The more is given to us

• Never worry about numbers
• I am only one, but I am one
• So long as we love we serve

People Decide

At work, you may be the boss. You may be in charge. The buck may stop with you. Everywhere else, the only thing you really control is you. People who try to control other people -- to tell them what they should do, what they should think, what they should feel -- they've decided that their goals, their dreams, or even just their opinions are more important than everyone else's. People like people who help. Don't tell someone else what to do. Ask them how you can help them do what they want to do. They won't just like you for it. They'll love you for it.

They don't talk a lot

I know that sounds odd, since friendly people tend to be gregarious and outgoing. And there's certainly nothing wrong with that -- but there's a big difference between friendly and likable. Likable people already know what they know. They want to know what you know. So they ask questions. They ask for details. They care about what you think, and they show it by listening. That makes you feel important. That makes you feel likable. (As well you should, because you are.) And that makes you like them for making you feel that way.

They don't blame

Friends make mistakes. Employees don't meet expectations. Vendors don't deliver on time. It's easy to blame other people for our problems. But we are also to blame. Maybe we didn't provide enough training. Maybe we didn't build in enough of a buffer. Maybe we asked for too much, too soon. Taking responsibility when things go wrong instead of blaming others isn't masochistic, it's empowering -- because then we focus on doing things better, or smarter, the next time. And when we get better or smarter, we're also more likable. As long as...

They don't try to impress

No one likes us for our clothes, our cars, our possessions, our titles, or our accomplishments. Those are all "things." People may like our things -- but that doesn't mean they like us. Sure, superficially they might seem to, but superficial is also insubstantial, and a relationship that is not based on substance is not a real relationship. The only way to form genuine relationships is to stop trying to impress... and start being yourself.