### An ever-growing list. 1\. Multiply all estimates for project completion by three. 2\. Pay more attention to your intuition when it warns of danger than when it signals success. 3\. Always understate your case. 4\. Know the exceptions as well as the rules. 5\. Regard cockiness as a terminal illness. 6\. Brilliant bullies are still bullies. 7\. Always read the minutes. 8\. Avoid jargon. 9\. Know the definitions. 10\. Never expect a fair fight. 11\. Make transparency your friend. 12\. Recognize that there are good reasons why “coincidence” and “conspiracy” are in the dictionary. 13\. If you keep score, life is always unfair. 14\. The weather always changes, even indoors. 15\. Some reputations are earned, and others are concocted. 16\. You don’t really know a subject unless you can explain it in plain language over a cup of coffee. 17\. It is better to have an open enemy than an unreliable ally. 18\. Never think the basics are simple. 19\. Projects and relationships deserve close attention. 20\. Some books and people can be judged by their cover. 21\. If you do A and B, you will produce more than their total. 22\. Self-discipline is the best type of discipline. 23\. The obvious may be obvious but that does not mean it is unimportant. 24\. Not all responsibilities are assigned. 25\. Listen carefully for the quiet people in a meeting. 26\. Never judge a job by its title. 27\. Be optimistic and calm but always have a plan for the unexpected. 28\. Listening is a never-ending course. 29\. Reliable but solid performance is grossly underestimated. 30\. Trust is either growing or shrinking. 31\. Internal customers seldom have a help desk. 32\. A fashionable decline erodes fashion and hides decline. 33\. The most intolerant religions are not religions. 34\. It is very difficult to achieve simplicity. 35\. All organizations have an inner circle. 36\. A great part of life is learning what to ignore. 37\. To learn about people, find out what makes them smile. 38\. A healthy society embraces gratitude and shuns revenge. 39\. The best staff meetings I’ve attended lasted no longer than ten minutes and no one sat. 40\. Clarity is valued in all places but academia. 41\. If you want to learn the names of the best workers in an organization, don’t ask upper management. 42\. Give awards to everyone and eventually no one will deserve them. 43\. For the most part, the story of history is same lessons, different setting. 44\. Because we neglect their downsides, a common problem is overcoming our strengths. 45\. Deceivers are repeat offenders. 46\. Few orientation programs explore how the organization actually operates. 47\. If the choice were either excellent high schools or excellent universities, I’d pick the high schools.