Life in Small Bites

The following are wise ‘action’ thoughts from Peter H. Diamandis, founder of the X-Prize.  Many will be included in our next edition of Small Bites.

1. If anything can go wrong, Fix It!!… to hell with Murphy!

2. When given a choice… take both!!

3. Multiple projects lead to multiple successes.

4. Start at the top then work your way up.

5. Do it by the book … but be the author!

6. When forced to compromise, ask for more.

7. If it’s worth doing, it’s got to be done right now.

8. If you can’t win, change the rules.

9. If you can’t change the rules, then ignore them.

10. Perfection is not optional.

11. When faced without a challenge, make one.

12. “No” simply means begin again at one level higher

13. Don’t walk when you can run.

14. Bureaucracy is a challenge to be conquered with a righteous attitude, a tolerance for stupidity,       and a bulldozer when necessary.

15. When in doubt: THINK!

16. Patience is a virtue, but persistence to the point of success is a blessing.

17. The squeaky wheel gets replaced.

18. The faster you move, the slower time passes, the longer you live.

19. The best way to predict the future is to create it yourself!

20. The ratio of something to nothing is infinite.

21. You get what you incentivize.

22. If you think it is impossible, then it is… for you.

23. An expert is someone who can tell you exactly how it can’t be done.

24. The day before something is a breakthrough, it’s a crazy idea.

25. If it were easy it would have been done already.

26. Without a target you’ll miss it every time.

27. Bullshit walks, hardware talks.

28. A crisis is a terrible thing to waste.

29. The world’s most precious resource is the passionate and committed human mind.

30. If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.

Copyright, 1986, 2009, Peter H. Diamandis, All Rights Reserved. Laws # 14 & #18 by Todd B. Hawley. #19 Adopted from Alan Kay. #26 by Byron K. Lichtenberg. #27 by Gregg E. Maryniak. Contact info:peter@xprize.org