Dependability is a high-ranking “soft skill” that employers, colleagues and customers desire.
When it comes to your career, there are many worthwhile investments you can make to sharpen the saw of your particular expertise. On top of this, try to cultivate a reputation for being dependable. People want to know that they can count on you, and that your word is reliable.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that so-called soft skills are not trainable. All of them are. For this particular skill, all you have to do is make sure you always do what you say.
Tag: life goals
Desires
It’s healthy to have desires, goals, and hopes for better versions of the future. But so often we fall victim to as-soon-as syndrome, making our desires much like contracts we make with ourselves to be unhappy until we get what we want.
Defining and striving for things in line with our desires is essential. Just be sure you’re not trading a possible future for an unmistakable now.
Negativity bias
My music has received over 50 million streams and downloads, hundreds 5-star ratings, and the kindest reviews and compliments. Yet I can recite verbatim the ruthless critique of my voice from an anonymous user 10 years ago. A decade-old review from one person.
This is negativity bias in action. We’re all susceptible to it. We too quickly forget the praise we receive and tend to highlight the cynical people and opinions.
I keep an email folder called “inspiration” where I file the kind words I’ve received from people who clearly value what I do. It helps to keep a reminder that most of the time you’re doing a stellar job.
This too shall pass
Life has ups and downs. Where you are right now, and how you feel about it, is much like a balance sheet. It’s just a snapshot of your emotional assets and liabilities for a moment in time.
The most important thing to remember is that where you are right now (physically, financially, emotionally) does not reflect what you are.
Motion and action
People confuse being busy with getting things done. And then we confuse getting the right things done – the things that matter. As my dad would say: “don’t confuse motion with action.”
Working long hours doing unimportant things efficiently accomplishes nothing but burning resources that could be used on important things.
Before getting busy painting rooms, make sure you’re in the right house. Working hard on the wrong things is demotivating and takes you further from your goal.
Persuasion hack
Psychology teaches us that people will work harder to avoid a loss than they will to achieve a possible gain. A famous, successful investor admits that it angers him more to lose $100 than it excites him to gain $100.
You can utilize this with any kind of persuasion, whether it be sales, or helping friends make positive changes. Put them in a position where the perceived gain looks more attractive than the risk of doing nothing.
One non-sales-related hack to guide others to help themselves is to ask: “How would you feel if…?” This allows them to envision a world in which they have a successful career, a fulfilling relationship, or a substance-free life.
The value of rituals
One significant cause of stress is the uneasy feeling that things are out of control. Children may or may not crave structure, but it’s certainly what they need.
Don’t discount the value of simple routines or practices like making your bed, establishing a morning routine, taking 10 quiet minutes to enjoy your coffee without multi-tasking.
As much as we want to see ourselves as spontaneous and free, there is a part of us that craves and needs structure. Rituals may be an antidote to chaos and stress.
Not my fault
You’re probably right. So many things that happen are completely out of our control. No one chooses an illness, a bad investment, or being a victim of any kind.
And yet, you are the one that has to deal with these things. The attitude of extreme ownership (thank you Jocko Willink) is to recognize that even when something is not your fault, it’s still your responsibility. Own it.
Go easy on yourself
If you were to guess what one variable had the greatest effect on anxiety and depression, you might go with one of the usual suspects: past trauma, family history, genetics, or missed opportunities. But one study found the one trait that had the greatest influence: self-compassion.
Most of us have an inner dialogue running all day that functions like the world’s most annoying roommate, criticizing us and questioning our actions. Here’s a guideline I’ve found to be most useful: treat yourself as though you were someone (else) for whom you cared deeply.
You may not be able to control the inner voice, but it’s your choice to listen.
Best and better
Dysfunctional and self-limiting beliefs can be thrust upon us by culture and society. Some beliefs feel like obvious truths because they’re so deeply conditioned.
What is your one true passion? Who says we have to pick one thing to be passionate about? Is choice A or B the best? Why does everything have to be a zero-sum contest where everyone aside from one winner is a loser?
There are no rules. You can have just one passion, but it’s possible (and probable) that you’ll have have multiple passions. Especially at different times of your life. The unattainable “best” is the enemy of multiple “betters”.