"**Dress at your best on your execution day** (shave carefully); try to leave a good impression on the death squad by standing erect and proud.
"**Try not to play victim** when diagnosed with cancer (hide it from others and only share the information with the doctor—it will avert the platitudes and nobody will treat you like a victim worthy of their pity; in addition, the dignified attitude will make both defeat and victory feel equally heroic).
"**Be extremely courteous** to your assistant when you lose money (instead of taking it out on him as many of the traders whom I scorn routinely do).
"**Try not to blame others** for your fate, even if they deserve blame.
"**Never exhibit any self-pity**, even if your significant other bolts with the handsome ski instructor or the younger aspiring model.
"**Do not complain**.
"If you suffer from a benign version of the “attitude problem,” like one of my childhood friends, **do not start playing nice guy** if your business dries up (he sent a heroic e-mail to his colleagues informing them “less business, but same attitude”).
"**The only article Lady Fortuna has no control over is your behavior**. Good luck."
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**Tags** -- [[quotes]], [[discipline]], [[stoicism]], [[fooled-by-randomness]], [[discipline]], [[character]], [[personal-values]],
**Source** --