Never close your lips to those to whom you have opened your heart

“Never close your lips to those to whom you have opened your heart.”

—Charles Dickens, 19th Century English writer & social critic

Image of a man and woman in a coffee shop

Image from rawpixel on Unsplash

The alchemy of relationships, particularly close, caring relationships, is very special. Things like trust, respect, cooperation, and love aren’t so easily captured and kept in good repair.

One way to keep and enhance these heartfelt relationships thriving is to place considerable value and time in open and authentic dialogue, in which each party wishes to forward the relationship and the other individual.

When disagreement and conflict occur it is not the time to withdraw and slip into silence. This form of silence can be a death blow to a previously heart-warming relationship.

EXERCISE:

What current personal or professional relationship is most in need of open dialogue to keep and expand the open-heart feelings that may be slipping away?

Vital to Every Operation is Cooperation

“Vital to every operation is cooperation.”

—Frank Tyger, Editorial Cartoonist

Image of a team

Image from BK Forex

What do elite Navy Seals, your favorite sports team, and a top surgical team have in common?

They are all examples of the impact and synergy of cooperation.

In these situations, the acronym TEAM (Together Everyone Achieves More) couldn’t be more appropriate and true.

I experienced this personally in the writing of my book, The Quotable Coach: Daily Nuggets of Personal Wisdom. Those helping me pull off this project included hundreds of people such as family, friends, editors, loyal readers, and of course, the insightful minds of those quoted.

EXERCISE:

Where is a booster shot of cooperation and teamwork required to pull off some vital operation in your world?