Comments:

My wife, son and I had a discussion on this topic of the 7th Lesson over this morning's coffee. I saw Dan on his Bunco tour here in Tacoma and as AWNM fans this book resonated with us at a time where our son was beginning to feel like Johnny.

We each submitted an entry because we couldn't agree.

My wife Tami says it's about who you know, being in the right place and having the right luck.

My son Craig says it's about having the right motivation, not money.

I say it's about having the right Attitude.

We'll all go to TED if one of us wins. :)

I'm ineligible (being Australian), damn!!!!

If anyone's stuck for an idea, you can have mine:

Lesson 7: Seriously, have fun.

An ineligible Canadian's 7th lesson:

Commit! Commit to the moment and understand that regardless of its state, it is all you have.

Argh, US-residents only! And I was so looking forward to participating as well as TED ("T.T)

I wonder if Seth Godin's going to submit "Know When to Quit" (http://www.amazon.com/Dip-Little-Book-Teaches-Stick/dp/1591841666/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1221627194&sr=8-1)

Ok, so the real quote is "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far." Theodore Roosevelt.

CYA!

Be your word.

(Live your word, meet your commitments.)

Lesson 7: "One should have a open mind, not just creatively speaking"

Maybe.. I don't know.. ;)

An inelligible UK resident. (Boo! All expenses paid would be much cheaper as well.)

The 7th rule should be: Family is more important than work.

It's sad seeing parents who miss their kids growing up.

Think people who look back on their lives and never regret having worked more.

@ Matt Lacey -- Thanks for the offering. Sorry you can't win the contest. (By opening up to entrants outside the U.S., we expose ourselves to legal liability that would make your head spin.)

But you've given me an idea: While I'm in the UK for TED, I'll do a special Bunko Breakfast for your Brits (and any other Europeans.) Maybe the contest winner will even join me.

Thanks again for making your voice heard across the Atlantic.

Share with those that still need.

I'll enter! :)

I have been a career counselor at a State University for 21 years. The people who really make it, the people who arrive at work each day and are amazed that the day flew by... are the people who have found a way to blur the lines between work and play.

Know their purpose in life.

When you know their real purpose you are on common ground and that is where collaboration & value creation begins.

It all starts with a good conversation & finding common ground.

All --

Thanks for the terrific comments. Apologies again to folks outside the US. (The rules are the lawyers' fault.)

For the rest of you, be sure to submit your lesson on the official entry form, which is available via the main home page.

Thanks,

Dan

Lesson 7

Build Social Capital:

Johnny Bunko needs to know that the final and most important lesson of a satisfying and successful career is building social capital. This is the key to keeping your life and career moving on a path towards completion. Being kind, considerate, nice, and polite to everyone credits your social capital account. These pleasant acts of goodwill build up over time impacting both you and the receiver of these capital deposits.

Johnny knows that there are times when he will need the support, cooperation, help, assistance (or whatever you want to call it) from a boss, co-worker, or staff. He will discover that he is freely able to make withdrawals on social capital account with the people he has impacted. Johnny's life and career will remain in harmony as he helps others achieve succeed.

From Spain (not elegible), my 7th lesson will be:

"Everyday is a new chance to get things right (or at least a little better)".

Cheers!

Emerson summed it up: I am who I think I am all day long.

Blast! I was entering, and then hit the dreaded "US Residents only" part. There should be an international runner-up prize... I'm really liking some of the ineligibles!

Anyway, here are the two things I would have entered:

1) "Useful knowledge comes from friends and experience, not from books."

2) -- A twist on Glengarry Glen Ross' infamous "Always Be Closing" -- "Always Be Helping"

Filled out my submission and then saw the comments of everyone underneath.

I still believe I created a great one! Live the Highest Good with Every Thought (for yourself and others). I find that if I take every action or "output thought" with pre-emptive thinking (in golf, similar to my swing thought), is this in the highest good for this person for me to share this, for these people, this situation, the planet? It grounds me to focus my energies, gets my ego out of the way, gives me permission to be discerning about how I use my energies and with whom, and reaffirms my direction and faith in knowing and having that certainty I'm asking of myself and others, greatness!

Looking forward to going with you Dan and sure, I'd LOVE to accompany you to the Bunko Breakfast for the Brits!

From an ineligible Canadian...

Trust in your capacity to become. This is

the foundation of all the other lessons.

Think outside the box but live inside the box.

Live life and love your lifestyle.

I entered my suggestion, but the thing I have a question about is whether there are enough entries for the contest to go forward. I was reading the official rules and one of the clauses says it may not if there aren't enough. Hope the lawyer is happy with the numbers.