Benjamin Zander: Rule Number Six

Benjamin Zander shared a special message to the attendees of the 2025 Page Spring Seminar about the key to the kingdom of possibility through a story, of course.

https://page.org/knowledge-base/the-art-of-possibility/Even if you did not attend his highly rated session, it is worth a watch.

---

---

Transcript

00:00:00:07 - 00:00:01:24
Hello Page people.

00:00:01:24 - 00:00:03:28
I'm so happy to see you again.

00:00:03:28 - 00:00:07:22
We had such a great time that day,
but I realized

00:00:07:22 - 00:00:13:00
when I left that I had forgotten
the most important thing, which is the key

00:00:13:00 - 00:00:17:08
to the kingdom of possibility
comes in the story, of course.

00:00:17:23 - 00:00:21:27
It's the story of two prime ministers
sitting in a room having a discussion

00:00:21:27 - 00:00:25:17
about affairs of state,
and suddenly they're interrupted.

00:00:25:17 - 00:00:28:27
A man comes in
in a state of tremendous anger,

00:00:28:27 - 00:00:32:03
and he's bang his fist
and shouting and carrying on.

00:00:32:03 - 00:00:35:04
And the resident prime minister says,
Peter, Peter,

00:00:35:06 - 00:00:38:06
please remember rule number six.

00:00:38:11 - 00:00:42:05
And immediately
Peter's restored complete calm.

00:00:43:06 - 00:00:47:02
He bows, he apologizes,
and he goes out of the room.

00:00:47:05 - 00:00:49:24
They go back to their conversation.

00:00:49:24 - 00:00:54:12
About 20 minutes later, the door
bursts open and the woman comes in

00:00:54:12 - 00:00:57:29
hysterically, has flying her
mascara's running.

00:00:58:00 - 00:01:00:29
She's completely hysterical again.

00:01:00:29 - 00:01:02:06
The Prime Minister says,

00:01:03:26 - 00:01:06:03
Maria, please remember

00:01:06:03 - 00:01:10:24
rule number six and immediately
Maria is restored to calm.

00:01:12:03 - 00:01:12:25
She bows,

00:01:12:25 - 00:01:15:12
she apologizes, and she goes out the room.

00:01:15:12 - 00:01:17:13
Well, 20 minutes later, of course,

00:01:17:13 - 00:01:21:13
it happens for the third time
(because it always happens three times)

00:01:21:14 - 00:01:23:19
Happy birthday to you,

00:01:23:19 - 00:01:26:11
Happy birthday to you,

00:01:26:11 - 00:01:27:22
Happy birth--

00:01:27:22 - 00:01:29:26
Well, you remember that, of course.

00:01:29:26 - 00:01:33:20
Well, the third time
the visiting Prime Minister

00:01:34:08 - 00:01:38:05
says, my dear colleague,
this is extraordinary.

00:01:38:05 - 00:01:40:26
I don't think I've ever seen
anything like this.

00:01:40:26 - 00:01:44:26
Three people have come into this room
out of control,

00:01:45:08 - 00:01:50:13
and you should say room number six,
and they're restored to complete calm.

00:01:51:22 - 00:01:55:00
Would you be willing to tell me
what rule number six is?

00:01:55:01 - 00:01:57:09
Oh, yes, says the other Prime Minister.

00:01:57:09 - 00:01:58:00
Very simple.

00:01:58:00 - 00:01:59:22
Rule number six.

00:01:59:22 - 00:02:02:16
Don't take yourself so goddamn seriously.

00:02:02:16 - 00:02:05:05
Oh, says the other one.
That's an excellent rule.

00:02:05:05 - 00:02:07:11
What may I ask are the other rules?

00:02:08:15 - 00:02:10:17
There aren't any.

00:02:10:17 - 00:02:14:07
That is the key
to the kingdom of possibility.

00:02:14:26 - 00:02:18:05
Without rule number six,
we can't get there.

00:02:18:05 - 00:02:21:05
You know, I went to a Swiss company,

00:02:21:14 - 00:02:23:02
and of course, I told that story.

00:02:23:02 - 00:02:24:26
I always tell that story.

00:02:24:26 - 00:02:28:11
And, about six months later, I went back

00:02:28:22 - 00:02:32:19
and I noticed on every desk was a plaque

00:02:32:19 - 00:02:36:14
saying, “Remember Rule Number Six.”

00:02:37:09 - 00:02:39:18
All the best to all of you.