Right Attitudes

Ideas for Impact

Archives for December 2012

Inspirational Quotations #456

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The past is a bucket of ashes, so live not in your yesterdays, nor just for tomorrow, but in the here and now. Keep moving and forget the post-mortems. And remember, no one can get the jump on the future.
—Carl Sandburg (American Children’s Books Writer)

And think not you can guide the course of love. For love, if it finds you worthy, shall guide your course.
—Khalil Gibran (Lebanese-born American Philosopher)

A morning-glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of books.
—Walt Whitman (American Poet)

The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like, and do what you’d druther not.
—Mark Twain (American Humorist)

Half of being smart is knowing what you are dumb about.
—Solomon Short

To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved.
—George MacDonald (Scottish Christian Author)

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
—Leonardo da Vinci (Italian Polymath)

The smaller the mind the greater the conceit.
—Aesop (Greek Fabulist)

The possession of power inevitably spoils the free use of reason.
—Immanuel Kant (Prussian German Philosopher)

Truth is mighty and will prevail. There is nothing the matter with this, except that it ain’t so.
—Mark Twain (American Humorist)

It is human nature to think wisely and act foolishly.
—Anatole France (French Novelist)

Don’t be Friends with Your Employees

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Be friendly with your employees, but don’t be friends with them.

To be effective, managers need to to be obliging when they can and tough when they must. The boss-employee relationship implies a power structure that makes managing friends quite challenging. It can be difficult to give objective performance feedback to your friends, convince them defer to your authority over them, or to decline requests for specific allowances without harming the friendship.

Few managers who’ve been promoted from within to manage their peers come out of the boss-employee relationship with their friendships intact.

If you decide to be friends with your employees, don’t do it at the expense of being a boss.

Wondering what to read next?

  1. Never Skip Those 1-1 Meetings
  2. When Your Team is Shorthanded
  3. You Can’t Serve Two Masters
  4. Book Summary of Leigh Branham’s ‘The 7 Hidden Reasons Employees Leave’
  5. No One Likes a Meddling Boss

Inspirational Quotations #455

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The health of the people is really the foundation upon which all their happiness and all their powers as a state depend.
—Benjamin Disraeli (British Head of State)

Service can have no meaning unless one takes pleasure in it. When it is done for show or for fear of public opinion it stunts the man and crushes his spirit. Service which is rendered without joy helps neither the servant nor the served. But all other pleasures and possessions pale into nothingness before service which is rendered in a spirit of joy.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (Indian Hindu Political leader)

Logic pervades the world; the limits of the world are also the limits of logic.
—Ludwig Wittgenstein (Austrian Philosopher)

The unfortunate thing about this world is that good habits are so much easier to give up than bad ones.
—W. Somerset Maugham (French Playwright)

Men of lofty genius when they are doing the least work are most active.
—Leonardo da Vinci (Italian Polymath)

From a little spark may burst a mighty flame.
—Dante Alighieri (Italian Political leader)

Status quo, you know, that is Latin for the mess we’re in.
—Ronald Reagan (American Head of State)

I have learned silence from the talkative; tolerance from the intolerant and kindness from the unkind. I should not be ungrateful to those teachers.
—Khalil Gibran (Lebanese-born American Philosopher)

When Work Becomes Alibi: Turtle Workaholism and Excuse-making

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When we think of workaholics, we tend to conjure up images of people slaving away for their paycheck, either out of necessity or ambition. But what about the elusive “turtle workaholics”—those who use their jobs as a way to escape personal problems and evade domestic responsibilities?

These workaholics submit to work as a distraction and seek refuge in the routine and structure of their jobs, finding solace in tangible results and recognition from colleagues. Meanwhile, they neglect the conflicts brewing at home with their spouses or children. It’s a classic case of out of sight, out of mind—except it’s their personal lives that’re out of sight.

The problem with this approach, of course, is that “turtle workaholism” isn’t a real solution. While it might provide temporary relief, it doesn’t address the underlying issues. So if you find yourself gravitating towards work as a means of escapism, take a moment to examine your motivations. Confronting conflicts might be uncomfortable, but it’s the only way to truly resolve them. Don’t be a turtle—face your problems head-on.

Wondering what to read next?

  1. Great Jobs are Overwhelming, and Not Everybody Wants Them
  2. Why You Can’t Relax on Your Next Vacation
  3. The #1 Cost of Overwork is Personal Relationships
  4. The Truth About Work-Life Balance
  5. The #1 Warning Sign That You’re Burning Out at Work

Don’t be Rude to Receptionists and Support Staff

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One of the quickest ways to fail in an interview is to ignore, be discourteous, or be disrespectful to receptionists and support staff.

Some job candidates believe that they do not need to be at their best behavior in front of support staff, and then “turn it on” for the professionals who will actually interview them.

It is a common fallacy to assume that the relative position of a person on the corporate ladder is predicative of how much influence that person has in the organization. Rank, experience, and influence do not always correspond. People with influence are those whose opinions are important—not necessarily because they rank high on the org chart, but because they have acknowledged expertise, experience, or because of their association with people of authority.

Job candidates: a condescending attitude could cost you a job offer. Be courteous around everyone you meet and watch what you say. Assume that every person—the receptionists, assistants, and support staff—may have an input into the hiring decision. They will convey their negative perceptions to the hiring managers.

Wondering what to read next?

  1. The Waiter Rule: A Window to Personality
  2. Avoid Control Talk
  3. “But, Excuse Me, I’m Type A”: The Ultimate Humblebrag?
  4. Want to be more likeable? Improve your customer service? Adopt Sam Walton’s “Ten-Foot Rule”
  5. The Trouble with Accusing Someone of Virtue Signaling

Inspirational Quotations #454

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To know oneself, one should assert oneself. Psychology is action, not thinking about oneself. We continue to shape our personality all our life. If we knew ourselves perfectly, we should die.
—Albert Camus (Algerian-born French Philosopher)

Let a joy keep you. Reach out your hands and take it when it runs by.
—Carl Sandburg (American Children’s Books Writer)

I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (Indian Hindu Political leader)

Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.
—Unknown

A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way.
—Mark Twain (American Humorist)

The great epochs of our life come when we gain the courage to rechristen our evil as what is best in us.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (German Philosopher, Scholar)

Truth is mighty and will prevail. There is nothing the matter with this, except that it ain’t so.
—Mark Twain (American Humorist)

There is a healthful hardiness about real dignity that never dreads contact and communion with others, however humble.
—Washington Irving (American Author)

Begin—to begin is half the work, let half still remain; again begin this and thou wilt have finished.
—Ausonius (Latin Poet)

Life is a shipwreck but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats.
—Voltaire (French Philosopher)

Stressed, Lonely, or Depressed? Could a Pet Help?

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Getting a pet may be just what a doctor might order to help overcome stress, loneliness, and depression.

For reasons not completely understood, we need animals as much as they need us.

  • Scientific studies have confirmed anecdotal evidence that pets can play a role in taming physical responses to stress. Blood pressure is shown to drop sharply when people merely rub a cat or a dog. The presence of a loved pet can have a calming influence on blood pressure and heart rate, especially when performing a task that might induce physical and mental stress. Even watching fish in an aquarium can reduce anxiety in dental patients waiting for oral surgeries.
  • Pets can be great buffers against everyday stress, thereby improving long-term physical and mental health. After a hard day at work, playing with a pet can be an effective way of unwinding and reducing stress. Around the world, more delighted frenzies are welcoming people at the end of their hard days at work. An estimated 63% of American, 43% of British, 20% of Japanese, and 60% of Australian households have pets. The proportion of households with pets is growing in India, China, and other developing countries as the burgeoning middle-classes have greater disposable incomes.
  • Pets can be a great source of nurturance for children. Pets can provide children with many formative experiences in caring for others, including, possibly, the first glimpse of death and the chance to cope with the loss of a loved one.
  • Pets are non-judgmental and accept their owners without qualification. They provide unconditional love and companionship. Having dogs encourages their owners to get out often, exercise, and meet more people. One study showed that people in wheelchairs got much friendlier responses in public places when they brought along their dogs.
  • Pet ownership can be a gratifying surrogate for human companionship, especially for people with limited social support systems. People with pets cope better with the impacts of adverse life events. At nursing homes, visiting therapy dogs lift the spirits of elders who tend to be sad or withdrawn.
  • The mere presence of somebody—even a pet—that one can care about can bring about a sense of purpose and great joy. [Look at this touching chronicle of an 87-year old grandmother in Japan and her beloved cat.]

Idea for Impact: Consider adopting a pet

Plenty of cats and dogs at humane shelters may die if not adopted. Choose a pet that fits your lifestyle. Understand that owning a pet is not for everyone; pets involve additional responsibility, which can be added-on stress. If your circumstances do not allow you to own a pet, offer to walk a friend’s dog regularly, babysit a vacationer’s cats, or volunteer at an animal shelter, clinic, or pet store.

Wondering what to read next?

  1. Could Limiting Social Media Reduce Your Anxiety About Work?
  2. The Power of Negative Thinking
  3. Learn to Cope When You’re Stressed
  4. How to Encourage Yourself During Tough Times
  5. Lonely in a Crowd?

Inspirational Quotations #453

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He knows the universe and does not know himself.
—Jean de La Fontaine (French Poet)

Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.
—Carl Sandburg (American Children’s Books Writer)

One life – a little gleam of Time between two Eternities.
—Thomas Carlyle (Scottish Writer)

Integrity simply means a willingness not to violate one’s identity.
—Erich Fromm (German Psychologist)

Generosity is not giving me that which I need more than you do, but it is giving me that which you need more than I do.
—Khalil Gibran (Lebanese-born American Philosopher)

To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.
—Winston Churchill (British Head of State)

The more wary you are of danger, the more likely you are to meet it.
—Jean de La Fontaine (French Poet)

The beauty of the world, which is so soon to perish, has two edges, one of laughter, one of anguish, cutting the heart asunder.
—Virginia Woolf (English Novelist)

Often the surest way to convey misinformation is to tell the strict truth.
—Mark Twain (American Humorist)

Is a task worth doing worth doing poorly? [Two-Minute Mentor #4]

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You’ve likely encountered career books or motivational speakers who urge you to work hard and give ‘it’ everything you can. While throwing yourself into work on every project and shooting for perfection is admirable, there are several downsides. Before long, you may find yourself forfeiting time with family, friends, or on hobbies as you feel increasingly pressed for time.

In actuality, you don’t have to give 110% or even 100% to everything you do.

Successful people are very selective about when they push themselves to the max—they do so only when the stakes are big enough and when it’s entirely justified.

Not everything you produce has to be perfect. Many of the results that matter can be less imperfect than allowable, but relevant enough.

Imperfection is often a satisfactory outcome. A 110% effort might not move you any closer to your goals than an 80% or a 90% effort.

Your time, energy, and other resources are in short supply. Constantly weigh your efforts against the expected benefits. Consider output-to-input efficiency. Be aware of the point of diminishing returns and don’t contribute more effort than is necessary. Make prudent compromises between reasonable effort and perfection.

Wondering what to read next?

  1. More from Less // Book Summary of Richard Koch’s ’80/20 Principle’
  2. Did School Turn You Into a Procrastinator?
  3. What Type of Perfectionist Are You?
  4. Do You Have an Unhealthy Obsession with Excellence?
  5. The Simple Life, The Good Life // Book Summary of Greg McKeown’s ‘Essentialism’

Inspirational Quotations #452

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Whatever you do, if you do it hard enough you’ll enjoy it. The important thing is to work and work hard.
—David Rockefeller (American Philanthropist)

When you give of your possessions, you give but little; it is when you give of yourself that you truly give.
—Khalil Gibran (Lebanese-born American Philosopher)

Riches ennoble a man’s circumstances, but not himself.
—Immanuel Kant (Prussian German Philosopher)

We do not know what to do with this short life, but we want another that will be eternal.
—Anatole France (French Novelist)

Without devotion, knowledge is tasteless. Without knowledge, devotion is mere empty idol worship.
—Swami Chinmayananda (Indian Hindu Teacher)

Nothing impresses the mind with a deeper feeling of loneliness than to tread the silent and deserted scene of former flow and pageant.
—Washington Irving (American Author)

How easy it is for one benevolent being to diffuse pleasure around him; and how truly is a kind heart a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity to freshen into smiles!
—Washington Irving (American Author)

Death never takes the wise man by surprise; he is always ready to go.
—Jean de La Fontaine (French Poet)

How easy it is for one benevolent being to diffuse pleasure around him; and how truly is a kind heart a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity to freshen into smiles!
—Washington Irving (American Author)