Make Your Own Rules

On the car ride home from seeing Sex and the City 2, I decided two things:

I, Ali Webster, will commit to a more rigorous exercise routine.
I, Ali Webster, will make my own rules in terms of my career, love and life.

These decisions were inspired by Carrie Bradshaw’s unbelievably toned bod and her thorough commitment to be herself. Even though men and women stared and judged, Carrie walked confidently towards the Abu Dhabi market in a bright purple, poofy skirt. Throughout the movie, she questions society’s standards regarding love and relationships. Although she was tested and almost gave in to peer pressure, she continued to follow the not-so-popular rules she decided to live by, because they were right for her.

When you're a movie start or an invented character, making your own rules is easy. Even more inspiring are real life examples of candidates, companies and entrepreneurs making their own rules in their careers and business.

KODA, an online community for entry-level candidates and employers to interact, provides “untraditional” advice to candidates in their blog posts and I’m pretty sure their mascot is a mermaid.
In this blog post, The Virgin Suicides, an academically accomplished and sought-after candidate, affirms that her biggest accomplishment has nothing to do with grades or internships.
Jonathan Mead encourages others to "live on their own terms" on his Illuminated Mind blog and also wrote an e-book called The Zero Hour Workweek.
While other people complain about the little unpleasant points of life, Neil Pasricha started a blog project that would capture the tiniest, best parts of life. Then, he became the author of 1000 Awesome Things.

From Carrie Bradshaw to little ol' me, I hope more individuals will make an effort to find their niche, think their own thoughts versus absorbing others' ideas and invent their own definition of success.

Know other people who truly make their own rules? Give them some credit by commenting. Do you make your own rules? Give yourself credit by commenting.

This was originally posted on Miss Early Bird.

Comment by Guy Farmer on June 30, 2010 at 3:32am: Great perspective Ali. I love the idea of living by our own rules. We have such power when we think in terms of what we want to do and what will bring us happiness. Life is so much about what we choose to focus on that why not focus on things that will make us feel more fulfilled?

Comment by Brian Keith on July 1, 2010 at 6:23pm: A huge part of my decision to start a firm 3 years ago is exactly because I wanted to do it my way. Of course there will always be naysayers. The great thing about forging your own path is that you don't have follow anyone.