Trade Tips: How Bending the Rules Can Benefit Your Life and

Career

Helpful hints for public relations and marketing professionals

By Ronald W. Simms Jr.

What if you were given license to not always follow the rules? Do you think you would be in trouble?

What If…

What if your thoughts had no limits, but certain “rules” have kept your life in a neat, tidy box?

We love the recent Forbes article, “Ten Dangerous Things You Were Taught in School” by Jessica Hagy.

Ten Dangerous Things

Hagy says, “To thrive in the world outside the classroom, you’re going to have to unlearn those lessons.”

If you ever needed an endorsement to think outside of the box, look no further.

Think Outside the Box

Here are ten items that may be placing limits on how you think and operate in business.

The People In Charge Have All The Answers1

That’s why they are so wealthy and happy and healthy and powerful – ask any teacher.

Learning Ends When You Leave the Classroom2

Your fort building, trail forging, frog catching, friend making, game playing, and drawing won’t earn you any extra credit. Just watch TV.

The Best and Brightest Follow the Rules 3

You will be rewarded for your subordination, just not as much as your superiors, who, of course, have their own rules.

What The Books Say Is Always True 4

Now go read the creationism chapter. There will be a test.

There Is A Very Clear, Single Path to Success5

It’s called college. Everyone can join the 1% if they do well enough in school and ignore the basic math problem inherent in that idea.

Behaving Yourself Is As Important As Getting Good Marks 6

Whistle-blowing, questioning the status quo, and thinking your own thoughts are no-nos.

Be quiet and get back in the assembly line.

Standardized Tests Measure Your Value7

By value, I’m talking about future earning potential, not anything else that might have other kinds of value.

Days Off Are Always More Fun Than Sitting In the Classroom8

You are trained from a young age to base your life around dribbles of allocated vacation. Be grateful for them.

There Is One Right Answer to Every Question9

At least to every important question. Those who can come up with the most right answers will do well in this economy.

The purpose of your education is your future career10

And so you will be taught to be a good worker. You have to teach yourself how to be something more.

To learn more about McKinney & Associates, visit www.mckpr.com

McKinney & Associates was founded in 1990 with a commitment to social justice that has prevailed for more than 20 years. From the

beginning, McKinney has passionately and skillfully practiced public relations with a conscience for local, national and international

organizations.

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