The rules I live by, as well as I can.

1. Start small and build a little at a time; a mosaic is more beautiful than the finest concrete, and way less likely to get you sued for improper construction.
2. Say what you mean; because telepathy is still in beta testing.
3. Network; because who else will laugh at your "I'm not a robot" jokes?
4. Divide and conquer; because life is essentially a giant game of strategy board games.
5. Keep it simple; complex plans involve running, and who's got the energy for that?
6. Do one thing well; remember, unicorns are famous for just one horn.
7. Be who you are; even a bent wire can carry a great light, especially in a modern art exhibit.
8. Build for strength, not just speed; the tortoise won the race, but the hare had more Instagram followers.
9. Speak clearly, listen carefully, pay close attention; otherwise, you'll end up in a conversation about quantum physics when you just asked for the time.
10. Underpromise and overdeliver; because everyone loves a surprise, especially when it's not another birthday card.
11. Practice the Prime Directive; unless you're in a sci-fi movie, then totally ignore it.
12. Hack; just remember, "try it and see" doesn't apply to skydiving or lion taming.
13. Use what you have; unless it's a floppy disk, then maybe it's time to upgrade.
14. Use levers, not people; because people are terrible at being levers, they keep asking for coffee breaks.
15. Release early, release often; otherwise, you're just hoarding half-baked ideas, and there's no market for those.
16. Distrust all claims for the one true way; except for pizza, pizza is always the answer.
17. Think ahead, but don’t worship your plans; remember, not all who wander are lost, but they might just be looking for their keys.