---
title: "Elliott's five rules"
description: "Ground rules for meetings and relationships with powerful people."
canonical: https://tomsharman.com/bookshelf/the-third-door/elliotts-five-rules/
updated: 2026-11-03
---

# Elliott's five rules

> Ground rules for meetings and relationships with powerful people.

Alex Banayan's framework, from The Third Door, pp. 69 to 133.

Framework 5 of 11 from [The Third Door](https://tomsharman.com/bookshelf/the-third-door/index.md) by Alex Banayan. Category: Personal brand.

## The steps

1. **Never use your phone in a meeting.** Carry a pen instead, because a phone makes you look like a chump.
2. **Act like you belong.** Do not gawk at celebrities or ask for pictures, because fans ask for pictures and peers shake hands.
3. **Mystery makes history.** Do not post everything you do online, and keep people guessing.
4. **Never break your word.** Be a vault, since reputation takes years to build and seconds to ruin.
5. **Adventures only happen to the adventurous.** Say yes to the unplanned invitation.

## Where it comes from

From chapter: Step 3: Find Your Inside Man, pp. 69–133

## The animation

24 seconds, 4:5, no sound.

- MP4: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/the-third-door/elliotts-five-rules.mp4
- MP4, dark: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/the-third-door/elliotts-five-rules-dark.mp4
- Still: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/the-third-door/elliotts-five-rules.png
- Still, dark: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/the-third-door/elliotts-five-rules-dark.png