naughtyfreddy

Challenge, don't click any links (or un-hide the spoiler) until after you've read this through. See if you can spot the reference within, though probably unlikely if "1" is the first numeral in your age.

Recently I revisited an "old" song from my "youth" over on my Facebook wall. (I also received a shipment of "surplus" quotation marks, so "bear" with me.) I'm not going to rehash that post here, but today a triplet of interconnected ideas came to mind that I would like to append to the sentiment from that lyrical excursion. These are things that I have adapted and parsed together from others, not especially unique, but always prescient and valuable. They number only 3, but these three I consider to be the three most indispensable pieces of advice I can give that translate into all aspects of life, and too often missing in academia and the professional world.

• Be prompt and sincere when accepting responsibility for your failures. We all fail; the sooner you accept the consequences and make corrections, the sooner you will find renewed success.


• Be quick to share every success with those who helped you earn it, and be honest and humble when accepting praise for it. Not doing so may provide you with enemies, motivated to limit or undo future accomplishments.


• Be gracious and genuine in your thanks to those who help you. If you are profligate in sharing your appreciation (even when it's their "job" to help you), the further they will go to render aid in the future.

As I said previously, these admonitions are not totally my own, rather the composite of valuable advice and hard-won experience. Some of you may have learned the lessons, and others may roll their eyes and dismiss this crusty old fool. But to those who take it in, embrace these nuggets of wisdom, and apply them to their daily life, I can promise you that your possibilities of success and fulfillment will vastly improve.

I rarely make promises or deal in absolutes, but in this, I am supremely confident.