There are rules for most things in life.
- We don’t allow people past this point
- We’re not open at that time.
- We don’t do that sort of thing here.
- We require X qualification to work here.
- We only talk to people with serious $$$ in their bank account.
But there’s always an exception.
It’s an exception they might not tell you about directly, but it’s implicit, because most people are human (most).
There’s always an exception for awesome.
There’s always space for someone doing something interesting.
There’s always someone willing to break a rule to be part of an adventure.
There’s always a reason to break a qualifying requirement when you talk with a person who’s enthralling.
There’s always an exception for awesome.
Because the rules were made for the ordinary. The everyday. The mundane. The rules only apply for those people pursuing normality because rules are the filter we use to separate the normal from the slightly-better-than-normal.
So you have a choice:
Be normal and be forced to follow all the rules or be awesome and choose to make your own.
Be awesome.
There’s always an exception for awesome.
Yesssss. Don’t think rules have the final say…
Succinct, original, love it.
Great post, Joel.
Rules *never* have the final say as long as there’s someone willing to break them.
It’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission.
I don’t have a good story in that vein right now but I do find this amusing: I am in Valdosta, GA visiting relatives and I went to a nearby park this morning to jog. The park is named “Freedom Park” but has locks on the ballfield gates and placards with numerous rules printed on them stuck up around the park.
Fortunately I had the park all to myself when I laughed out loud standing there reading…..speaking of which-the park opened at 6:00 AM, I was there from 6:05 until 7:15 and NO ONE else ever showed up. This is a nice park with a small paved track for running, numerous trails, a huge grassy field(no locks), etc. A decent sized subdivision is directly across the street. I was thinking on the jog back to my brother’s, “Sleep, sleep your life away and wonder where it went in days to come”.
You can sleep when you’re dead <– Good quote to live by 🙂
This comment especially appeals to me. Teaching is a really tough market (so many lay offs) and basically you have to really awesome to capture the principals attention. Thankyou for your words of encouragement, Joel!
There’s always an exception for those doing exceptional work. Good luck with the job hunt!
Isn’t that the truth brother… Cheers to being awesome my man!
I’ve been enjoying reading through your blog after a link from So Many Places, Finally the Time. I have to say my journey is just starting (but it is starting!), but this is completely true. My parents are really quite awesome and their life is a whole series of great stories (which they tell very well). Thanks!