1. Domination is First and Foremost about RESPONSIBILITY. If one is not comfortable with being truly RESPONSIBLE for the well-being of another they should steer clear of the path of Domination. It is NOT about how tough you can be or how well you swing a whip or how well you tie a knot. It is all about what you do with that most precious of souls — the submissive — when they place themselves in your hands. You must be like the artist who seeks the highest vision possible in every brush stroke.
2. You must never lose sight that your sub is a Real Person with Real Human needs, as are you yourself. Never become 2-dimensional in your Domination, never let your sub become 2-dimensional in her submission.
3. You must be prepared to work on yourself TWICE as hard as you ever work on any sub — how else can you truly claim to be worthy of being your sub’s leader?
4. Good Communication is beyond “key,” beyond critical. Strive for it like the Holy Grail. Learn to listen, teach your sub how to listen. Always seek the highest levels of communication possible.
5. There is MUCH to be said for something as simple as a soft touch on the cheek and the words “Good Girl” when your sub does even the tiniest thing correctly.
6. Having More subs is NOT necessarily better — your energy can get badly diluted and all the subs can get short-changed. There is MUCH to be said for a dedicated, devoted, one-on-one Master-slave Relationship.
7. Start Off Light. Even if a sub tells you she is “O” straight out of “The Story Of…,” assume she is embellishing and start off slowly and lightly. Then you can build gradually and test her along the way until you ascertain where she really is at and come to a level that seems to be the best place to begin deeper work.
8. BE A REAL PERSON to your sub as well — tell jokes, talk about your favorite places in the world, laugh together, watch movies, share popcorn, etc.
9. Remember that No Two Subs are exactly alike! Embrace their differences. Do not try to turn a Rose into a Tulip, nor a Tulip into an Orchid, nor an Orchid into a Rose. Appreciate each for who they are, their own skills, their own beauty.
10. True D/s is very personal. Your deepest moments will almost always happen in private. Never feel like you have to perform in public (at dungeon parties or the like).
11. Know The Difference between S&M and D/s. S&M is ALL the PHYSICAL stuff (ropes, whips, toys, clamps, etc) — it is about the BODY’s experiences and sensations. D/s is ALL the PSYCHOLOGICAL stuff — it is all about the state of MIND. Yes, it does all get lumped together under the more general term “BDSM.” You can have hours of Good D/s without any S&M, and you can have hours of Good S&M without any D/s. Of course you can certainly mix the two, which is quite often the case.
12. No matter how beautiful a sub may be, no matter how much they physically turn you on, if you truly want to pursue the highest levels of what Domination is all about, you must never be afraid to Walk Away from a sub who just will not come around (constantly behaves badly, etc). Of course that should be a last resort, and you can try every other tool and trick in your bag to try and help your sub see the light of what you are trying to teach her. However, if that fateful day comes that all your attempts prove fruitless, then walk away. If it comes to that, then always make a polite exit even if your sub does not want to make it so for you.

And of course be safe, clean your toys, and get tested regularly. 🙂