It’s Easy to Lose Sight of the Things That You Can’t See

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It’s so easy to lose sight of the things that you can’t see. There is a tendency to believe that if something cannot be quantified, it does not exist. It brings to mind the question associated with Bishop George Berkeley, an early 18th-century Anglican bishop and philosopher: If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, did it make a sound?

Intangibles — those things that are difficult to quantify — are very much like the tree that falls in a forest. If you don’t believe that such things as honor, trust, and respect exist and are important, maybe it’s time to get your “hearing” checked. Do you lose sight of the things that you can’t hear or see?

What Do You Treasure?

Personal growth. Everything that you learn makes you more valuable to your existing employer — or attractive to your next one. That experience may be invisible to you, but it’s worth a bundle.

Honor. When you live with honor, your word is taken at face value, your intentions are assumed honorable, and your handshake is as good as a contract. Priceless!

Trust. Trust makes relationships strong and effective. It increases security, reduces inhibitions and defensiveness, and frees people to share their feelings and dreams. Trust takes a long time to develop but can be lost in the blink of an eye.

Dignity. What’s more important than being able to look in the mirror and like what you see? (You have to live with yourself for the rest of your life.)

Reputation. Although you can’t be in two places at the same time, your reputation serves as your stand-in whenever you’re not around. (Make sure it reflects well on you.)

Respect. It doesn’t matter whether you’re young or old, rich or poor, work on the top floor or down in the basement. You can’t demand respect. You can’t buy it. And you certainly can’t take shortcuts to get it. Everyone deserves to be treated with kindness. Respect, however, is earned!