Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

Dan’s Biz Bookshelf: Jack Reacher’s Rules

Okay, nobody thinks that Jack Reacher is in business, right? Those of us who are Reacher fans (of the books, not the mini-me Reacher played by little Tommy Cruise in the movies) know that this six-foot-five, 225 pounds of solid muscle is in the business of taking care of business.

Regardless, I thought it might be fun to pick up this book and see if there was anything in Jack Reacher’s Rules that would apply to business; strangely enough, there are plenty of these rules that provide excellent advice to those of us in business.

Here are some of the better ones:

• “Hope for the best, plan for the worst.” Sure, that applies to strategic planning.
• “Never count on anything except surprise, unpredictability, and danger.” I’m not sure about the danger part, but the rest of that statement applies.
• “Optimism is good. Blind faith is not.” That belongs in every salesperson’s handbook.
• “Get a problem, solve a problem.” Yup, that works for life and everything else.
• “Some things are worth being afraid of. And some things are not.” So much for our irrational fear of any change.
• “Focus on the job at hand.” Amen.
• “It’s all about free will. It’s all about making choices. You can tell me now, or you can tell me after I break your legs.” An excellent way to get that target pricing from the buyer.

And then there are some rules, well, that might apply to business or not, but they’re just plain logical—and fun too.

• “To set your own broken nose, smack yourself firmly in the face with the heel of your hand.” Good to know.
• One of the best bits of advice to rise in the company ranks: “A great rule for getting promoted: Let them think you’re just a little dumber than they are.”

And just a couple more for the road:

• “I try to do the right things. I think the reasons don’t really matter. I like to see the right things done.”
• “People don’t look for complications. You hear hoof beats, you look for horses, not zebras.”

You gotta learn to smile, and reading Reacher’s Rules is a good way to do just that.

Dan Beaulieu is president of D.B. Management Group.

Jack Reacher’s Rules

Author: Lee Child

Copyright: 2012 Delacorte Press

Kindle Edition: Price $9.99

Hardcover edition also available for $12.99