how often do you talk to people on the phone?  Answer the question for the people that are not physically close to you or that you don’t see in person regularly.  I’ve always had the desire to see people, but I’ve never really wanted to talk to people on the phone.  I just really dislike the phone.  When you do catch up with these people, how long do you normally talk?

Elevator rides are not social catalysts and therefor should not be used as social opportunities.

There are social norms to follow and you should make sure you’re prepared.

These are from “The Definitive book of body language” by Allan and Barbara Pease:

1. There will be no talking to anyone, including a person you know.
2. Avoid eye contact with others at all times.
3. Maintain a “poker face” — no emotion is permitted to be shown.
4. If you have a book or newspaper, pretend to be deeply engrossed in it.
5. In bigger crowds, no body movement is allowed.
6. You must watch the floor numbers change at all times.

Words are stupid.

Whatever happened to “sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me”?  Words are really tools of destruction by nature, even though they can be used to come off as temporary good, but if those words aren’t maintained, it’s really just a form of prolonged destruction.  Only once you’re objective will you be able to acknowledge how unbalanced our dependence on words is.

Example 1:  You tell someone, “You’re an idiot.”  5 seconds later, you say, “You’re not an idiot, you’re so smart.”  9 times out of 10, the person still thinks you called them an idiot, even though you used words to negate and then reverse the initial comment.

Words cannot undo the destructive nature of words.  Actions, however, can.  Hence, “Actions speak louder than words.”  By placing such strong emphasis on words, you’re setting yourself up for 1) destruction and 2)prolonged disappointment if you deny actions and maintain a focus on words.

Words are also free.  Hence, “Talk is cheap.”  People can lie because it takes little to no effort.  To actually carry out their words in actions though, takes conviction.

There are only 3 requirements for a successful event or party:

1. Something to eat
2. Something to do
3. A place to go to the bathroom

As soon as one of those is not present, the event will end.

We are all just a little bit racist.

Here’s a video from Tony Award winning cast of Avenue Q to help -

Don’t let other people or companies define you.

Don’t give in to the stereotypes if it’s not something you want to be.  You don’t have to be put in their box if you don’t want to fit in it.  If they won’t listen when you tell them, then show them.  If someone discards you as young and inexperienced, or old and not able to adapt, prove them wrong.

Cherish people, not stuff.

Inspired from my brother-in-law, Robbie.  Things are just things.  Too often people attach memories to the objects rather than the people associated with the item.  An argument could be made that it’s too easy to forget about that person or act if you got rid of the item, but the real solution there is to find a better way to preserve memories or signs of affection, perhaps through words or actions, rather than becoming a collector of stuff.

If you’re lying in a relationship, you either don’t care enough about the relationship, or you’re living in fear of the other person.

Weddings are about the bride and groom.  Don’t make it about you.  Weddings are different and difficult for many reasons, and they are not trying to insult you by not inviting you.  If you’re not married, you’ll learn.

People are quicker to judge the quiet.

It’s usually because they think they have all the information.  It’s not like personality is flowing out of a silent person.  There’s a lot of common misconceptions about quiet people though.  I don’t necessarily agree with this list, but it’s a start.

http://www.cracked.com/blog/6-misleading-assumptions-you-make-about-quiet-people/