Things That Work and Don't

Some things in life are guaranteed to work and some are guaranteed NOT to work.  However, due to inexperience, ineptitude, “natural tendencies” and a whole host of other factors, we tend to gravitate toward things that don’t work.  Things that don’t work generally offer some level of immediate gratification and/or perceived delayed ramification with minimal effort required.  However, a thief may spend more time and effort planning and executing a heist than he/she would have had to spend in doing their homework to avoid having to become a thief! 

The lists on both sides of this ledger on WHAT WORKS and WHAT DOESN’T WORK are enormous.  It was felt that at least a few should be enumerated for thoughtful reflection, if for no other reason than to help level the playing field for those who otherwise would not know any better.  This compilation attempts to take “Nobody ever told me that!” off the table.  So here it is – in no particular priority order:

THINGS THAT WORK

Finding your Mission / Purpose / Passion … Filling a void in world products or human services … Creating a void to be filled by offering unique services/desirable products … Networking … Creating professional capital … Continuing Education :: Deep-Mining the universe … Forecasting possible/probable consequences … Going “Out of your way” to be helpful/useful … Continuous Quality Improvement … Reality Check Auditing/Assessing/Adjusting … Authenticity … … Proactivity … Goal Setting and Tending … Prioritization … Collaboration/Cooperation … Empathy … Understanding … Solid Grounding … Cultivating Personal Strengths … Self-Renewal / Regenerative Activity (“Sharpening the Saw”[Stephen Covey]) … Blue-Sky Visioning … Accepting Culpability … Humility … Underdog Mentality … Volunteering … Generosity … Enthusiasm … WANTING to do what NEEDS to be done … Acknowledging and Seeking Out legitimate Greatness … Civility … Productively channeling limited resources (Time, Energy, Focus, Dreams) … Regenerative Renewal … Never being totally satisfied … Timeliness … Delivering Top Quality Goods & Services … Dependability … Communication … Momentum … Expanding Core Capacities … Carefully Cultivated Character … Embracing CHANGE … Affirmation …  Inclusiveness … Presumptive PLANNING & DOING … Applying the ABSOLUTE IMPERATIVE … Animation/Initiative … Sacrificing Junk Bond investments … Healthy Skepticism … Discipline … Saying “NO!” to distractions, diversions and delimiting opportunities .. Responsibility … Dialog … Consistency … Integrity … Unassailable Principles … Unflappable disposition… An ATTITUDE of Eventual Surmountability … Persistence … Curiosity … Creativity/Innovation … Pushing the limits of possibility … Impulse Control … Exercise … (See also elements of CHARACTER)

THINGS THAT DON’T WORK

[See also: Life’s Little Deconstruction Book by Andrew Boyd, W.W. Norton & Company, New York, #365]

Self-Serving Self-Interest … VICES (Lust, Avarice, Sloth, Gluttony, Pride, Envy, Anger) … Squandering Unscheduled Time … Martyrdom … Excuses/Explanations/Cop-outs … Inefficiency … Ineffectiveness … Lack of Focus … Distraction/Diversion … Over-commitment … Insincerity … Bullying/Belittling … “What’s in it for me?” … Small dreams … Rationalizations … Bingeing … Pettiness … Short-Sightedness … Boorishness … Blatant Disregard … Plagiarism … Pig-Headedness … Resisting CHANGE .. “Chilling Out” … Over-Promising …Under-Delivering … Resting on Laurels … Isolation/Hermitage … Blame-Mongering … Defiance of Authority … Tatoos … Idol Worship … Idle Worship … Tribalism … Cultism … Racism … Prejudice … Fantasy … Fixations … Over-Indulgence … Inattention to Detail … Sacrificing Blue Chip Investments … Cynicism … Conjuring Conspiracy Theories … Procrastination … Obstination/Adversarial Posturing …  Being a square peg in a round hole … Avoidance of responsibility / Ostrich behavior … Entitlements … Unrealistic Expectations … Unfounded Assumptions … Mediocrity … Delusion … Bravado / Ego … Fuzzy Principles … Sacred Cows … Deus ex Machina rescues … Tobacco … Alcohol … Drugs … Unhealthy Diet … Consortment with “Losers” … Wearing pants at “’half-mast” … Trash Talk … Defamation … Exceptionalism … Imperialism … Elitism … Nihilism

Character Elements

(From multiple sources) 

Respect          Responsibility             Caring for Others        Integrity           Sacrifice

Self-Motivation            Justice                        Diligence         Compassion                Fairness

Critical Thinking          Truth-Seeking             Intellectual Curiosity   Open-Mindedness

Perspective     Good Habits                Civility/Citizenship       Courage          Honor

Focus              Moral Reasoning         Commitment                Honesty          Grit

Ownership of Best Self & Best Practices      Shared Leadership (Shared Ownership)

Positive Attitude          Sportsmanship            Ever-Advancing Competence                       

Self-Regulation/Self-Management/Self-Mastery        Perseverance             Temperance

Tolerance (except for the intolerable)             Hope/Optimism           Knowledge

Wisdom           Authenticity                 Social Intelligence       Emotional Intelligence Transcendence/Sublimation               Zest/Enthusiasm         Anger Management   

Delayed Gratification              Initiative           Trustworthiness          Loyalty                        Reverence Thrift                     Preparedness             Helpful/Resourceful                Friendly/Courteous

Alert/Engaged             Autonomy                    Goal Setting/Goal Tending     Exemplary Execution Habits of Excellence                  Exceeds Expectations           Gallant             Intrepid

Patience (except where righteous impatience is required/justified)         Humility     Altruism Creativity      Sustainable stewardship of earth

Point to Ponder

“Let me repeat, things that go downward will run themselves [downward].  Things that go upward have to be pushed.  Going upward is overcoming.  Notice that churches, schools, businesses – things that go upward – never run themselves.  They must be pushed all the time.  And so it is with our lives.  Real living is the conscious effort to go upward to larger life.  If you are making no effort in your life, if you are moving in the line of least resistance, depend upon it … you are going downward.  Look out for the bumps!”  Ralph Parlette in “The University of Hard Knocks” (Brownlow, Inc., p. 17)

“You pick up bits and pieces of treasure and trash, pain and pleasure, passions and disappointments, and you start throwing them in your bag: your bag of experience. You do some dumb things that don't work out at all. You stumble excitedly on little gems that you never saw coming. And you stuff them all in your bag. You pursue the things you love and believe in. You cast off the images of yourself that don't fit. And suddenly you look behind you and a pattern emerges.  [And there you are, smack in the middle of all of it].”    Jodie Foster (2006 Commencement Address)