I bought this book at the airport when I was a new manager, navigating the challenges of balancing company benefits with my personal values. The book is divided into three parts:

• Managing Your Team
• Managing Yourself
• The Rules for Entrepreneurs

Back then, I focused solely on the first part, “Managing Your Team,” as it aligned with my responsibilities. However, my career path has since changed. Now, I find myself revisiting the second part, “Managing Yourself,” as it feels more relevant to where I am today.

Some people might see my shift as moving backward in my career. I see it differently. While my title may have changed, I’ve grown tremendously over the past two years. I once shared with a manager that I used to fear being inadequate—a manager whose team members struggled to thrive under my leadership. But those fears have become steppingstones to personal development and self-awareness.

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About the Book

While the language in the book doesn’t perfectly align with my preferences, its structure is helpful. Each section is broken into rules, allowing me to digest one or two rules at a time and reflect on them. I also appreciate the freedom to skip around, reading whichever rule resonates with me most in the moment.

This post is part of my effort to reflect on the rules I’m reading. I plan to share my perspective, which may differ from the book’s. Through this process—reading, reflecting, and rewriting—I hope to internalize these lessons and perhaps inspire others to join me.

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Rule #38: Work Hard

At first, I didn’t see the connection between the rule’s title and its explanation. However, some takeaways stood out to me:

• “It’s no good being a fantastic people manager if you let the basic job slip.” This resonates in our organization, where a Business Development Manager must strike a balance between managing the team and driving business results.
• “Go home—you have to have a life. But get that work done and learn to be ruthlessly efficient.” Work-life balance is essential, but efficiency is key to achieving it. Reducing wasteful actions allows us to leave work behind, both physically and mentally.

 “Work hard” has been my guiding principle since my first job. With the same eight hours in a workday, what sets us apart?

1. If I can complete my tasks efficiently, I’ll have extra time for additional responsibilities.
2. If my tasks take the full eight hours, I’m willing to invest extra time for additional responsibilities.

This philosophy reminded me of a conversation with a retired factory manager who is now a Grab driver. He said a managers can recognize hard workers, even if they might not notice those who don’t.
P/S: One thing I need to work on is organization—whether it’s my desk, computer, or mindset. A more organized approach will help me achieve greater efficiency and balance in a limited time.  

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Thank you for reading. I look forward to sharing more reflections and learning alongside you.