1. Have passion for what you do: Having passion makes you do it better and makes you feel better while you’re doing it. Consider something as unexpected as making Cookies BBQ sauce in Wall Lake, Iowa. “Speed” Herrig’s passion for what he does is the reason it works.

2. School rule: Even if you’re convinced that your child’s coach or teacher is the world’s worst and are tempted to broadcast the perceived shortcomings, keep it a secret you carry with you to the grave.

3. Put your personal life first: Careers are an important part of life, but no one’s dying words have ever been, “I wish I had spent more time at the office.”

4. The golden rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” is almost as old as recorded history. For good reason, too. It is the basis for creating the world we all want to live in. It is also the reason you should return phone calls.

5. Listen: No explanation needed.

6. Learn to say “no” sometimes: (A) Say it with a smile and perhaps an apology, but if you can’t control your commitments, you lose control of your life. (B) It is not a sin to say “no” to your children, either (smile OK, apology not). Otherwise, wishes become demands.

7. Prioritize: Decide what is important and what isn’t. Not much is really important. Don’t wait for a tragedy to remind you.

8. Be happy: If you’re having trouble with this, spend time at a children’s hospital like I did. There aren’t many who can continue a black outlook after spending time with seriously ill kids who smile, laugh and play even though they have every reason to complain and be depressed. Happiness is not a reaction to something that just happened or your situation in life – it’s a permanent mindset you can achieve.

9. Be bold: Only those who never stick their neck out should be embarrassed. Following the crowd is safer, but guarantees you’ll never rise above average.

10. Be sensibly flexible: We all should have a firm set of guiding principles, but the world won’t end if your child refuses to eat lima beans.

*****

The Internal Revenue Service never has been accused of using a highbrow writing style. I recently had occasion to see an English tax form used by a Brit living in the United States. The last line of the form subtly warns: “These details may be checked by the Inland Revenue to make sure that the scheme is working properly.” This is a lot less threatening and classier than our “Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this return and accompanying schedules and statements, and to the best of my knowledge and belief, they are true, correct, and complete.”

Few tax filers actually examine their returns and most don’t have the skill required to make an examination significant in any event. “How much do I owe and where do I sign?” is the universal question to tax preparers. In short, most filers commit perjury when they sign the return. The “warning” should say: I acknowledge that I am responsible for the accuracy of what is shown on this return even if I don’t understand it, did not prepare it and relied on my tax preparer to correctly complete it.

Mike Nelson is a senior vice president at Iowa Savings Bank in Carroll. He can be contacted at mnelson@iowasavingsbank.com.