Rules

Most standards and practices are really guidelines and rules of thumb. Decide they are strictures that must be followed to the letter and you ain't gonna be doing nobody no good, nohow.

Communicate

Remember that you're trying to communicate with an actual person. You're not trying to please a stuffy old English professor.

Good

Wonder, logic, and the why of things. If they're orbiting one another in the back of your head, that's a good thing.

Head or tail of it.

It's like a coin. Doesn't matter what it is, it's like a coin. Every now and then you should flip it.