do each task

Introduce yourself to someone you would like to meet by smiling and saying, “My name is Adam Brown. I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting you.” (Location 784)

Tags: opener, communication, lifetip

Note: .lifetip .communication .opener i havent had the pleasure of meeting you

Be advised that when negotiating, if you don’t get it in writing, you probably won’t get it. (Location 793)

Tags: writing, negotiation

Note: .negotiation .writing

Carry a list of your wife’s important sizes in your wallet. (Location 803)

Tags: wife

Note: .wife

Remember that almost everything looks better after a good night’s sleep. (Location 825)

Tags: sleep

Note: .sleep

Remember that how you say something is as important as what you say. (Location 833)

Tags: communication, lifetip

Note: .lifetip .communication

When working with contractors, include a penalty clause in your contract for their not finishing on time. (Location 864)

Tags: negotiation, contractor

When someone offers to pay you now or later, choose now. (Location 879)

Tags: contractor, payment

Before buying a house or renting an apartment, check the water pressure by turning on the faucets and the shower and then flushing the toilet. (Location 915)

Tags: apartment, house

Note: .house

Perform your job better than anyone else can. That’s the best job security I know. (Location 953)

Tags: excellence, career

Note: .career

Remember that everyone you meet wears an invisible sign. It reads, “Notice me. Make me feel important.” (Location 960)

Tags: lifetip

Note: .lifetip

Always try the house dressing. (Location 992)

Tags: restaurant, lifetip

Note: .lifetip .restaurant

Don’t trust your memory; write it down. (Location 993)

Tags: memory, lifetip

Note: .lifetip .memory

Truth is serious business. When criticizing others, remember that a little goes a long way. (Location 1004)

Tags: criticism, feedback

Note: .feedback

A racehorse that consistently runs just a second faster than another horse is worth millions of dollars more. Be willing to give that extra effort that separates the winner from the one in second place. (Location 1015)

Tags: career

Note: .career

Life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react (Location 1018)

Tags: mindset, reaction

Note: .reaction

Be better prepared than you think you need to be. (Location 1030)

Tags: planning, overprepare

Note: .overprepare

Worry makes for a hard pillow. When something’s troubling you, before going to sleep, jot down three things you can do the next day to help solve the problem. (Location 1036)

Tags: writing, worrying

Note: .worrying

Buy a red umbrella. It’s easier to find among all the black ones, and it adds a little color to rainy days. (Location 1040)

Be wary of the man who’s “all hat and no cattle.” (Location 1066)

Reread Thoreau’s Walden. (Location 1068)

Tags: toread

Note: .toread

Fill out expense reports the day you return from your trip. (Location 1085)

Tags: finances, career

Note: .career .finances

Don’t compare your children with their siblings or classmates. (Location 1112)

Tags: parenting

Note: .parenting

Remember that regardless of where you are, not much good happens after midnight. (Location 1120)

Tags: diminishing returns, alcohol

Note: .alcohol

Never complain about a flight delayed for mechanical repairs. Waiting on the ground is infinitely better than (Location 1149)

Tags: delays, flying

When playing a sport with a partner, never criticize his or her performance. (Location 1198)

Tags: criticism, wife

Note: .wife

Remember that you can miss a lot of good things in life by having the wrong attitude. (Location 1245)

Tags: attitude

Note: .attitude

Underestimate when guessing an adult’s age or weight. (Location 1258)

Tags: lifetip

Never be too busy to meet someone new. (Location 1275)

Tags: networking

When traveling, stop occasionally at local cafés and diners. (Location 1305)

Tags: travelling

Note: .travelling

Remember that anything creative and innovative will be copied. (Location 1326)

Tags: innovation, clone

When parents introduce you to their children, say, “I have looked forward to meeting you, because your parents are always bragging about you.” (Location 1356)

Tags: parenting

Ask an older person you respect to tell you his or her proudest moment and greatest regret. (Location 1368)

Tags: ageing

Never call anybody stupid, even if you’re kidding. (Location 1385)

Tags: criticism, lifetip

Note: .lifetip

Criticize the behavior, not the person. (Location 1394)

Tags: criticism

Never leave fun to find fun. (Location 1395)

Tags: lifetip

Note: .lifetip

Teach your children that when they divide something, the person who divides chooses last (Location 1429)

Tags: parenting

After someone apologizes to you, don’t lecture them. (Location 1449)

Tags: apologise

Note: .apologise

When you complete a course, shake the instructor’s hand and thank him or her. (Location 1456)

Tags: appreciate

Never keep a free ride waiting. (Location 1477)

If you ask someone to do something for you, let them do it their way. (Location 1477)

When talking to someone who’s a new parent, always ask to see a picture of the baby. (Location 1565)

Tags: baby