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# 7 Rules to Live by: Creating Personal and Professional Success S14 Ep7
- URL: https://www.philmckinney.com/7-rules-to-live-by-creating-personal-and-professional-success/
- Published: 2018-04-24T14:44:47.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-08T17:10:07.000Z
- Author: Phil McKinney
- Tags: Past Shows, Studio Sessions, 7 rules to live, creating personal and professional, creating personal and professional success, personal and professional success, rules to live, rules to live by, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-03-26 05:08

Download [7\_Rules\_to\_Live\_by\_Creating\_Personal\_and\_Professional\_Success\_S14\_Ep7.mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/philmckinney/7%5FRules%5Fto%5FLive%5Fby%5FCreating%5FPersonal%5Fand%5FProfessional%5FSuccess%5FS14%5FEp7.mp3?ref=philmckinney.com)

Every so often we should pause and reflect. On the way to the airport after hosting a South by Southwest meet up on [neural diversity hiring](https://www.philmckinney.com/does-neural-diversity-hiring-impact-your-innovation-success/), traffic was slow. This allowed an engaging conversation with the taxi driver. He asked me what led to success in my life. This prompted me to write down my 7 rules to live by. I hope these will help you in creating personal and professional success.

## My 7 Rules to Live By

1. **Stay connected to the people who matter most.**  
  - I learned from my early mentor to regularly get in touch with those who matter to me.
  - Make personal contact (phone call/meet up). Electronic contact (Facebook, email, etc.) doesn’t qualify.
  - I have an in-depth, personal relationship with the people who matter to me.
2. **Listen more, talk less.**  
  - Listen actively, ask questions. Have genuine interest in others.
  - Conclude conversation by asking how you can help.
3. **Make commitments you are truly committed to follow through on.**  
  - Don’t make false promises.
  - If you can’t deliver, admit it. Then ask if there’s something else you could do.
  - Don’t swing the pendulum the other way and never commit to anything.
4. **Don’t get hung up on credit.**  
  - Credit will always find its natural owner.
  - Innovation’s a team sport.
  - If you grab credit, it could kill others’ interest to participate and contribute.
5. **Acknowledge others – give out words of encouragement.**  
  - I didn’t get to CEO position by myself. Others played a critical role.
  - Mentoring and [reverse mentoring](http://philmckinney.com/reverse-mentoring/?ref=philmckinney.com#more-2031) \- great ways to acknowledge and encourage.
6. **[Hug the haters](http://philmckinney.com/11-simple-rules-for-getting-along-with-others/?ref=philmckinney.com).**  
  - With success, there are always those who are critical.
  - I pause before I respond. Count to ten or wait a day.
  - Sometimes it’s better not to respond at all.
  - Ask others to hear the criticism and your response before delivering it.
  - Respond with compassion, not harshness, rudeness, or name calling.
  - Never, ever burn the bridge.
7. **Set priorities.**  
  - When demands come, you can filter what needs to be done.
  - For me it’s “**the 5 Fs**”  
    1. **Faith** – I don’t get involved if it doesn’t align with my faith.
    2. [**Family**](https://www.philmckinney.com/refocusing-innovation-future-s13-ep53/) – My wife, kids and grandkids.
    3. **Friends** – ties into my Rule #1 Stay Connected
    4. **Fitness** – Don’t overwork, burnout, and suffer health issues.
    5. **Finance** – Takes care of itself, if put finances at the bottom and follow other rules, it

Now that you have my 7 rules to live by, define your own set of rules to creating personal and professional success in your life.

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