# 3 Celebration

Celebration

When things are not going well, the last situation we want to be faced with is interacting with someone who is experiencing life’s great blessings.  Isn’t it interesting that when we are down we frequently face this scenario?  It is hard to celebrate someone else’s success when we feel unsuccessful.  When this is our reality we must reject the temptation to be jealous and simply act right.  We don’t want people to pull us down when we are flying high and we shouldn’t do it to them either.  Plus, the consequence of not celebrating with them can cause a loss of relationship.

# 2 Kindness

Kindness

Few of us are down right mean people but most of us fail to be kind at one time or another.  If you ever struggle with this, my advice is to simply act toward others the way you want to be treated.  The bumper sticker that reads “Practice Random Acts of Kindness” provides great advice.  Another remedy is to do something kind for someone who may least deserve it.  Performing such an act can be better than therapy.

It is such a great feeling to receive kindness. Our giving it back feels just as good to those we interact with. 

13 Virtues that will Improve Your Impact in the Marketplace and Everyplace

13 Virtues that will Improve Your Impact in the Marketplace and Everyplace

Patience

The other day I was late to an appointment and was waiting for a one-person-bathroom to come available.  I could hear the toilet paper roll dispensing, the toilet seat closing, the toilet flushing, the sink running and the hand towels dispensing.  But all of this was taking inordinately too long.  I was furious at the insensitivity of the person behind the bathroom door.  Well, furious until the door slowly opened and out shuffled a shriveled up old tinny handicapped woman apologizing profusely for taking so long.  I felt really small.   

Because “patience is a virtue,” I am facing my shortcomings and diligently practicing being patient.  If you suffer from this as well, all I can suggest is that you face your impatience, refresh your commitment to act with class, and redouble your effort to act patiently.  One practical suggestion: allow adequate time for what you need to do, because if you are pressed-for-time impatience is just around the corner.

How You Can Improve Your Impact in the Marketplace and Everyplace

How You Can Improve Your Impact in the Marketplace and Everyplace

If I asked you, “What do you value most in people?” What would your response be?  Perhaps you would respond with words like honesty or integrity or _________ (you can fill in the blank).  Then, if I asked you, “Why are those qualities important?” What would you say? Perhaps you would respond with something like “Life is more pleasant and more productive when you are dealing with this kind of person.” 

If you said something like that you would be right. The marketplace, home and social circles really do function best when we living out what Ben Franklin called “virtue.”  Franklin had a list of virtues that he wrote down and carried with him.  He referred to them at the Continental Congress, when negotiating a business deal, while working on an invention and even when flying kites in a thunder storms.  (Obviously one of his virtues was not “avoid lightening”.) 

Q. Why did he always carry a copy with him?

A. Because it was not his natural bent to be virtuous. 

Naturally, we are all self serving, selfish and prideful or what my wife calls “globe heads” (those who live life believing that they are the center of the universe - and that all things revolve around them.)  Whether you practice Franklin’s virtues, Gundlach’s virtues or write your own, the marketplace and everyplace will truly be a better place if we act with high merit.