Your Golden Rule

- by Jaime Willis

For years, Nordstrom’s Employee Handbook was a single 5×8” gray card containing these 75 words:

Welcome to Nordstrom. We’re glad to have you with our Company. Our number one goal is to provide outstanding customer service. Set both your personal and professional goals high. We have great confidence in your ability to achieve them.

Nordstrom Rules: Rule #1: Use best judgment in all situations.

There will be no additional rules. Please feel free to ask your department manager, store manager, or division general manager any question at any time.

During this time, Nordstrom had the highest sales per square foot performance in the retail industry – by almost double. (hattip: 37signals.com)

In our goal setting courses, we spend a big chunk of time talking about core values because we know how important values are to goal execution. Your core values should act as your operating manual for your life, and need to be specific and clearly defined.

But values don't work if you don't *use* them in your day to day life. I like the idea of putting together your own golden rule as a shortcut to your core values, reminding you what you believe when you are faced with the daily grind of life.

Nordstrom's Golden Rule: "Use your best judgment."

Wil Wheaton's Golden Rule: "Don't Be a Dick."

Jaime's Golden Rule: "Do the Right Thing."

What's your Golden Rule?