RULE 42: Don't Swear

I know we all do it. I know you think it’s cool. I know we have to be modern and move with the times. But I’m sorry, swearing isn’t allowed. You can say what you want when you get home, or in the car on your own. But at work you don’t swear. It’s a simple Rule, but it works because it is a default setting—you don’t swear. Now what decisions and choices do you have to make about that? Answer: None. None whatsoever. It is your bottom line. You don’t swear, so all the tricky stuff has been taken away from you.

But if swearing is your default setting, you have so many decisions and choices to make, I’m surprised you get any work done at all. For instance do you: 

• Swear every time something goes wrong 

• Swear over the phone 

• Swear in front of the boss 

• Swear in front of customers 

• Swear at customers 

• Limit yourself to certain swear words and not use others 

• Use religious blasphemy as swear words 

• Limit yourself to mild swearing or go for the really offensive

It’s a mine field. It’s a nightmare. It really is so much easier to just not bother. This isn’t a puritan dictate. It is an efficiency dictate. It saves time and effort and having to think about it if you simply don’t do it. Now go away. 

YOU CAN SAY WHAT YOU WANT WHEN YOU GET HOME, OR IN THE CAR ON YOUR OWN. BUT AT WORK YOU DON'T SWEAR