Jackie Chan’s 10 Rules for Success Plus the One He Got Wrong

Do you like to collect your own rules for success?

Do they carry more weight if they come from a celebrity?

You know, for me, I prefer to quote the pro I actually know. If some wisdom comes to me from a friend, colleague, or mentor—it tends to mean more.

That said, I won’t discard good advice even if it comes from a celeb.

The advice just needs to be good.

Either way, it’s still fun and motivating to collect your own rules for success wherever they may come from.

Jackie Chan’s “Top 10 Rules for Success” and many others, tend to make the rounds on the interwebs according to some cosmic calendar. I have no earthly idea why, but Jackie Chan showed up in my feeds twice this week.

I barely remember the guy (sorry Jackie). And if you’re Googling him right now to see who he is, here’s the short answer—he’s a Hong Kong-born Chinese actor, filmmaker, martial artist, and stuntman.

He’s still one of the most popular action film stars of all time!

AND… he put together a pretty good set of rules for success, too. I like their simplicity. They’re down to earth. And they’ve proven their value over time. Here goes…

Be yourself. We can’t argue this one and I’ve got to say it deserves its No. 1 position on Jackie’s list.
Do it your own way. Be determined and be proud of doing it your own way. Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted anyway? I can assure you Jackie Chan never did anything “the way it’s always been done.”
Learn from your audience. What? You don’t think you have an audience? Sometimes we need a little “translation.” Think friends, family, students, cohorts, coworkers, pretty much any other human you hang out or interact with. Remember, “All the world’s a stage…”
Work hard. This rule is a given… the universal rule for success. Here’s what Jackie left out—you also need to take breaks, rest, relax, recover, rejuvenate, untuck, you get the idea. So, don’t skip this part. If you do… it’ll get you in the end.
Do it while you are young. Hmmm… I seem to remember my high school tennis coach telling me at the ripe young age of sixteen that I had just started too late in life. That was right before he cut me from the team.
It’s not all about the money. NEWS FLASH—Unless you’re doing something wrong, it’s rarely, if ever, about the money unless you’re doing something nefarious or chasing the wrong idols. When you stop making everything in this life about “the money,” that’s when true freedom begins… and when the true blessings show up.
Be different. On one side we’re striving to find our place… to fit in. On the other, we have this stubborn resistance to anything other than what fits our true selves. But we’re not sure what that is. Check out this LifeUntucked® post for more on that, “Why the Best Gift You Can Give Yourself is Embracing Your Uniqueness.”
Do the best you can. What else is there to say about this one? Maybe keep an eye on perfectionism on one end, and don’t underestimate what you’re able to achieve on the other.
Keep your promises. You’ll hear this quote everywhere from movies to sermons, “Your word is your bond.…even when it is difficult or inconvenient.” Your word is your reputation. Few things speak louder, so always keep your word.
Have mentors. Here’s the thing about mentors. Looking for one usually isn’t an effective strategy. The best mentors will show up if you’re open to receiving them. When was the last time someone said to you, “I’m here to take you under my wing…”?

So, which rule for success did Jackie Chan get wrong?

Was it No. 2? We could argue that replicating a sure thing is a faster, better, cheaper path. No, I’m sticking with Jackie on this one.

You might not buy my “translation” that says we all have an audience. So, maybe No. 3 is a miss?

Most people living on this mothership tend to go with the flow. You know, follow the path of least resistance. Hey, since we’re talking about action heroes here, Bruce Lee said, “Be like water.” Could No. 7 be the real loser here? I don’t think so. To be untucked… I’ve got to stick with Jackie on this one.

The one he got wrong… REVEALED! (hear the drumroll and voice over?)

If you chose No. 5, you nailed it—and I’m with you!

Okay, okay, youth does have its merits. But I’m with Ronald Reagan when asked if, at 73, he’s too old to be President, without missing a beat, he responded…

“I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience.”

And, by now we’ve all heard this sage wisdom…

The best time to plant a tree was 30 years ago, and the second-best time… is now.”
—unknown

Living in Santa Fe, in this season of life, I’m meeting people all the time who are starting things for the first time ever. Or restarting. Experimenting. Trying on new gigs for size to see if they fit. If you look around, you’ll see successful people in all seasons of life.

Sure, maybe my high school tennis coach had a scintilla of a point. Maybe. Or was he simply buying into the easy answer? The answer he “had heard” about how to be good at tennis. The only excuse he didn’t have then was the internet.

So, if your timing happens to be right… Do it while you are young.

If not…

Just do it whatever it, may be, whenever you discover that you’d like to give that “it” a try.

“I only have so many summers left, and I intend not to waste them being old.”— John Mellencamp

The last thing you should do is to find a porch somewhere and think about what might have been.

Be untucked.

p.s. Oh! One last thing, if you found this post helpful, be sure to share it with a friend. Use the Share-Buttons at the top or the bottom of the post. Thanks, I owe you one.