Episode 50: Break the Rules, with David T.S. Wood [PODCAST]

David T.S. Wood is not one to follow the rules. He never has been. We’re not talking about going against the legal authorities or rallying for anarchy. What we’re talking about is stepping outside the conventions that have come to be “the way things are done” in our society, breaking out of the straightjacket of conformity that characterizes much of what we call civilization. Why? Because great things come of it. Life is more thrilling. Opportunities open up before you. Ideas and creativity begin to surge through your being – all because you dared to step outside what is normal and look at things differently. In this episode of Crank It Up David talks about why he embraces the “break the rules” mentality and what it’s done in his life. Enjoy.

Great people are not afraid to break the rules.

Have you noticed that? Every inventor or explorer in the history of mankind has refused to accept that the way things are defined the limit to what things could be. They stretched those limits, moved beyond them to explore and discover new things, many of which have changed the course of history. Consider where we’d be without Magellan or Edison. In our modern day, what would the world be like without Steve Jobs or Bill Gates? It’s these rule breakers that have determined that they won’t give in to the conventions of what is accepted. They question, they explore, they stretch – and that’s what makes them great. Hear David T.S. Wood’s thoughts on breaking the rules on this episode of Crank It Up.

Why is it important to break the rules?

Let’s be clear, here. We’re not advocating rebellion against authorities or laws, we’re talking about questioning the conventions of society that could be keeping you in a little box that stifles your opportunities of doing something great. When you decide to question, to step outside the margin of what is “acceptable” you begin to see things in a different light. You suddenly see possibilities that you hadn’t seen before. You begin to watch the world through different lenses. You notice opportunities that have never been in your path before. You begin to be emboldened to take on the issues and problems that have eluded your gaze before that moment. That’s when you’re on the brink of becoming a world changer, all because you dared break the rules.

An example of a place where you should break the rules: Trading time for money

Most people are in the “trading time for money” trap. They agree to give an hour of their precious time for a certain wage: $15, $50, $1000. The problem is that you are restricted to how much income you can earn based on a finite thing, the number of hours in a day. Who ever said that’s the way it has to be? Why do we stick with it year after year after year? David T.S. Wood has learned that there’s much more earning potential and tons more benefit in life when you decide that it’s OK to break that rule and begin earning your income in a way that doesn’t require you to trade hours for dollars. There are all kinds of vehicles that allow you do it, if you’re willing to step into something new. More life-changing rule breaking ahead, on this episode of Crank It Up.

David’s challenge: Find an area of life where you can break the rules.

Look around you. There are situations you encounter every day where there are unspoken rules in place. Everyone gets on the elevator and faces the door. You only leave 20% tip at most. You don’t hug someone in a business meeting. And on and on they go. What would happen if you took those social conventions and turned them on their head? David’s challenge is for you to step outside your comfort zone (and the comfort zone of the culture) and do things that break those unspoken rules. Talk to someone on the elevator. Heck, why not sing or invite others to join you? Be generous and give your waiter or waitress a 100% tip. Think outside the box and see what happens in your own soul when you break th...