As you move through your TV career – or any career for that matter, it’s important to determine where you set the bar for yourself – despite where the bar is set for the place you work – which will always be lower. I’ve compiled this list of “rules” that I’ve sort of adopted through the years and made my own. Take what works for you and throw the rest aside.

1 – KNOW WHAT YOU STAND FOR

Ground yourself in those values. This is especially crucial when things aren’t going well at work. Decide who you are going to be in any situation – and don’t waiver. Walk away the bigger person. Look at yourself regularly in the mirror.

2 – GET OVER YOURSELF

One of the greatest compliments a boss ever paid me when introducing me to a new staff was “He has no ego”. It was something I never even realized about myself. Ego is just a bunch of bluster to hide insecurities. Be confident in your abilities and there’s nothing to hide. Admit when you’re wrong. Admit when you screwed up. Liars are littered across the landscape. Rise above them.

3 – FEEL COMPELLED TO DO SOMETHING? – DON’T

Chances are, your fight or flight instincts are activated. Take time to reflect before you react. Being impulsive can be a double-edged sword.

4 -TAKE (CALCULATED) RISKS 

The temptation to quit any activity is greatest just before you are about to succeed.

7 – SLEEP

Fatigue makes cowards of us all. Nap when you can. And recognize a regular bedtime.

Rarely is any e-mail, call or text so urgent as to demand your immediate attention. Chose times to be unavailable – and enforce them regularly. Being reachable 24/7 is not a trait to take pride in. Don’t buy in to the accepted rules of Social Media. Participate at your own pace.

9 – WORK SMARTER

Human beings are not computers. Working 12-hour days at 50% capacity is much less productive than working 5 hours at full speed.

10 – PLAN FOR THE BEST – ANTICIPATE FOR THE WORST

Accept the worst thing that could possibly happen & quantify it. Rarely is the worst consequence nearly as bad as what you imagine it would be.

11 – ACT – DON’T REACT TO COMPETITORS

Force the competition to react to you. When you take on the role of a leader, more often than not, they’ll fall in line as followers.

12 – YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN JOURNEY

How else can I put it? This journey is yours and yours alone. You can’t choose someone else’s. You can’t be who you’re not. George Clooney is on his own journey. I’ll never be George Clooney.  It’s empowering when we come to terms with that.

13 – LIGHTEN UP

Our success is 50% hard work and 50% luck. And so is everyone else’s.

14 – BREAK RULES – EVEN THESE

Nobody gets extra points for playing by the rules.