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I learned a valuable lesson from my razor this week. (Yes, really.)

Something that happened to me in my twenties was still affecting me today. And, it made me realize that there are beliefs I hold about leading and creating that are untested assumptions from decades ago. So today, a shaving lesson.

Considering this will require you to be brave.

It will require you to focus.

But, if you do it, it will help you be brilliant.

You have ghost rules in your life. They are limiting your potential.
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Ghost rules are invisible narratives or beliefs that are untested assumptions. Things like “that’ll never work around here” or “I could never do that” or "this is just what people in my position do".
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Let me give you an example of how they work:

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When I was in my twenties, I didn’t have a lot of money. So, needing to shave every day, I found myself using razor blades until they were completely worn and ineffective. After all, razor blades were expensive, and I had to prioritize my expenses.
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(In fact, my razor blades would be so worn that I probably would’ve been better off scraping my chin with a butter knife.)
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The other day I was shaving and I noticed that my blade was completely worn. And, that I’d been using this blade for a very long time in that state. I was “butter knife” shaving.
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​Here’s the thing: I’m blessed enough now that I could buy as many razor blades as I’d like, any time I want! I no longer have to conserve my resources in the same way. Yet, after decades, this is just what “shaving” is to me.
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​The narrative led to an assumption that became a habit that was never questioned.
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It became a “ghost rule”.
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So, do you have any ghost rules in your life or leadership? Are there untested assumptions that you need to check that are leading to ineffective behavior? Things like "that'll never work around here" or "that's just what people like me do" or "that could never be an opportunity for people like me", etc.?
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Don’t let ghost rules rob you of potential brilliance.
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This Week:

• Consider "automatic" behavior that you don't really think about.
• Is there an assumption behind that behavior?
• Might that assumption be a ghost rule?

And, finally:

If you enjoyed this newsletter, my new book The Brave Habit is a practical guide to making brave decisions every day in your work. I hope you’ll read it. (You can download a few sample chapters here.)

Your turn to lead:

Do you know someone who might find this email helpful? Please forward it to them.

​ Todd Henry teaches leaders and teams how to be brave, focused, and brilliant. He is the author of seven books, and speaks internationally on creativity, leadership, and passion for work. ​TODDHENRY.COM​ ​​

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