Rules of Thumb by Alan Webber

That's Not a Thumb

I’ve got two chapters left to read in “Rules of Thumb” by Alan Webber.  It has 52 chapters, one for each week.  They aren’t long, about 4 pages each.  Mr. Webber (not as in the grill)  used to be with the Harvard Business Review and he started some business magazine I had never heard of called “Fast Company“  “Fast Money” or something like that.

His life has been reduced to a bunch of 3 X 5 cards of which he picked 52 as the basis for this book.

I’ll read it again after I finish it for the first time through tomorrow.  The second reading will get annotated and I’ll even make note of the couple typos I found.

No 3 X 5 Cards but Some Thumbs

I have Rules of Thumb myself.  I never wrote them down, and there aren’t 52 of them.  I usually don’t even remember them till I have broken one of them and paid the consequence.  Once such recent violation involves the “the chair” which is not the centerpiece for the For No REal Reason Badge.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about what to do with the next decade coming up.  I’ve decided the best course of preparation involves being ready to go and do when the time and opportunity presents itself.  This translates into a forth simplification.

If you want a good thought provoking read I would suggest “Rules of Thumb” and when you get the book be sure to buy a pack of 3 x 5 index cards.  You’re going to need them.

Postscript

I’ve finished the book.  Now on chapter 2 on the second read.  Chapter 1 should be read again every 5 chapters.  We need to be reminded often to drive out fear and enjoy the journey.