More Things I've Learned Along the Way

Occasionally, when I learn something, I think, "I wish I had known that years ago." Maybe it would have saved me pain and trouble, or helped me find more joy and happiness, or maybe it just appeals to me. Whenever this happens, I write it down, or at least I mean to write it down. Many of them do get away. Here's the second installment of some that didn't get away.

• It's way better to cancel a meeting that shouldn't happen than to hold a meeting that shouldn't have happened.
• If you phone someone only when something is wrong, they'll eventually learn about Caller ID.
• Ask questions only if you think the answers (or nonanswers) will help.
• Turning the other cheek is a good way to get slapped again. And maybe that's a good thing.
• When people interrupt each other, rudeness isn't always the only reason. Some interruptions are strategic.
• When somebody consistently does something wrong, your understanding of what they're trying to accomplish might be incorrect.
• When an expert tells you it's impossible, take heed. Experts who exaggerate aren't experts for long.
• Humor is everywhere. Even in things you're embarrassed you laughed at.
• Humor helps some people get over the rough spots. Others find it most unhelpful. How wondrously different we all are.
• People who take credit for the work of others soon run out of others.
• The young have a huge advantage over their elders. They haven't yet learned that there isn't time enough to learn all of what they haven't yet learned.
• Three kinds of people who don't learn: the unwilling, the unable, and the soon-to-be-unemployed.
• Dogs understand us. It's what they do for a living.
• Get a scanner. Electronic hoarding Dogs understand us.
  It's what they do
  for a living.is better for the environment than hardcopy hoarding.
• Many of my mistakes eventually proved right. And many things I thought were right eventually proved to be mistakes. So, being sure I'm right can be a mistake. I think.
• Some people contribute much more than they get credit for; some contribute much less. The trick is figuring out which is which.
• Some people contribute much less than they think they do. Way less.
• Being loyal to an organization that's incapable of being loyal to you is just dumb. Same for people.
• You get good only at what you practice at, but practicing at something is no guarantee you'll get good at it.
• Don't practice at anything you don't want to get good at.
• Getting angry at inanimate objects hardly ever motivates them to do better.
• Taking time out to think usually saves time in the end.
• On days when nothing is going right, I remind myself that most things actually are going right. I'm just too messed up to notice them.
• Trees know how to make do with whatever comes their way. They have to.

I'm sure more will come to me. When I get a bunch, I'll send them along.   First issue in this series    Next issue in this series   Top    Next Issue

Love the work but not the job? Bad boss, long commute, troubling ethical questions, hateful colleague? This ebook looks at what we can do to get more out of life at work. It helps you get moving again! Read Go For It! Sometimes It's Easier If You Run, filled with tips and techniques for putting zing into your work life. Order Now!

Your comments are welcome

About Point Lookout

Thank you for reading this article. I hope you enjoyed it and found it useful, and that you'll consider recommending it to a friend.

This article in its entirety was written by a human being. No machine intelligence was involved in any way.

Point Lookout is a free weekly email newsletter. Browse the archive of past issues. Subscribe for free.

Support Point Lookout by joining the Friends of Point Lookout, as an individual or as an organization.

Do you face a complex interpersonal situation? Send it in, anonymously if you like, and I'll give you my two cents.

Related articles

More articles on Ethics at Work:

The Power of Presuppositions

Presuppositions are powerful tools for manipulating others. To defend yourself, know how they're used, know how to detect them, and know how to respond.

When You Aren't Supposed to Say: I

Most of us have information that's "company confidential," or possibly even more sensitive than that. When we encounter individuals who try to extract that information, we're better able to protect it if we know their techniques.

Devious Political Tactics: A Field Manual

Some practitioners of workplace politics use an assortment of devious tactics to accomplish their ends. Since most of us operate in a fairly straightforward manner, the devious among us gain unfair advantage. Here are some of their techniques, and some suggestions for effective responses.

On Reporting Workplace Malpractice

Reporting workplace malpractice can be the right thing to do. And it's often career-dangerous. Here are some risks to ponder before reporting what you know.

Appearance Anti-patterns: I

Appearances can be deceiving. Just as we can misinterpret the actions and motivations of others, others can misinterpret our own actions and motivations. But we can take steps to limit these effects.

See also Ethics at Work and Ethics at Work for more related articles.

Forthcoming issues of Point Lookout

Coming December 11: White Water Rafting as a Metaphor for Group Development

Tuckman's model of small group development, best known as "Forming-Storming-Norming-Performing," applies better to development of some groups than to others. We can use a metaphor to explore how the model applies to Storming in task-oriented work groups. Available here and by RSS on December 11.

And on December 18: Subgrouping and Conway's Law

When task-oriented work groups address complex tasks, they might form subgroups to address subtasks. The structure of the subgroups and the order in which they form depend on the structure of the group's task and the sequencing of the subtasks. Available here and by RSS on December 18.

Coaching services

I offer email and telephone coaching at both corporate and individual rates. Contact Rick for details at rbrenyrWpTxHuyCrjZbUpner@ChacnoFNuSyWlVzCaGfooCanyon.com or (650) 787-6475, or toll-free in the continental US at (866) 378-5470.

Get the ebook!

Past issues of Point Lookout are available in six ebooks:

• Get 2001-2 in Geese Don't Land on Twigs (PDF, )
• Get 2003-4 in Why Dogs Wag (PDF, )
• Get 2005-6 in Loopy Things We Do (PDF, )
• Get 2007-8 in Things We Believe That Maybe Aren't So True (PDF, )
• Get 2009-10 in The Questions Not Asked (PDF, )
• Get all of the first twelve years (2001-2012) in The Collected Issues of Point Lookout (PDF, )

Are you a writer, editor or publisher on deadline? Are you looking for an article that will get people talking and get compliments flying your way? You can have 500-1000 words in your inbox in one hour. License any article from this Web site. More info