The CEO Rules I Live By
Experience Has a Way of Simplifying Things
After nearly 38 years in small business, I’ve learned that leadership doesn’t need to be complicated—but it does need to be intentional.
Trends change. Technology evolves. Markets shift.
But the fundamentals of good leadership and sound decision-making remain the same.
The rules below aren’t theories. They weren’t learned in a classroom.
They were learned through real wins, real mistakes, and real consequences.
These are the CEO rules I live by—and the same principles I outline throughout The Small Business CEO’s Playbook.
Rule #1: Take Responsibility—Even When It’s Uncomfortable
If you’re the CEO, everything eventually comes back to you.
That doesn’t mean you caused every problem—but it does mean you’re responsible for the response. Blame might feel good in the moment, but ownership produces solutions.
In business, excuses don’t fix outcomes. Leadership does.
Rule #2: Have a Plan—or Prepare to React
Hope is not a strategy.
Without a plan, decisions are driven by emotion, urgency, and fear. With a plan, even setbacks become manageable.
One of the biggest lessons I share in the book is that planning gives your business direction, while lack of planning guarantees chaos.
You don’t need a perfect plan.
You need a clear one.
Rule #3: Be a Professional—At All Times
Professionalism isn’t about titles or logos.
It’s about how you show up, communicate, follow through, and respond when things don’t go as expected.
If you want to be respected—and compensated—like a professional, you must consistently act like one.
Your reputation is being built every day, whether you’re paying attention to it or not.
Rule #4: Don’t Do Stupid Stuff (Especially When You’re Stressed)
Some mistakes are unavoidable. Others are optional.
Panic decisions, emotional pricing, bad partnerships, ignoring red flags—these are the moments that quietly damage businesses.
One of the most practical lessons I’ve learned is this:
Stress is a terrible advisor.
Slow down. Think it through. Get a second opinion when necessary.
Rule #5: Build Systems So the Business Doesn’t Rely on You Alone
If your business can’t function without you every minute of the day, you don’t own a business—you own a job.
Systems create consistency.
Consistency creates trust.
Trust creates growth.
This is why I emphasize the idea of putting your business on “repeat.” Freedom comes from structure, not hustle.
Rule #6: Value Relationships—They Outlast Transactions
Sales matter. Revenue matters.
But relationships are what sustain a business long-term.
Customers, partners, employees, even competitors—how you treat people will come back to you, often when you least expect it.
Luck in business is rarely luck. It’s usually relationships showing up at the right time.
Rule #7: Remember Your WHY—Especially When Things Get Hard
Burnout doesn’t come from hard work alone.
It comes from forgetting why you started.
When challenges pile up, reconnecting to your purpose brings clarity and resilience. It reminds you what’s worth fixing—and what isn’t worth carrying anymore.
Final Thought
These rules didn’t come from a motivational poster.
They came from experience.
If there’s one thing 38 years in business has taught me, it’s this:
Simple rules, followed consistently, outperform complex strategies every time.
Book & Speaking Invitation
This framework also serves as the foundation for my latest keynote, for entrepreneurs and small business owners.
👉 If you’re looking for real-world rules—not theory—this is where leadership begins.
