Rule 1.1.: In moment of doubt, don’t hesitate but react.
Rule 1.2.: No matter how impossible the situation seems, stay positive!
Rule 2.1.: When faced with an unknown challenge, inform yourself.
Rule 2.2.: Don’t ever wear a skirt for your job interview in the Netherlands in April.
Rule 2.3.: In regard of interviewes, don’t be nervous but relax!
Rule 3.1.: When one gets a chance to meet colleagues in an informal setting before starting an internship, GO (as in the verb and acronym: greet opportunity)!
Rule 3.2.: When thrown into a new situation, go with the flow.
Rule 4.1.: Get at least 6 hours of solid sleep before your first day. You will dearly need it!
Rule 4.2.: Take notes during your first meetings.
Rule 4.3.: In moments of overkill, don’t panic, but tackle the challenge step by step.
Rule 4.4.: Make the office space your office space.
Rule 5.1.: Before you start your day at the office, make a What-To-Do-Today-Checklist!
Rule 5.2.: If you have questions, don’t hesitate but ask!
Rule 5.3.: If you ask questions, formulate them in a smart way.
Rule 5.4.: If you are overwhelmed with happiness that someone is willing to help you, stay cool.
Rule 6.1.: Live your mood and try to make the best out of any situation.
Rule 7.1.: Get to know international cultural dimensions i.e. get on a cozy buddy-buddy-level with Geert Hofstede.
Rule 7.2.: When in Rome do as the Romans do. When in the Netherlands, get used to acquiring strong neck muscles.
Rule 7.3.: Planning is half the work!
Rule 7.4.: When your first encounter with the big boss is based on a joke on your account, you will have a ‘fun’ time regardless of location and nationality!
Rule 8.1.: Time flies when you are having fun!
Rule 8.2.: Motivate yourself by creating funny passwords!
Rule 8.3.: Move around as much as you can.
Rule 8.4.: You control how long your days are!
Rule 9.1: No matter how much, but never admit to have fun at work. Otherwise people don’t take you seriously, seriously!
Rule 9.2.: In the heat of the discussion, offense is often the best defense!
Rule 9.3.: No matter how bizarre your senior colleagues behave, since there must be a good reason for it, maintain your poker face!
Rule 9.4.: No matter how fun the discussion, don’t be late for your fun weekly team meeting!
Rule 10.1.: When you are late for a meeting, act as discrete as possible when you enter the room.
Rule 10.2.: If you are faced with a funny accent during a meeting, by all means, don’t laugh!
Rule 10.3.: No matter how absurd someone’s good news seems, tolerate it.
Rule 11.1.: When coming home from work, arrange dinner with friends.
Rule 11.2.: No matter how tempting, don’t go out in the middle of the week when you have to get up at six the next day.
Rule 11.3.: If you want to go out, do it on the weekends.
Rule 12.1.: If you are faced with an unknown challenge, be brave and go towards it step by step.
Rule 12.2.: When you read a manual, skip to the most important lessons.
Rule 13.1.: In a situation of panic, don’t. First, check all facts and find out about other alternatives.
Rule 13.2.: When faced with a problem check more possible solutions to it.
Rule 13.3.: Once you tried everything in your power, but there is no way to get to work, just enjoy your day off!
Rule 14: Strive to be the best you can be at both, your job and as a person.
Rule 15: If you get the opportunity to get acquainted with the product you will end up working with then take that chance, be open-minded and grasp the possibility of an altered perception!
Rule 16: If you need answers, don’t be shy but contact the person in question so long till you have what you need!
Rule 17: Get up right away, because if you ‘snooze’, you lose!
Rule 18: Since change is inevitable, you should accept it and always try to see the ‘foxy’ side of it.
Rule 19: Even if you do not like a task, find its positive side, focus and you will be done in no time.
Rule 20: When you are put on the spot (light), just go for it and give your very best!
Rule 21: Why not go a bit over the top to show your sincere appreciation for a dear colleague on his/her special day!
Rule 22: A promoter is a devoter when it comes to fun! Here we come!!!
Rule 23: The German saying “Wettschulden sind Ehrenschulden” (= bet debts are honor debts) applies everywhere, even when the wager is a bag of drop.
Rule 24: It’s the little things that matter and make the big things so much more worthwhile!
I love the cartoon figure!