Sir Isaac Newton once said, “Tact is making a point without making an enemy.” Most of us have worked hard to make a point yet only to stir up an argument or damage a relationship in the process.
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One of the best skills I learned years ago at a marriage workshop was how to speak “I” language. It’s a language that’s easy to understand but it takes some effort to become proficient because it’s so counter-intuitive.
I’ve shared why the life skill of getting along with other people is such a necessity to succeed in anything of importance. To get where you want to be in life will ultimately require the help of someone else.
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The best place to learn this life skill is in the home. Unfortunately, many didn’t have a good example of this in their home while growing up. If you feel you got short-changed on practical training in this area, here are five ways you can become better at your people skills.
You might think financially successful people would rank superior intelligence as a key for others to succeed likewise. It did show up on the list—but #21 on the list. Far below the top five.
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What did show up—actually #3—in that list of 733 first generation millionaires polled was social skills. More specifically, the ability to get along with other people.
Recently, we were leaving the house at 8am on a Saturday. Due to the fact that our home was on the market, and it was a weekend, we made sure everything was clean and vacuumed before leaving in case of a sudden showing request. I made the comment to my husband about how nice it was to be leaving the house in such great shape before we left.
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Immediately, he replied, “Well Honey, we could just leave Realtor cards out on the entry table all year long so we think our house is still on the market.”
Gail and I are in a whirlwind season right now—and have been for a while. All good things yet NUTS! Have made three out of state trips in the last month. Spoke at a national conference. Had grandchildren as houseguests for several nights. Relocating Gail’s dad from out of state to a Tulsa senior living community. Gail is going to Paris, France next week. And, oh—we sold our condo and are moving this week.
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Those are the biggies. Doesn’t include computer conversions, car repairs, and everyday life in general. Amidst it all, many have commented on how fast we provide information needed and get things done.
We’ve all been in that situation where you are attempting to convey something of importance and your spouse responds, “Do what now?”
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It can be pretty disappointing to have to repeat what you just said. This seems to happen more often with women downloading information to their man than it does the other way around.
What if someone handed you a list of actions that if done consistently, would give you a 95% chance of success to accomplish what you wanted? As far as I’m concerned, sign me up!
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That’s what most of us have yearned for. “If someone would just show me what to do!” But the harsh reality is that even when we do know what to do, we don’t stick with it—we lack the discipline to finish what we start.
Mom, you are a very special person to your family. For the most part, you are the foundation, the stabilizing point, the one who keeps everyone and everything going in the right direction. You are the planner, the organizer, the executer, the cook, the housekeeper, the nurse, the chauffeur, the counselor, the tutor…the list goes on and on. Dads are a wonderful part of assisting with all these duties, but often the ultimate responsibility rests on mom.
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In the years that my children were all at home, I was busy to say the least. In order to keep everything going smoothly, I had to give my all every minute of every day. Yes, it was fulfilling—but there were many days I reached an unhealthy exhaustion.
Thomas J. Stanley conducted a survey of 733 millionaires to uncover key characteristics and principles common to them. He wrote of his findings in his book, The Millionaire Mind. I highly recommend it.
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I get very excited when I read such books because their research validates what the Bible has taught for years. For example, I love it when modern medicine “discovers” a medical principle that is really an age-old Bible truth.
Having a simple life is something I’ve aspired to for years. But actually figuring out how to simplify can be a daunting task.
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Life comes complete with responsibilities, commitments and just plain old “stuff.” How could it possibly be simple?
