It has been a while since the last post. Even consultants need vacation. That's the time when they usually get sick. But let's not diverge and get serious right away.
Comparing lives does not sound particularly beneficial. First of all, focusing on the past is not the way to go on the path to achievement. Second, comparing 'lives' is complicated, because you have to gather a lot of information. Most of that information will be private, so probably most of the time you will not have sufficient data or any clue at all. This will lead you -most of the time- to bad assumptions.
However you can -and should- compare achievements. This is what people do all the time. Take a public 10k run. Most participants will be there for the fun, a lot of participants will be quite competitive and some will even put in all they can in order to achieve a good or even top result. That does not necessarily mean, they compete against each other. Sometimes beating yourself, setting a new personal best or just finishing a race/project/goal will trigger an enormous feeling of joy and satisfaction. This tip should thus be formulated differently: Be competitve! Or maybe: Embrace the challenge! Or even: Don't look for excuses.
In case you have children, you know it is possible. In case you do not: Yes, it positively is! :-)
On a professional basis however, there should be no need to 'forgive' someone. Things people do in a professional environment are usually done for good, rational reasons. Therefore these reasons should not involve personal interest or affection. The issue with an emotionally biased stance is, that it does not work well with professinalism. Despite the insights of modern transaction theory, professional relationships are in practice often based on loyalty and trust. How can you trust a Manager to be just on the performance review of his staff, if he is in a personal relationship with one of them? How can anyone be loyal to their company, if they purposely cheat it? The world is full of second chances and I appreciate it that way. However there is also truth in the saying 'Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.'
No, sadly not. For instance, time does not heal cancer, Alzheimer, Parkinson, and many more. Maybe a tremendous amount of investment along with years of scientific research will result in a possible cure some day. Without any effort, time basically creates just more chaos. Go on vacation for a couple of weeks without having someone to take care of your place and you will see, what time does; especially in case you are the lucky owner of a garden. If you are more of the hardcore-type: forgo the toothbrush and the shower for a couple of days - and by that, I do not exclusively mean the weekend >:-)
This advice is entirely useless and therefore utterly worthless. What is needed is a compass in the eye of a storm, instead of someone telling us, that once the strom has passed, eventually the sun is going to shine again.
From a nihilistic point of view however, this tip may be of at least questionable value. Like good old Keynes said: 'In the long run, we are all dead.'
Really??? There is a clock in the picture ... wait ... Might time have to do some effect on this? Pffff! Time! Such a silly thing.
At this point I am 100% sure, these tips are a hoax. Nevermind.
The more interesting fact is the small print. Bad situations can worsen even more (worst case), they might remain bad (probable) or -with some effort/costs/magic- might even transform to good situations (best case). In case someone tells you bad situations can become great situations (fairy tales) you should be alarmed or at least be cautious.
On the other hand it is easily possible for the greatest of situations to go right to the worst depths of hell (drama).
Sad but true: as a consultant, you may not have many friends. That is the price of an exciting and sometimes even privileged job. Experience shows, that presence, or in consultant-slang 'face-time' is irreplaceable. Gladly you will know a multitude of ways to keep in touch and -even more importantly- you will learn to dearly appreciate those friendships. However do not rely on your gadgets and social media only. Create a perfect product mix of 'stay in touch'. Do it the oldschool way once in a while: send a card or a letter or even a parcel. Call a friend, even if just to say 'Hi' and 'Bye' or to exchange some latest news and trivia. Take a detour on your next travel and visit an old friend. Keep in mind that staying in touch is more of a challenge if you have to consider a time lag. A time lag can be a bit of a challenge for a relationship.
So this tip seems a useful one. Staying in touch with your friends is important. I am a little frightened though, that this tip actually presumes staying in touch as an investment. By investing your time in either work or in spare time you will have to find the right balance. Well played.
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