1. Don’t just decide to ‘become’ THEE expert on (x). Instead, figure out what you are inherently the expert ON; then tell everyone about it!
2. Find a way to lead with your person FIRST.
3. Flourishing isn’t the same thing as growing.
4. Getting a tattoo of something on your body makes you subconsciously more committed to that something.
5. Getting out of the house and into the world is crucial component to supporting, enriching, inspiring and informing your art.
6. Gorillas are surprisingly approachable when wearing nametags.
7. Grow up, but don’t grow old.
8. Handwritten, stick-on nametags are more human, personable, approachable and pure.
9. How you design, write and wear your nametag says a LOT about who you are as a person.
10. If a 65 year-old woman emails you to tell you that by reading your blog, you have helped her alleviate years of constipation, you’re doing a good job.
11. If a stranger ‘swears’ to you that he’s going to start wearing a nametag too, pull a blank one out of your wallet, grab a Sharpie and ask him what name he wants written on the nametag. Go on; call his bluff. It’s fun.
12. If a really attractive woman you’ve never met before walks right up to you in the middle of a bar and rips the nametag off your shirt without saying a word and then walks away … she either thinks you’re cute, is a total bitch, or both.
13. If a really attractive woman you’ve never met before walks right up to you in the middle of a bar and rips the nametag off your shirt without saying a word and then walks away … that’s (probably) not the kind of girl you want to go out with.
14. If a really attractive woman you’ve never met before walks right up to you in the middle of a bar and rips the nametag off your shirt without saying a word and then walks away … take another nametag out of your wallet, stick it on and smile. She’ll go CRAZY because you will have completely stripped away her power over you.
15. If everyone wore nametags, here’s what would happen: people would be nicer and more accountable to each other; they’d litter a lot less, give to the homeless more, commit fewer crimes, stop cutting in lines, start fewer fights, be more honest, deliver better service, tip better and, generally, feel closer to each other. (Not that I think everyone should wear nametags. I’m just saying.)
16. If people (still) forget your name – despite the fact that you WEAR A NAMETAG 24-7 – don’t get impatient, smart-assy or rude with them. Just smile. Because the moment they finalize realize how incredibly mindless and unobservant they were, it’s REALLY funny.
17. If Seinfeld did an episode about it, it’s probably a good idea.
18. If you go to your class reunion and run into that really cute, snobby girl named Claire who wouldn’t give you the time of day during college because you were some dork who wore a nametag all the time, be sure to tell her you were featured on 20/20 the night before for … WEARING A NAMETAG.
19. If you have a nightmare in which you kill someone, then get spotted by an overnight clerk at the 7-11 who saw your mug shot on CNN and noticed you were still wearing your nametag, it’s best to just do what the police say.
20. Wait a while to speak in the conversation. Eventually, people will want to know what you’re thinking.
21. If you’re a guy and you wear a nametag all the time, complete strangers – men AND women – WILL touch your chest without permission. This could be considered a good thing or a bad thing, depending on the stranger.
22. If your friend won’t let you wear a nametag as a groomsmen in his wedding, he’s not your friend.
23. If your nurses, doctors and anesthesiologists are wearing nametags on their scrubs before, during and after your colonoscopy, you know you’re at a good hospital.
24. If your yoga teacher doesn’t understand how in the world you plan to wear a nametag during class, don’t say anything. Just wait for her to see your tattoo during class. Freaking hysterical. Probably just to me, though.
25. It’s always good to carry a few extra nametags in your wallet, especially if you find yourself sitting next to three children under the age 13 at a wedding in the middle of Mexico where nobody speaks English.
26. Label yourself before others get the chance to do it for you.
27. Leave a legacy by LIVING a legacy.
28. Never wear a nametag into a bar whose ONLY outdoor signage is ‘BAR.’
29. Never wear a nametag into a club that has the words Cheetah, Rhino, Playboy, Diamond, Cabaret or Diamond Cabaret in its name. You will be sorry.
30. Never wear a nametag to a black tie wedding if you plan on accidentally showing up three hours late wearing a brown and pink suit.
31. No matter how many books you read on the subject, you WILL still forget someone’s name three seconds after meeting him.
32. Notice the difference between the OLD you and the BECOMING you.
33. Once you identify your message, be patient as you learn how to embody it.
34. Once you’ve been practicing some behavior every day, for years and years, you often lose site of the obvious patterns, life lessons and personal evolutions that behavior has brought about in yours and other people’s lives. So, whenever possible, listen CLOSELY to the feedback and observations people give you about yourself. They might recognize something that you CAN’T because it’s been too long and you’re in too deep.
35. People can steal your identity, but they can never steal your truth.
36. The deeper you commit to something, the more likely you are to become SO wrapped up and so obsessed with idea of BEING (and APPEARING) committed … that your desire actually becomes bigger than that which you are committed to.
37. Some people may misread small gestures of self-disclosure as invitations to tell you WAY too much about their lives.
38. Don’t allow psychological and social pressure to prevent you from making mistakes.
39. Constantly remind people of your commitment … BUT … let go of the need to do so for sole the purpose of strengthening your own position.
40. Do NOT dishonor your Truth for the fear of appearing inconsistent.
41. The best way to get that black and blue nametag gunk stain out of your workout shirt is to buy a new shirt.
42. There are no little things.
43. There’s a difference between LOSING your anonymity and FORGOING your anonymity.
44. Wearing a nametag during kickball games increases inter-team camaraderie.
45. Wearing a nametag out at a bar is more likely to get your FRIEND a date than to get YOU a date. Or maybe that’s just me since I’m not a closer.
46. Wearing a nametag WILL cause you to receive better service from waitresses, bartenders, and, occasionally, blackjack dealers.
47. When someone gets defensive or frustrated with you and make comments like, ‘You’re wrong!’ or ‘You’re friggin’ crazy!’ respond calmly and patiently by asking, ‘Am I? Or does my behavior just NOT support your identity?’
48. When wearing a nametag on a sports jersey, never cover up the team logo. Adjust your horizontal and vertical placement accordingly. And you call yourself a Cardinals fan…
49. When writing out your nametag, stick with your first name only. It removes the possibility of stereotyping, pigeonholing and silent dialoguing by people who observe you wearing it. Besides: nobody cares, needs to know (or will even remember) what your last name, company name or job title is. If they really want to know, they’ll ask for your card.
50. You can tell a lot about a person by HOW and WHERE she wears her nametag.
51. Best Cities to Wear Nametags: Dallas, Geneva, Memphis, Nashville, Charlotte, Phoenix, Portland, Toronto, Albuquerque, Sioux Falls and pretty much anywhere in Latin America.
52. Worst Cities to Wear Nametags: Boston, Vegas, New York and East St. Louis.
53. Your hand doesn’t always have to shoot up first when it’s time for questions.
54. Your stalkers are rarely your type.
55. If your entire career is based off of something you once saw in a trashcan, you’re a pretty lucky dude.
56. I’d rather have a small number of SUPER friends than a large number of SUPERFICIAL friends.
57. ‘Different,’ makes YOU stand out. ‘Unique’ draws OTHER PEOPLE in.
