Saying something: Part nine

I had an idea to do a little series of posts about things I've learned and applied to my personal and professional life. I'll keep these posts quite short but hope someone reads something they can fit into their own life or they can use to good effect.

Phrases to live by

I'm always looking to improve rather than ways to be perfect because continual improvement offers the chance for more tangible (and attainable) results that come more often; besides, perfection doesn't exist, especially so for humans.

Anyway, here's some of the things that help me continually improve and that I've lived my life by:

• Never beg for a relationship or friendship, be the person who people want to be engaged with and if they don't want to then simply move on; your time is better spent elsewhere.
• If you're not invited then do not ask to be included.
• Listen intently, smile genuinely and make appropriate eye contact.
• Speak honestly and plainly, "say what you think and mean what you say."
• Ask more than you answer, you'll learn more.
• Dress well, and appropriately, and take care of your overall appearance, it shows quality.
• Never take credit or accolades for work you didn't do; it's ugly.
• Stand up for the weak or those who cannot stand up for themselves even should it put you in harms' way.
• Never shake hands while sitting, stand and show due respect.

This is, of course, nowhere near a full list, just a few items that I believe are valuable traits and behaviours and which speak volumes about the quality of a person, or lack thereof.