“You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.” – Dale Carnegie
A Success-Minded Person believes in the power of friendship and being friendly. Everyone, no matter how they may try to convince others and themselves otherwise, desires friends. Friends make us feel that we belong and are cared for. Friendship is a powerful tool that opens doors, fill hearts and makes life bearable. Nineteenth Century English Lawyer, Thomas Hughes said “Blessed are they who have the gift of making friends, for it is one of God’s best gifts. It involves many things, but above all, the power of going out of one’s self and appreciating whatever is noble and loving in another.”
SHYNESS
For some people, making friends is easy and natural. They are open to others and are truly interested in them. If seems they make friends wherever they go. But for other (myself included) making friends is hard work and takes a real effort. It is not that they are uncaring or uninterested, but they are a bit shyer than their more outgoing counterparts. For these folks, you must reach out to others in the spirit of friendship anyway. As Ralph Waldo Emerson reminds us, “The only way to have a friend is to be one.”
BE FRIENDLY
Whether it comes easy or hard, being friendly is a part of the character of the Success-Minded Person. They want to learn from others and enjoy their company. The Success-Minded Person desires to be a blessing wherever they go and to whomever they meet. They know that not everyone is open to be friends but they will be a friendly person anyway. Like Bo Bennett said “Be friendly to everyone. Those who deserve it the least need it the most.”
FRIENDS MAKE US BETTER
Success-Minded People also know that the idea of “a friend loves me just the way I am” is not true. A real friend is always looking to help you be all you can be. They are not out to change you but to help you become who you really are. Friends do not support bad behavior of addictive habits in their friends. “A friend is one” said Oswald Chambers, “who makes me do my best.” Friends care for their friends no matter what level of friendship that is. They encourage and are interested in what their dreams are and how to achieve those dreams. Mark Twain said, “Really great people make you feel that you too can become great.”
LIVE A FRIENDLY LIFE
Success-Minded People live in such a way that others know they are friendly and open to new people in their life. They look for opportunities to be friendly to others at work, church, school or out in public. Just a simple smile and a kind hello can make a work of difference to a hurting person. Businessman Charles M. Schwab said “Lead the life that will make you kindly and friendly to everyone about you and you will be surprised what a happy life you will lead.”
© 2011 John Patrick Hickey
