The document provides eight maxims for enjoying life and work: 1) Accept imperfection in yourself and others instead of making unreasonable demands or playing the victim. 2) Minimize your ego by having humility and being able to laugh at yourself instead of trying to appear perfect. 3) Shake off pressure from others' opinions by working out your own values with common sense instead of trying to please everyone. 4) Give purpose to your life by having clear goals to guide your actions instead of working without purpose or giving up when facing setbacks. 5) Live passionately by finding challenges that match your ambition instead of losing your sense of humor or letting fear paralyze you. 6) Don't get overwhelmed by freeing yourself from the

1. maxims for
enjoying life
and work.
8

2. Accept imperfection .
1.
Life isn’t fair, and we all have our
limits and weaknesses.
Making unreasonable demands
Playing the victim
AVOID
Reduce negative fallout
during hard times
Accept yourself and
INSTEAD
others

3. Minimize your ego .cción.
2.
Humility has its benefits: increased
wellbeing and better relationships
with others.
Trying to appear perfect all
the time
Giving too much importance
to criticism
AVOID
Laugh at yourself
Be a good loser
INSTEAD

4. Shake off some of the
pressure .
3.
Don’t let yourself be conditioned by
the opinions of others.
Trying to please everyone
Ducking from or fearing criticism
AVOID
Work out your own
Use common sense, and
don’t be led by emotion
INSTEAD
values

5. Give your life
meaning .
4.
When your guiding purpose is ambitious
and realistic you’ll find it’s all worth it.
Working on autopilot without clear
goals
Giving up when faced with setbacks
AVOID
Decide and act guided
by your purpose
Push forward and make
your ideas a reality
INSTEAD

6. Live passionately ,
not defensively.
5.
It’s the difference between winning
and merely surviving.
Losing your sense of humor
Letting fear paralyze you
AVOID
Find challenges in line
with your ambition
Identify and eliminate
meaningless tasks
INSTEAD

7. Don’t get
overwhelmed .
6.
Freeing yourself from the need to
control everything brings peace and
effectiveness.
Micromanaging
Turning your wants into
needs
AVOID
Make the most of your
time
Exercise patience
INSTEAD

8. Be generous with
others.
7.
The more you give, the more you’ll
receive.
Demanding and imposing changes
Managing conflicts
unconstructively
AVOID
Identify and value
others’ strengths
Serve others
INSTEAD

9. Be valiant in the face
of adversity.
8.
Confronting conflicts will
strengthen you.
Feeling bitter and complaining
Denying or excusing your mistakes
AVOID
Minimize the obstacles
in your path
Internalize your ability to
overcome problems
INSTEAD

10. MORE INFO
www.iese.edu/insight
SOURCE
The 2022 book, "La verdadera
felicidad" (available in Spanish),
by Pablo Maella, Senior Lecturer
of Managing People in
Organizations at IESE.