Golden Rule #5 – Don’t Miss the Humor.

Having a plan is pretty important. Knowing how to work the plan is equally important. Knowing how to adapt and improvise when plans don’t go the way you expect — crucial. And what knits it all together?

Humor.

Never lose your ability to see the humor in something, even something serious. Especially something serious.

Now, there are times when humor isn’t called for. But I have found those times to be very rare indeed. Humor is the great diffuser. A good laugh is often far more beneficial than a good cry.

Sir Edmund Hillary, the New Zealand explorer and mountaineer, was the first man to not just climb, but conquer, Mt. Everest, the tallest mountain in the world. It’s pretty safe to say he wrote the book on how to plan, and improvise, and see things through even when circumstances seem to shout “Bad idea! Turn around!” But he said this, which I love:

Good planning is important. I’ve also regarded a sense of humor as one of the most important things on a big expedition. When you’re in a difficult or dangerous situation, or when you’re depressed about the chances of success, someone who can make you laugh eases the tension.