WHAT YOU'LL HAVE, NOT ALWAYS WHAT YOU THINK YOU NEED

"Poverty of goods is easily cured; poverty of the mind is irreparable."

Montaigne (1533-1592) French philosopher and essayist.

Good to remember during your next budget exercise.

You'll have what you'll have and no more; no sense wasting time complaining it's not enough.

It is what it is so focus on spending it the best possible way.

PROBLEM SOLVERS

"The usual fortune of complaint is to excite contempt more than pity."

Samuel Johnson

18th century British author

Do you want to demonstrate real value to your employer?

For every problem you make them aware of bring them three possible solutions.

The Pain Of Criticism

"I feel the pain of a little censure, even when it is unfounded, is more acute than the pleasure of much praise."

Thomas Jefferson

3rd president of the United States

I think this is probably true for most of us.

And yet we can or should learn more from criticism than we do from praise.

That is if we're listening.

Now That We Know What's Wrong . . .

"The powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.  What will yours be?

Unknown

Most of us know how to complain, however, complaining is not contributing.

If problems are only identified, never solved, well . . .

That's So Lame!

"Resort is had to ridicule only when reason is against us."

Thomas Jefferson

Third president of the United States

Think about this the next time you find yourself demeaning someone or their ideas.

When What Is, Isn't What You Want It To Be

"Take the world as it is, not as you think it ought to be."

German proverb

We sometimes call people who need to hear this, complainers.

There is some value to wishing things were otherwise but be as quick about it as possible and then get back to dealing with what is.

Managing Versus Complaining

"Complaining is good for you as long as you are not complaining to the person you are complaining about."

Lynn Johnston
Canadian Cartoonist

When as managers we review employees and have something negative to say about their performance, are we complaining?

If so, is Lynn right?

Problems: Who's Responsibility?

"Untold suffering seldom is."

Franklin P. Jones
19th century British born immigrant to US
Served as Superintendent and Examiner of the US Patent and Trademark Office
Later magazine publisher

Meaning, those with complaints usually voice them.

I wonder if in business, they do so more than attempt to fix them?