There are simple things that we can do to have longer lasting more sincere friendships. It’s as easy as showing interest in the other person, investing time in the friendship, and accepting your friends for who they are.
Sincere Interest
Show sincere interest in the other person. Care about what they care about.
Years ago in Japan I had a very close Japanese friend. As an American I was interested in how he defined friendship. So I asked him, "What does it mean to be a true friend in Japan?" He thought for a moment and then replied, "If you went into a restaurant with your friend, without asking them you would be able to order a meal with which they would be perfectly satisfied. Or if you went shopping for clothing together, you would be able to pick clothes that would make them perfectly happy."
I was stunned. I had never thought of it in those terms before. I felt I had good friends, but at that level? I doubted I could order food for a friend; if I did, it would be what I like, not particularly what they would want.
My friend’s definition has stayed with me for years.
Invest Time
Invest time with your friends. Friendship can wane over time unless we invest time to contact and be with them in some meaningful way.
My very best friend from my high school years passed away at age 47. As I thought about our friendship in our adult years, I realized that I had allowed the friendship to wane. I wished I had spent more time with him. I wished that my children knew his children. A simple telephone call every once in a while would have kept the friendship alive and allowed it to grow to a higher level.
Acceptance
Friends accept each other as they are. Of course we want the best for our friends. We want them to be as happy as possible, but that does not mean qualifying our relationships by insisting our friends become who we want them to be.
Let’s help them become who they want to be!
Accept them for who they are, warts and all!
Remember, they may actually like what we think is a wart!
Let’s not try to live their lives for them through the window of how we see the world. They would want us to help them live their lives as they see the world.
Sometimes I think pets make very good friends in this regard. They simply are friends in a very unqualified way. They accept us for who we are.
We accept them too! Nobody expects a dog to become a cat.
Accept our friends for who they are and who they want to become.
The Art of Decision-Making: Emphasizing Facts Over Opinions
In the fast-paced world of executive decision-making, it's crucial to streamline the process by focusing on concrete information rather than getting bogged down by a multitude of opinions. We've distilled years of experience coaching top-tier executives into a comprehensive eight-step guide for making exemplary decisions. This article delves into the second step, highlighting the importance of fact-based decision-making and providing strategies to enhance this critical skill.
Get On With It! Step 1 to Making Decisions
It is very simple. Time spent not making the important decision is time wasted. You have to make good decisions.
Extend Your Philanthropy Past Money
Give your money to people and causes that will truly benefit from it. Enjoy it! Give your time as well as money. It can be very rewarding.
