Don’t spread yourself too thin. Learn to say no politely and quickly. PopPop’s Additional Comment: By the time you read this life lesson, there should be an additional Life Lesson giving very good instructions on how to say NO.
Learn to disagree without being disagreeable. PopPop’s Additional Comment—When I’m at an impasse, I sometimes say: “Let’s agree to disagree”.
Refrain from envy. It’s the source of much unhappiness.
Don’t be fooled. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. PopPop’s Additional Comment: I have a friend who was a victim of a Ponzi scheme (a form of fraud, in which belief in the success of a nonexistent enterprise is fostered by the payment of quick returns to the first investors from money invested by later investors). What happened? Bernard Madoff, an investment advisor, and financier set up an investment fund, taking other people’s money and promising them very high returns on the money invested. Of course, the “investors” were taken advantage of because there were no real investments. The main party who made money was Bernie Madoff. He ended up confessing to his wrongdoing and was convicted and given a 150-year sentence. Did that sentence get all of my friend’s money back, which by the way was supposed to be for the support of his parents in retirement? Nope!! So, I still say: If it’s too good to be true, then it probably is not true.
There is never a reason to shout and swear. A firm quiet tone will be enough to get your point across. PopPop’s Additional Comment: I don’t necessarily swear, but I have been known to get very frustrated and raise my voice. If my bride is around, I just give her the telephone and she takes over the conversation with a calm, but gentle demeanor. We get a lot more accomplished that way. I need to work more on this life lesson.
Don’t think a higher price always means higher quality.