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Whenever you find that you are on the side of the majority, it is time to reform. – Mark Twain
I had that quote in my head when I started coming up with this first rule, and as I went to find the exact statement, I found about a billion other quotes from Mark Twain that could apply to future lessons. The guy was the original Practical Nerd!
Cooler People go with the flow. When something is determined to be “cool” or trendy, they jump on it. Even if they think it’s stupid/overpriced/overhyped/whatever, they still go with it because everybody else does. A lot of them feel like they have their own mind and that they make their own decisions, but the truth is: they don’t. They like it because everyone else likes it. They do it because it’s expected. Here are a few examples of the status quo in today’s American society:
- Having cable/satellite television.
- iPods.
- Reality television.
- Massive amounts of credit card debt.
- Drinking and partying in college.
- “Progressiveness”.
- Going green.
- Nice dinners = going out to eat.
- Complaining loudly about politics/sports/life.
- A 9-to-5 job.
- Trying to be popular.
- Being “open-minded” about other lifestyles and religions.
I could go on. But think about how much money you could save by eliminating some of these things. I may come under fire for some of these points, but they are valid. Are you being “progressive” because you firmly believe that something needs to change, or just because it seems like the right thing to do? Same goes for going green: are you caring about the environment, or do you just want to make sure people think you care?
This Rule is at the heart of everything a Practical Nerd does. Allowing society to dictate your life forces you to waste time, money, and energy. Here’s a big, shocking secret about today’s American society: we’re all idiots. Every last one of us. I love my country and I think it’s the best nation on Earth. It’s truly a blessing that I am sitting here in Milwaukee, Wisconsin today. But because we live in the best nation on Earth, our people get cocky, they get lazy, and they become really, really stupid. Changes need to be made to this idea.
Analyze your motivations.
Everything you do is motivated by something in your heart. Are you just trying to be popular? This attitude has somehow carried over from high school, and now so many people suffer for it. They scramble to make their bills because they spent the night before partying it up with people and blew $50 on drinks. Stupid. Look at the heart of what is behind your actions – you may be surprised. If your motivation isn’t pure, you need to ditch the habit now, whatever it is.
Let go of what other people think, for good.
Morality and honesty are lost in today’s society. Now, it’s about being popular. Take our current President: everyone thinks he’s cool because he goes on late-night TV and does interviews with magazines and 60 Minutes about his new playset for his kids, or his wife’s White House garden. He was voted in because he was cooler than the old guy. But now, he’s still so focused on being popular that it makes you wonder what’s actually getting done.
This isn’t meant to be a political argument – it goes into other areas of life too. Are you skipping the tie at work because you don’t want to be viewed as a suck-up to the boss? Why hamper your career just so that some people think you’re all right? We’re not working for votes here. We’re working to improve our lives. When that means going against the grain, you’re bound to lose some people along the way. You don’t need them for this. Let them cruise along and be miserable.
Question everything (intelligently).
Don’t shrug off somebody else’s beliefs or views on something without looking into it first. Even worse, don’t start believing the garbage either, until you can determine whether or not it’s right. If everybody’s doing something, it may not be the right thing to do. Be careful! Why is everyone blowing their money on this doodad when they can get a whatchamacallit for half the price? Is it because of their slick marketing campaigns? Start using the analytical part of your brain once in a while.
The status quo is dangerous. Tell yourself today that you are going to start a new life – one that bucks the trends. Make your own educated decisions, and stop caring about what everybody else is doing. You’re not wasting your time trying to keep up with the Joneses anymore.
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Tom is an entrepreneur and freelance writer, working out of his apartment full-time, or wherever he feels like taking his laptop. He doesn't take long European vacations or blogs on the beach. He's an Average Joe that took control of his life. He wants you to do the same.
