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On Leadership and Life©
A weekly contribution by Lloyd Campbell
March 2, 2006
Don’t Stay Down
I don’t want ups and downs. I want ups and ups and ups. Lucy Van Pelt,
PEANUTS by Charles Schulz
As much as we want life to be full of "ups" the truth is, sometimes life gets us down. I’ve known some people who were so low they could play racquetball on the curb. They were really down!
What causes life to get us down?
#1 People Do Dumb Things
I know, I know, that surprises you, doesn’t it!
A man driving down a country road came to a sign that read, "Road Closed-Do Not Enter." The road ahead looked good, and being an experienced traveler, he ignored the sign and pressed on. Five miles later he came to a washed-out bridge and had to retrace his route. Reaching the reversed side of the warning sign, he read: "Welcome Back, Stupid!"
Yes, people do dumb things that get us down. But, more often than not, it is the dumb things we do that really get us down!
#2 People Have Lousy Attitudes
The Seven Dwarfs had a great life. They worked in a diamond mine, whistled while they worked, and lived with a beautiful woman ... but one of them was Grumpy! There is always a grumpy around somewhere!
A cashier was annoyed by people who always asked her the time. In disgust she bought a clock and set it by the cash register. Then people asked her, "Is that clock right?"
It is easy to get down when you work with a grumpy person! I once had an office assistant who wouldn’t answer the phone. When I asked why, she responded, "Why should I? Nine out of ten times it is for you."
The attitudes of people around us can be grumpy, irritating, obnoxious, overbearing, over-critical, super-sensitive, self-absorbed, and self-centered. And when they are, they can get us down.
#3 The Negative is Always Highlighted
Have you ever been pulled over by a policeman who wanted to compliment you on your driving? Do you remember the last time that a positive happening was the lead story on the nightly news? What percentage of the newspaper do you think is devoted to your encouragement? When was the last time you were in a group of people where the conversation lasted for more than fifteen minutes before it turned negative?
The truth is, we live in a negative world ... it is all around us ... and it is the focus of most of the people we know. All that negativity compounds and gets us down.
#4 Changes Can Be Difficult
Most of us don’t like change ... even if it is for the better.
The standard typewriter keyboard is an example. The most frequently used keys are located as far apart as possible to slow down typing speed. Keys on the machines of the 1800’s jammed if the typist was too fast. About fifty years ago, a keyboard called the Dvorak Simplified Keyboard was developed with the most frequently used keys in the home row. The right had does more work (56%) than the left and tests show that typists greatly increase their speed (up to five times) with no increase in errors. Yet, we continue to labor with a keyboard designed to be inefficient. Why? Because change is difficult.
Lucy told Charlie brown, "I’d like to change the whole world, Charlie Brown." And Charlie Brown said, "Where would you start?"Lucy said, "I’d start with you!"
Change is difficult. Yet the world is changing at speeds we cannot even comprehend. That may be why we are down.
But, those things don’t have to get you down. When people do dumb things you might as well laugh it off, because all the frustration and anger in the world aren’t going to change a thing. And when you are the one doing the dumb things, remember to learn from them and let them make you smarter, wiser, and more effective in the future.
I don’t want ups and downs. I want ups and ups and ups. Lucy Van Pelt,
PEANUTS by Charles Schulz
As much as we want life to be full of "ups" the truth is, sometimes life gets us down. I’ve known some people who were so low they could play racquetball on the curb. They were really down!
What causes life to get us down?
Just A Thought is provided by http://www.LLoydcampbell.com. To join the Just A Thought mailing list, send an email to ezine@lloydcampbell.com and write subscribe in the subject line. To unsubscribe send an email to ezine@lloydcampbell.com and write unsubscribe in the subject line.
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