Category: Lessons With A King

People get hooked on slot machines because of the power of variable rewards. One push might give you a thousand dollars and the next ten pulls give you nothing but pull number 11 might give you ten dollars. The variable rate of rewards keeps the person hooked. When you are dealing with people or situations that have variable rewards, it’s a good idea to take a step back and think things through before you get completely sucked in.

PROMPT:  What in your life has variable rewards?

Faking it till you make it should come with a caveat: don’t stray too far from your boundary of competence. Faking that you know how to fly a plane when you have zero ideas about what you are doing is a very bad idea. Faking that you can carry an interview when you love asking questions isn’t straying too far from your boundary of competence. The key is to know yourself and your capabilities and staying within or at least close to that realm. Now, once you know what your level is, you can level up by putting in work and in time your boundary of competence will expand.

PROMPT: How often do you push the boundary of your competence?

When someone shares their boundaries, respect them. Do not have them have to keep reminding you. Sure you might forget but put in the effort to remember and stick to their boundaries.

PROMPT: Pay attention to their boundaries

It’s one thing to have boundaries but it’s another for people to know what your boundaries are. No one can read minds so make sure you let them know what your boundaries are. Be specific. Don’t make them have to read between lines. This is what my boundaries are and it is important to me that you respect them.

PROMPT: Do you share your boundaries?

Set boundaries in everything you do and everyone you deal with. I will do this but I won’t do this. They might not like it but you are doing it for yourself, to take care of yourself. Do set boundaries and stick to them.

PROMPT: What are your boundaries?