Monday, April 21, 2008

Criticism

I don’t like to be criticized for anything anytime. I don’t take it well. I get defensive. If someone accuses me of something, my response is, “It happened before I was born!”

Unfortunately, the only way to avoid criticism is to say nothing, do nothing and be nothing.
Sorry, I just can’t do that. So, I would rather be criticized by a very wise person, than have the enthusiastic approval of a fool.

Monday, April 7, 2008

Perfection

If no one and nothing is perfect, why do we try so hard to make it so? My house isn’t always perfect (and I don’t care – it’s good enough for company). My kids aren’t really perfect (at least that is what others would have me believe), and I’m not perfect (well I am, but I’m not at liberty to say that – however you may feel free to think it if you’d like and I won’t argue with you). But when I start a project, any project, I go into it trying to make it perfect. It won’t be, but if that is my goal, then it will turn out a whole lot better than if I just go at it half way.

The good thing about me is that when things don’t turn out perfect, I don’t beat myself up over it. I know that I did everything I could and the rest has to be up to whoever else is involved. There is always going to be somebody who slacks off. There are a lot of people who say they want to help, but when you ask them to do something, they don’t do it. I keep the receipt and don’t ever ask them again. When I really need something to be done, and done right, I know who to call. (That’s why there is an old saying that if you want something done, ask the busiest person you know, not the one who has nothing else to do. Believe me – that it true!)

My advice to you is not to hold yourself up to anyone else’s standard. Just like golf, if you try to play up to the club champion’s level, you’ll feel like a failure. Every golfer is competing only with himself and trying to improve his own game.