“No man, is an Island” – Lyrics of a popular 70’s Song
Recently a debate arose as to where the greatest resources on the earth lie. Is it in the oilfields of the Middle East, or the Diamond deposits on the shores of Africa? Perhaps the sunken ships at the bottom of the sea, or the undiscovered treasures of some lost civilization of the Incas, Greeks, Egyptians, Romans and indeed many other civilizations?
Truth be told, while all these resources are highly valuable they are not as valuable as people. Without people none of these resources would have any substantial value. Think about this for a moment – people discover these resources, extracted them, converted them and used them. So if you take people out of the equation, what will you be left with – not much else!
Every successful endeavor is as a result of people. What are the most significant achievements of the last fifty years? Among them would include
– Putting a man on the moon
– Nuclear Weapons
– Mobile Telephones
– Improved healthcare
– The establishment of the Internet
Now which of these were achieved without people? None, absolutely none. It is thus right to say people are the cog in the wheel of progress. Just as every success is attributable to people, every failure can also be traced to people..
So do you desire success? Surround and inundate yourself with the right company. The old cliché rings true up till today, “Show me your friends and I’ll tell you who you are.” One can easily tell what you will become by looking at your company.
Now how can you make the most of this resource? Here are ten tips
1. Make friends and build relationships with those who can add value to you, and not those who can diminish you
2. Establish bonds with people who always tell you the truth, no matter the situation
3. If you run a business hire people who are smarter then you
4. Move with those who celebrate you, not those who barely tolerate you
5. Continually evaluate your circle of relationships to ensure they all meet your high standards
6. Avoid making friends with people who are dishonest and lack integrity
7. Remember to feed your relationships by giving. Those who give will always get
8. Don’t manage the wrong relationship. End it and move on
9. Be honest, sincere and open in your relationships with others. Always remember not to compromise your own standards
10. People will go the extra mile for you when you show them love and respect.
It was the American Business Tycoon Andrew Carnegie that once said, “If you want to know a big man, watch how he treats little men.” The bible also said, “ What do you have that you have not been given?” Cultivate the habit of building rewarding relationships with people and in to time you will succeed!
