Archives for July 2017

In real life you shouldn’t be keeping score

Posted on: July 26, 2017, in: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Don’t be envious of others. Just because you think they have a better title or seem to have more money doesn’t mean it’s true. The person you view as a “higher up” may hate the position they are in. The person who seems to have money may be living on debt. Not making assumptions is a topic for another day.

Similarly, don’t be vindictive. Don’t try to get even. If you really analyze a situation where think doing so is the right course of action, the only one keeping score is you, and then you are the one losing, for sure. It take time to build a good reputation and mere moments to destroy it.

This goes to something I have mentioned before. Do your best at whatever it is you do and let what happens happen. But in doing so, do it in a way that is honest and you can look back with no regrets, because, if you don’t, the person you “run over” may be the vindictive sort. If that persons tries to get even it will waste your time and take your focus from the things you need to or would rather be focusing on.

Always look forward, not backward, to avoid getting mired in keeping score or settling scores.

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Live in today with an eye on tomorrow

Posted on: July 19, 2017, in: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Life is long. You will work for a long time. There is no winning instantly. Success takes time. What you do each day matters for your future. The big picture makes living for today essential, which means having a plan and working it. By doing so you really are playing for the future, and for your first taste of, or your continuing, success.

The person you do a favor for today will help you tomorrow. The client you are honest with today will say good things about you to others in the future. This goes with the truth that everything is who you know.

This does not mean that what you know doesn’t matter. It is part of the puzzle that is success. The time you spend to be an expert at what you do is a play for tomorrow when you will be better at what you do than today, and so on and so on. Continual learning and improvement is part of the process.

So the long game is what you have to be playing. Yes, we all can step off of the curb and get hit by a bus at any time, but it is unlikely. By having a plan and working it you will be playing for tomorrow and set yourself up for attaining or continuing success.

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Be Informed

Posted on: July 13, 2017, in: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Everywhere I look these days people are arguing. At least it feels that way. About politics. About the environment. About issues big and small.

 

I have written before about how important it is to be an active listener. When I listen I hear a lot of people simply parroting what others say without any independent thought. Or worse, they are speaking about something they clearly have no idea about.

I see this professionally too. I have been in Court and watched opposing counsel simply quote the brief some younger attorney at their firm has written, but simply repeat what is in the brief instead of adding anything additional, which is what Courts are looking for at oral argument.

Being informed sounds easy, but it takes work. Learning about any topic in your work or personal life takes time. But doing so is investing in yourself. When you do you will speak from a place of authority or a position of knowledge.

Does this mean you will always come out better in an argument, or I will always win in court if I go the extra distance? Of course not, but it will bolster your reputation that you know what you speak about, as opposed to simply having an opinion or position you cannot actually support or defend.

And I am not encouraging arguing, but, instead, being able to defend a position or speak knowledgeably. If you do get in an argument or discussion, the goal should be to remain respectful while coming off as informed of that about which you speak.

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