The First Step!

I love a quote that Chris Brady uses, "When I look back on my life, I want to be proud of all of it." That mantra in itself demands that we accomplish something worthwhile. If you boil that down to it's irreducible minimum, the key to that success lies within your ability to establish, and maintain relationships.

Think about it. Anyone who was ever deemed successful had to be relationship savvy. Steel magnet Andrew Carnegie was not known to be a "people person" so he paid Charles Schaub, a salary of one million dollars a year because he possessed those skills. That type of income was unheard of back in those days, but the point being, Carnegie still had to develop a relationship with Schaub to build the steel dynasty he did. If you had all the money in the world and were sentenced to isolation; What good would it be? Imagine being filthy rich but trapped on an island alone. The financial success would be meaningless

So isn't it critical to learn to develop and nurture relationships? Without them who would be there to pass around the potato salad and reflect on your life after it's ended? This might be a great time to reflect on our own relationships. In a day when children can't talk to parents, or spouses find trouble communicating, wouldn't it be wonderful if they all realized how important those relationships are, and knocked down those walls?

Before we speak, we should think about the impact on the relationship. Is what I have to say beneficial to that end? Or am I testing the quality of this relationship? Does this need saying at this time? Is there a better way to get my feelings across? How would I feel if it was being said to me? All great questions to ask yourself before the jaw is engaged.

So to be accomplished, whether it's training a dog, discussing politics, building a business, or forming a bond with your spouse or children that'll last forever, the relationship is the key. Develop that first and the rest will fall in line!

God Bless
Capt. Bill