12 Rules for Life: An Anecdote to Chaos

Book Review by Dr. Kraig J. Lofquist

Mr. Charles “Tremendous” Jones helps individuals and businesses address their most pressing challenges, and he does so in an inspiring way. It’s safe to say that he knows a thing or two about human behavior. Regarding his popular quote shown in the illustration, Mr. Jones is correct!

Think of the people you have met over the past five years. What is it about them that had a positive impact on you? Now, think of the books you have read over the past five years. What is it about them that had a positive impact on you?

Millions of books are written each and every year, so what books should we consider reading, in order to experience a positive, everlasting impact?  I have read Dr. Jordan B. Peterson’s book: 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos, and I strongly believe it’s a game changer.

The now world famous author’s “12 Rules” are based on scientific evidence, and as you read the details in each chapter, you will find them to be continuously thought provoking. Some of the “rules” seem like common sense, but they are clearly not common practice, especially in our current culture. As I read the book, I found myself thinking, “How much better would the world be if we all followed these 12 rules?”

Here is a list of Dr. Peterson’s 12 Rules

  1. Stand Up Straight With Your Shoulders Back
  2. Treat Yourself Like Someone You Are Responsible for Helping
  3. Make Friends With People Who Want the Best For You
  4. Compare Yourself To Who You Were Yesterday, Not To Who Someone Else Is Today
  5. Do Not Let Your Children Do Anything That Makes You Dislike Them
  6. Set Your House In Perfect Order Before You Criticize The World
  7. Pursue What is Meaningful (Not What Is Expedient)
  8. Tell The Truth (Or At Least Don’t Lie)
  9. Assume That The Person You Are Listening To Might Know Something You Don’t
  10. Be Precise In Your Speech
  11. Do Not Bother Children When They Are Skateboarding
  12. Pet A Cat When You Encounter One On The Street

If you are a person dedicated to your own personal development, I highly recommend Dr. Peterson’s work. It’s definitely worth your time. The ESUCC Professional Development Library has this as both an ebook and audiobook checkout for members. Select this link for the library.

Finally, If you’ve already read the book, I’d love to hear your thoughts, so please share your comments.

Citation: Peterson, Jordan B.. 12 Rules for Life: An Anecdote to Chaos. Random House of Canada. Kindle Edition. 

Let’s Bring This in for a Landing

Do you remember the Yellow Pages? Ah yes, those were the days. If you wanted to order a pizza, rent a U-Haul trailer or find a dentist, you looked up information in the Yellow Pages, and sometimes there might have been a business located nearby. That practice seems so quaint and historic now!

In the not so distant past, organizations shared the same, general “Yellow Pages” information on their websites. In effect, the “landing pages” of businesses used to be like the aforementioned Yellow Pages.

Enter Web 2.0:

Now, when you get on the internet, not only can you select the pizza joint near your house, you can put virtual toppings on it, and you know the exact minute your order comes out of the oven! A similar experience allows you to choose a specific size U-Haul truck or trailer, and you can now request dental appointments online. Of course, these innovations are magnified by social media giants: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, services that help to connect us all.

In that spirit, the ESUCC staff has updated our landing page, linking it to social media sites. Even though the new site is in its incipient stages, we are excited about its potential. These tools will help us tell the Nebraska ESU story and the important work that is accomplished on behalf of the schools we serve. Our goal is to have site visitors experience a smooth landing.

Finally, if you haven’t already done so, please take a moment to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Respectfully,

Kraig J. Lofquist, Ed.D.
ESUCC Executive Director