Who is Your Best Friend?
Who Can You Trust?
Fish Story
Who is Your Best Friend?
Who is potentially your greatest enemy? Terrorists? Bad bosses or bad employees? Unfriendly drivers on the freeway?

Actually, none of them. The greatest potential enemy in your life is you.

No one can ruin your life better than you. No one can pull the plug on your career as effectively as you. No one can wreck your marriage like you.

You are your own worst enemy when you criticize yourself, blame yourself or have low confidence in yourself.

In a book called Self Analysis, L. Ron Hubbard writes, "Probably the most neglected friend you have is you. And yet every man, before he can be a true friend to the world, must first become a friend to himself."

When you have a high opinion of yourself, you are less afraid. You have confidence. You can make progress.

To become a true friend of yourself, first set a goal to become your own best friend.

Stop putting yourself down. Look at your positives. Give yourself a break.

If you find yourself thinking negative thoughts about yourself, force yourself to think at least as many positive thoughts about yourself. Why not compliment yourself from time to time?

If you beat yourself up for something you did wrong in the past, knock it off. You did what you thought was right at the time. Forgive yourself, decide to never do it again and move on.

Self criticism is often started by someone else. Whoever made you think you were stupid or wrong or bad is an idiot. Stop agreeing with him or her.

Be kind to yourself. Buy yourself a gift. Pat yourself on the back.

Take care of yourself. Get the food, sleep and exercise your body needs.

Find ways to admire and appreciate yourself better than anyone else you know.

If you don’t like yourself, others won’ t like you either.

Yet when you really like yourself, your aquaintances, colleagues, coworkers and those you admire will want to be your friend as well.

Be your best friend and the world will follow your lead.

Click here to learn more about L. Ron Hubbard’s book “Self Analysis.”
Who Can You Trust?
"Keep your word once given."

"One's regard for another is based, in no small degree, on whether or not the person keeps his or her word. Even parents, for instance, would be surprised at the extent they drop in the opinion of their children when a promise is not kept."

"People who keep their word are trusted and admired. People who do not are regarded like garbage. Those who break their word often never get another chance."

"One should never permit another to give his or her word lightly. And one should insist that when a promise is made, it must be kept." -- L. Ron Hubbard from "The Way to Happiness"

To earn a superior reputation and happier relations, follow these four suggestions:

1. Make firm promises.

When you know you can do something or provide a specific result, don’t hesitate to say so. Look people in the eye and tell them the truth. “I will complete that project by Friday, without fail.” “If the car won’t start, call us and we’ll send a tow truck within an hour.” “You can deposit the check today.”

The biggest sources of upsets in marriages and other types of relationships is when one party fails to keep an agreement. So never promise anything you are not positive you can deliver.

2. Keep all promises you make, even small ones.

People often think their small promises are unimportant. For example, “I’ll call you Tuesday” becomes a call on Thursday. “I won’t tell anyone about your wife’s drinking problem” becomes an office discussion. “I’ll pay you back tomorrow” becomes an irritation to the loaner.

If you are too casual about small promises, you damage your reputation.

On the other hand, anyone can build a trustworthy reputation by starting small. “Thanks for remembering to send me the file this morning.” “You’re the only one to pay me for yesterday’s lunch.” “You returned my shovel on Saturday, just as you said you would.”

When people see that you keep your word on small things, they are more likely to believe you keep your word on big things.

3. Make others keep their promises to you.

Never take agreements you make with others lightly. Repeat back their promises while looking into their eyes. "As you said, you'll be here on Wednesday at 11:00, right?" Or "If we sell the car, we’ll split the money 50/50, correct?”

If someone breaks a promise, reduce your respect for him or her. Be blunt. Without smiling, tell the person, "You said you would be here on Wednesday at 11:00." Don’t trust that person without proof he or she has changed.

Fortunately, most people keep their word. Make people aware you accept their agreement with all seriousness. Their word is their promise

When you surround yourself with people who you can trust, your success is easier.

4. If an agreement you make with someone includes many details or might be difficult to remember, put it in writing.

Most business lawsuits stem from verbal agreements or vague contracts. One side or both sides are certain the other is breaking an agreement.

While you and others may have every intention of keeping promises, your memories can be faulty.

Do not agree with statements like, “All I need is your handshake” or “We can remember everything” or “Don’t worry, we’ll work it out if there’s a problem.” Instead, get the details in writing, especially when money is involved.

Only when the details of a complex agreement are clear, in writing and signed is it easy for everyone to keep their word.

Click here for more information about "The Way to Happiness."
Fish Story
The Japanese love fresh fish. However, the waters close to Japan have not held many fish for decades. So to feed the Japanese population, fishing boats got bigger and went farther than ever.

The farther the fishermen went, the longer it took to bring in the fish. If the return trip took more than a few days, the fish were not fresh. The Japanese did not like the taste.

To solve this problem, fishing companies installed freezers on their boats. They would catch the fish and freeze them at sea. Freezers allowed the boats to go farther and stay longer.

However, the Japanese could taste the difference between fresh and frozen and they did not like frozen fish. The frozen fish brought a lower price.

So fishing companies installed fish tanks. They would catch the fish and stuff them in the tanks, fin to fin. After a little thrashing around, the fish stopped moving. They were tired and dull, but alive.

Unfortunately, the Japanese could still taste the difference. Because the fish did not move for days, they lost their fresh-fish taste. The Japanese preferred the lively taste of fresh fish, not sluggish fish.

So how did Japanese fishing companies solve this problem? How do they get fresh-tasting fish to Japan? If you were consulting the fish industry, what would you recommend?

Too Much Money

As soon as you reach your goals, such as finding a wonderful mate, starting a successful company, paying off your debts or whatever, you might lose your passion. You don’t need to work so hard so you relax.

You experience the same problem as lottery winners who waste their money, wealthy heirs who never grow up and bored homemakers who get addicted to prescription drugs.

Like the Japanese fish problem, the best solution is simple. It was observed by L. Ron Hubbard in the early 1950's.

Man thrives, oddly enough, only in the presence of a challenging environment.” — L. Ron Hubbard

The Benefits of a Challenge

The more intelligent, persistent and competent you are, the more you enjoy a good problem.

If your challenges are the correct size, and if you are steadily conquering those challenges, you are happy.

You think of your challenges and get energized. You are excited to try new solutions. You have fun.

You are alive!

How Japanese Fish Stay Fresh

To keep the fish tasting fresh, the Japanese fishing companies still put the fish in the tanks. But now they add a shark to each tank. The shark eats a few fish, but most of the fish arrive in a very lively state.

The fish are challenged.

Recommendations

Instead of avoiding challenges, jump into them. Beat the heck out of them. Enjoy the game.

If your challenges are too large or too numerous, do not give up. Failing makes you tired. Instead, reorganize. Find more determination, more knowledge, more help.

If you have met your goals, set some bigger goals. Once you meet your personal or family needs, move onto goals for your group, the society, even mankind.

Don’t create success and lie in it. You have resources, skills and abilities to make a difference.

Put a shark in your tank and see how far you can really go!
Copyright © 2003 TipsForSuccess.org. All rights reserved. Grateful acknowledgment is made to L. Ron Hubbard Library for permission to reproduce selections from the copyrighted works of L. Ron Hubbard. Programmed in the United States.