Whether you play chess on a small board or basket ball in a court, there is always an exciting suspense as to who will win or lose. Of course, more than just luck is needed to win any game, big or small. Board games often involve out-smarting the opponent and the outcome of basket ball is often a matter of agility and physical prowess. However, there is another important yet often overlooked reality: All games are played by rules and the real winner is one who not only knows them well, but also uses them to his advantage. Join me to discover that life is no different; playing by its rules you will live healthier, become more successful and avoid frustrations. You will also learn that rules aren’t just a tiresome routine; instead they offer both challenge and excitement.

Everyone knows that eating a well balanced diet is good for you, that building an earthquake resistant structure protects your loved ones and that driving safely pays dividends. At its heart, this common sense is a recognition and acceptance of rules which govern your personal health, investments and driving record. And if you want to be successful in whatever is next on your goals, you had better keep learning more and more rules. As a child, you had to learn social skills; as a parent, you must explore parenting skills. If you wish to surf, you must learn about the waves; if you are a physician, you should keep abreast of cutting-edge research. But then, don’t just quit with a simple interest return on knowing the rules; there is a trick to compound your profit.

Gravity always pulls you down, consuming too many calories will swing the scale up and driving within speed limits will prevent a speeding ticket. These self-evident facts illustrate another reality: Rules do not bend, even though we often wish them otherwise. How is it, then, that people often escape the consequences of their actions or even benefit from rule-breaking? The answer is actually quite simple. Life is not ruled by just one principle but many. Although the Law of Gravity pulls us down, the rules of aerodynamics enable aircrafts to go up. You have probably read about drug-dealers who escape prosecution because their search and seizure was illegal; the rule against drug-dealing was neither bent nor broken, but instead trumped by the rule for conducting proper searches and seizures. Smart attorneys make their living by playing one rule against another; our modern advances, from airplanes to wind energy propellers, turn the disadvantage of one rule into an advantage under another rule. The spirit of being an entrepreneur is to put the conflicting rules of business on your side. Adopt the same spirit for your life-goals and prepare to soar.

But if rules are such an important asset, what keeps us from knowing, following and using them? If parents know about healthy food habits, why do some stuff their children with fatty foods? If drunk driving or piloting endangers lives, why do some people and pilots consume alcohol when they know that they have to drive or fly? The answer is again quite simple: We often focus on the pleasure of the moment rather than its future consequences; with this focus, the parent finds an excuse for junk-feeding while party-goers trivialize intoxication. But there is a better alternative: Focus on the consequences. After all, if your goal is to help your child’s health or to drive safely, wouldn’t you follow just about any rule to get there? Consider then the destination as you plan each itinerary for the day’s journey, whether it is a matter of personal choices or business decisions. Once you adopt this pivotal rule, the field is yours with just some additional hints.

Look for objective rules and not emotional conclusions. Although the safety of childhood vaccines is often controversial, seek out reliable scientific sources instead of anecdotes; it may be wise to fear rules but it isn’t wise to be ruled by fear. Respect the objective rules; build safer buildings while the earthquake faults are busy building tensions. Play with the rules; if we can harness the rules of solar energy to make life more comfortable and the planet greener, why not use the rules of our social being to make us happier and friendlier? Whether you admit it or not, you are in a game; the only suspense is whether you will win by the rules or be overruled by them.