Good or bad, how much do you learn from those you interact with?

Ideally I would like to believe I learn from every single relationship, whether fleeting or solid.  The people who enter our lives can either enrich us or diminish.  From some we learn how not to be and from others we learn gratitude.  Some bring out the best of us and others overshadow us, dooming us to serving their needs while our own needs take a backseat.  

We overlook the benefits or limitations that are encompassed in our lives.  We may feel that our past and its horrors are behind us, forgetting that we are truly a culmination of every experience of our lifetime.  What differs is how each of us allows said experience to be a teaching moment, propelling us to higher levels of success.  The value of our lessons, good or bad, are within our control.

While two people may share an experience, how said experience affects each of them will be at the mercy of other factors that will influences a pull towards one direction or the other.  Lack in our childhood can either teach us to be frugal in our adult life and yet for the next person a degree of recklessness, living for the moment.  No matter what the fundamental influencers are in our lives we can still train ourselves to make the experiences have positive results.

From the very selfish I have not only learnt how to set hard goals but also to keep unwavering focus until I have achieved my objectives.  Fortunately for me I have the beneficial influences of my father's giving nature that helps me to keep balance.  Keeping balance requires that I have an intimate knowledge of my own strengths and weaknesses.  Knowing one's own shortcomings goes a long way in ensuring you not only set realistic and achievable goals but also to recognize under performance.

Remember those who succeed take ownership of their future, leaving nothing to fate.  Even though initially it is fate that either puts opportunities at your doorstep or removes it, it is within your reach to change the course at a minimum.  We all yearn for financial independence as such it should follow that we ensure we are participating at the highest levels possible to build or preserve our wealth regardless of amount.

If you do not believe in yourself or your abilities then you should not expect more of others than your are willing to commit to.  Whether you are negotiating the purchase price of your new home; your salary; or you are  making a presentation to a potential client you need to sell the goods to yourself first.  How good is your pitch when you are putting your skills on the market? In a world that is constantly evolving we need to continue learning to ensure it is the best of us that competing.