When people show you who they are, believe them

This is a saying credited to Maya Angelou. Many think its origins are from the phrases "actions speak louder than words" or "talk is cheap"

Here is a corollary – when people tell you things out of anger, frustration or spite listen to them and act accordingly.

Too often we get ourselves in trouble as adults by trying to rationalize why people say what they do when had we simply listened and done what they told us we would have fewer problems. Ie – when someone says leave – leave, not happy, will not work out, want to see other people, want other clients, other suppliers, etc.

Here is the first $1 million dollar question – how much stress and/or drama could you have saved yourself had you simply done what you were asked or told to instead of trying to convince them to do what you wanted by taking the situation and/or words at face value without trying to rationalize a meaning or getting that person to accept you decision as the right one?

Remember this simple truth, just because you want something does not mean others want it too!









Here are some questions to consider:

• Do you accept the fact that you cannot change people?
• Do you accept the fact that people are going to always do what they want to do?
• Are you talking in a way others can understand?
• Are you listening to what they are saying?
• Are you acting based on what they are telling you or what you want to hear?
• Are you listening with an open mind or have you already decided the outcome?
• Did you do what they told you or did you attempt to convince them to accept your point of view?

Here is the 2nd $1M question:

• If you cannot accept their point of view even though it may not be the outcome you want and you are unwilling to listen to our accept their perspective and them then how can you expect others to accept your viewpoints and opinions when you have closed your mind to everyone’s but your own?

Can the Government Be Trusted to Oversee Itself?

What do you think?

Business and life lesson from an Orchestra

Most people today enjoy listening to music, albeit singers, bands or a full orchestra. To me in orchestral music we can learn much about how to run an effective business. So what is an orchestra? 

An orchestra - an instrumental ensemble, usually fairly large with string, brass, woodwind sections, and possibly a percussion section as well. The term orchestra derives from the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus. The orchestra grew by accretion throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, but changed very little in composition during the course of the twentieth century. 

In a growing business concern either through employees or contractors you as the owners work to create an organization to accomplish the mission of servicing your customers and/or clients. An orchestra performs a work of music for their audience (customers/clients). So, what lessons are here? 

• A conductor – leads the orchestra in performance and rehearsals, determining as the leader the musical works being performed as well as the tempo (speed and rhythm) at which the work will be performed.
• An orchestra exists to perform music – not engineering, law, auto repair – they are focused.
• An musician plays from common sheet music
• Each instrument in the organization has a unique sound and make no effort to serve in other rolls albeit vocal, winds, wood wind, string, percussion (does not pretent to be what isit not)
• Each instrument has its own strengths and limitations
• Each instrument works to compliment the others in the orchestra
• All orchestra members practice to ensure a professional performance
• Each musician learns to master their instrument before joining the orchestra
• Each musician follows the first chair, section leader and ultimately the conductor
• Each musician learns to read sheet music if only by sight and follow what it dictates
• Each musician understands the importance of keeping their commitments
• No member works to outshine the group unless the music calls for is and only when asked to do so
• Each member agrees to the uniform of the organization
• Even when performing in unison the musicians play within the range octaves of their instruments – i.e. c is still c but in the octave of their instrument
• Each member musician is treated with respect
• Each musician maintains and respects the instruments (equipment)
• Each musician understands the importance of self control
• The success of the orchestra is based on who well each section gel and work together – the failure of a single section is a failure of the whole 
  
• The fun is when all of the hard work comes together for a successful and well received performance
  

Are there any lessons you would like to add?

Personal Responsibility (Failure and Success)

If you are not responsible when things go bad then who is responsible when things go well? So often we live up or down to the expectation we set of and for ourselves and/or project onto other people. 

If we:

• like ourselves we assume everyone like us.
• hate ourselves we assume everyone hates us 

People so often create the situations and circumstances to reinforce and reflect the inner opinions they hold of themselves albeit business, money, relationships, family, etc. The terms often used to describe these behaviors are

• Self fulfilling prophecy
• Psychological projection 

These are neither bad nor good rather what they are depends on who and what you are at the core so are you 

How is your character best described

• Good / Evil
• Honest / Dishonest
• Respectful / Disrespectful
• Hard working / Lazy
• Responsible / Irresponsible
• Faithful / treacherous
• Diligent / Unfocused
• Mature / Childish
• Intelligent / Stupid
• Patient / Impatient
• Giving / Selfish 

Links to video is you want to see more 

• Self Sabotage 
• Self Control 
• Personal Accountability