TO TELL THE TRUTH . . .

"Honesty prospers in every condition of life."

Friedrich Schiller (1759-1805) German dramatist/poet/historian.

I don't know about every condition, always, but I do know it's simply easier to be honest than dishonest.

IDENTIFY THOSE WHO WILL ASSIST BEFORE ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED

"Necessity unites."

German proverb

We are all much more open to assistance from others we'd not previously considered important, when the need for their help becomes apparent.

Wouldn't it be better to identify our allies prior to it becoming critical that we do so?

START-UPERS; ARE YOU LISTENING?

"Nothing can withstand the power of the human will if it is willing to stake its very existence to the extent of its purpose."

Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) British politician and author.

Start-up entrepreneurs, do not make the mistake of only believing the first 9 words without also believing the last 12.

Both are equally true for those attempting a start-up.

Your will can conquer as long as it, and you, are willing to accept the cost as being absolutely everything you hold dear, right down to the garage you start-up'd in.

YOU'RE DOING A REALLY GREAT JOB!

"Instruction does much, encouragement everything."

Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe (1749-1832) German poet/novelist/dramatist.

Actually the two together get the job done.

Not just how to do but props while doing as well.

WHAT NEXT? NOT WHAT NOW?

"The present is the only reality, the only certainty."

Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) German philosopher.

And we live in the present for just a brief moment before moving on to our uncertain future.

You'll never make the future certain but you can work to make it less uncertain; shouldn't that be your focus?

THE CERTAINTY OF YOUTH AND OLD AGE

"What Youth deemed crystal, Age finds out was dew."

Robert Browning (1812 -1889) British poet.

You are young if you are certain this is untrue, or true, regardless of your chronological age.

Only those uncertain are somewhere in between youth and old age.

WHO'D YOU MAKE THE BOSS OF YOU?

"Nothing external to you has any power over you."

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) U.S. poet, essayist and lecturer.

We all know this is not so; all sorts of people have power over others, you and me included. 

How did Mr. Emerson get this so wrong?

What he said is true, it's what he didn't say that completes the story.

No one or thing has any power over us other than what we give them.

Try to be a little more selective regarding when and to whom you give power over you.

ARISE (ONLY) WHEN (REAL) NEED ARISES

"An invincible determination can accomplish almost anything and in this lies the great distinction between great men and little men."

Thomas Fuller (1608-1661) British clergyman and author.

Absolutely, however make certain what you are invincibly determined about is worth the effort.

By definition invincible determination should be reserved for extraordinary things, not something we claim or attempt to be for the ordinary.

Rise to the occasion when the occasion warrants and spend the rest of your time determining when and what that will be.

THE (NOT SO) GRAND DECEPTION

"To know how to disguise is the knowledge of kings."

Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642) French clergyman, noble and statesman.

When it comes to truth, sure; however just believing you have doesn't make it so. 

Often the only one deceived will be you.

TIME TO RETRAIN?

"The production of too many useful things results in too many useless people."

Karl Marx (1818-1883) German philosopher/political economist.

This will come as no surprise if you know anything about the economic views of Mr. Marx.

But if true does an increase in "useless people" have to be the inevitable byproduct of innovation?

It doesn't.

History is full of examples of innovation leading to retraining workers to do jobs, which previously did not exist.

If you are a worker whose talents no longer fit the job market, focus on retraining.

Better jobs await you. 

"LANGUAGE INFLATION": GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS

"The fire which enlightens is the same fire which consumes."

Henri Frédéric Amiel (1821-1881) Swiss writer.

Bad news because, by definition, that you are truly passionate about can ultimately consume you.

Knowingly or not you may devote more of yourself to your passion than you have to give.

The good news is you're not even close to being passionate about most and maybe all you say you are.

"Passion" is simply one more of many "language inflated" words ("awesome", "totally", "amazing", etc.), all of which are used much too often.

Save them all for those few times they really do represent who and what you are.

THE LIMITS OF PERSONAL CONFIDENCE

"It is a bad plan that admits of no modification."

Publilius Syrus (1st Century BC) Roman writer and poet.

Being sure of yourself is a good thing.

Just not as much as being willing to verify what you believe to be true, actually is.

Not all of it will be.

YOUR FUTURE IS AHEAD, NOT BEHIND OR WHERE YOU ARE NOW

"Sure I am of this; you have only to endure to conquer. You have only to persevere to save yourselves."

Winston Churchill (1874-1965) British politician.

You may not "conquer" as you planned or hoped but you will not perish.

Move on; your future awaits you.

I SEE YOU

"The eyes of others our prisons; their thoughts our cages."

Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) British novelist and essayist.

There is very little bad or good you can do that will not ultimately be known to others.

Choose carefully what that will be.

THIS I PROMISE YOU

"Those that are most slow in making a promise are the most faithful in the performance of it."

Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) Swiss political philosopher and essayist.

Promise only what you intend to do, only that you have considered carefully before promising.

DO UNTO OTHERS AS THOUGH THEY WILL ONE DAY DO UNTO YOU

"Mighty things from small beginnings grow."

John Dryden (1631-1700) British poet, dramatist and critic.

Which teaches us, or should, not to ignore what first appears to be small, insignificant, of little consequence, particularly other people.

We could be working for them one day.

YOUR MIND, NOT EASILY MADE UP NOR CHANGED

"Reason is a very light rider, and easily shook off."

Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) Irish-born English satirist.

Do not easily be dissuaded.

Believe what you believe for good reason, only, and always, allowing your mind to change for even better reason.

FEAR THE OPPORTUNISTIC SNAKE

"There is far more opportunity than there is ability."

Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) American inventor.

For you as well.

Seize the moment but only those you are ready and capable of handling.

The fact that you can also seize a boa constrictor doesn't mean you should.

DESTRUCTIVE MANAGEMENT

"When I want your opinion I'll give it to you."

Laurence J. Peter (1919-1990) Canadian teacher and writer.

I doubt Mr. Peter was this way however there are many who are, many of whom are bosses.

I can think of nothing more destructive.