It Depends

“How you do one thing is how you do everything” is a catchy phrase, but is it true?

I think it’s a dogmatic statement and too often perpetuated by self-styled gurus who want you to prioritize what they prioritize.

The thing about dogmatic statements is that they’re not scientific.

I recently came across a thread about a guru who said something to the effect that how well you maintain your physique and physical health reflects how well you’re able to take care of your business (and everything else in your life).

Really?

How does prioritizing physical health and physique inform or reflect business acumen or ability?

These things can correlate, but there’s no causal relationship here, and no correlative relationship applies to everyone or everything.

There are MANY examples of individuals who wildly succeed in business but fail miserably in MANY other aspects of their lives (and vice versa).

We each have different predispositions and proclivities.

We all prioritize and treat different things differently.

No need to shame someone who doesn’t share yours with absolutist statements like “how you do one thing is how you do everything.”

Here’s an alternative approach to blindly following what a guru says.

Play your game.

Why?

You can’t win playing someone else’s game.

And you DEFINITELY can’t win a game you don’t want to play.

Play your game on your terms and without compromise, all in and full out.

And when some guru (or anyone else) comes along with criticism packaged as prescriptive advice, remember this.

It depends.

It depends on who YOU are, where YOU’re at, and what YOU want.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. That’s what the guru wants from you. They want you to conform to their game.

Don’t do it. Play YOUR game.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. What’s your take on this topic? Please drop a line or two below, and join (or start) the conversation (and keep reading to learn how to avoid the perils of dogmatic thinking).

Scott Perry, Chief Difference-Maker at Creative on Purpose.

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