Remember Rule #6

A few years ago, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Benjamin Zander at a conference for Computer Support Professionals - help desk staff, the people you call when you have a computer problem.  If you don't know who Benjamin Zander is; he's the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, a teacher, author and speaker.  Read about him at http://benjaminzander.com/.  So what would a philharmonic orchestra conductor, teacher and author have to do with computer support professionals?  Everything!  It is easier to say, what he has to say has to do with everything in life that you and I do.  If you EVER have an opportunity to hear him speak, I encourage you to do so and try to sit in the front row as i did, you may get lucky enough to speak to him face to face as I did.  I digress from the original thought that prompted this post.

This post is about Remembering Rule #6 which comes from the book "The Art of Possibility", co-authored by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander.  The story goes:

Two prime ministers are sitting in a room discussing affairs of state. Suddenly a man bursts in, apoplectic with fury, shouting and stamping and banging his fist on the desk.

The resident prime minister admonishes him: “Peter” he says, “kindly remember Rule Number 6,” whereupon Peter is instantly restored to complete calm, apologies, and withdraws.

The politicians return to their conversation, only to be interrupted yet again twenty minutes later by an hysterical woman gesticulating wildly, her hair flying.

Again the intruder is greeted with the words: “Marie, please remember Rule Number 6.” Complete calm descends once more, and she too withdraws with a bow and an apology.

When the scene is repeated for a third time, the visiting prime minister addresses his colleague: “My dear friend, I’ve seen many things in my life, but never anything as remarkable as this. Would you be willing to share with me the secret of Rule Number 6?”

“Very simple,” Replies the resident prime minister. “Rule Number 6 is ‘Don’t take yourself so goddamn seriously.’ ”

“Ah,” says his visitor, “that is a fine rule.”

After a moment of pondering, he inquires, “And what, may I ask, are the other rules?”

“There aren’t any.”