Comments on: When Others Are Absent

By: Sunday Browsing: Irrationally Committed, Success, and Surviving Troubled Times | The Success Professor

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:30:15 +0000

[...] How a fishing contest showed me lessons about how to act When Others are Absent [...]

By: The Success Professor

The Success Professor — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 14:15:18 +0000

@ Matt

Do you give your stinging critiques to them in person, or when they are not there?

I would argue that if you have a problem with someone, you should confront them personally, not behind their back.

By: Ribeezie

Ribeezie — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 00:23:48 +0000

A friend gave me a book as a gift once [someone had given it to him as a gift before. They said that when he finished reading it, he was supposed to gift it to someone else.] Anyway, the book was “How to Win Friends & Influence People” by Dale Carnegie. In it, I read a lot of interesting and empowering things… But one quote in particular stuck out (I believe it was said by a former President; I’ve since given the book to someone else so I can’t reference it):

“I will speak ill of no man and speak all the good of everyone that I know.”

I don’t speak ill of anyone whether they’re around or not! If I offer criticism (and I rarely do), it’s constructive criticism. You know what the greatest thing about it all is? I feel great!

By: Matt @ Face Your Fork

Matt @ Face Your Fork — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 22:49:57 +0000

Agree / disagree. On one hand, I generally speak well of people anyways; on the other hand, if somebody seriously does me wrong, I’m not shy with stinging critiques of their behavior and actions.

I can’t not gossip, I can’t not complain, I can’t always speak of good things. For me, that’s like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. But I *am* fully conscious of what I say and how I say it, most of the time… which I think is a better ideal to live by. Conscious choice of actions > always going on default because it’s the norm.