Leadership influence and character Archives

Wishes for the New Year

February 23, 2025December 30, 2023 by Zero Dean

May the new year bring you an abundance of amazing opportunities, beautiful moments, and joyful experiences. May your positive actions & attitude inspire others.

May you be brave enough to take on and overcome rewarding challenges. May you find yourself in high spirits & excellent health. May you love with all your heart and find peace in even the most turbulent of times.

May the love you give find its way back to you. And may you forever be filled with the hope & strength necessary to make your dreams a reality.

Sincerely,
Zero Dean

Originally published on: Dec 30, 2013

Like this post? Be sure to see others from the New Year category.

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Getting credit for good deeds

March 14, 2021 by Zero Dean

The fact is, a lot of people do a lot of good things that they don’t ever get credit for. That’s life. It happens to everyone.

Do good things anyway.

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Integrity isn’t only for when life is easy

January 17, 2021January 17, 2021 by Zero Dean

Remember that time you lost something and didn’t think anyone would return it… But they did.

And you were so grateful for that.

Perhaps it gave you a bit more faith in humanity?

Be that person the next time you find something that isn’t yours and it’s possible to return it to the rightful owner (or to someone who can).

Because if you do take something that isn’t yours and claim it as your own, what you’re essentially saying is that you’re fine with other people taking your stuff when you misplace it.

Integrity isn’t only for when life is easy. It’s for when life is hard. It’s for when you face temptation or your values are challenged.

“A person’s true nature is revealed at times of the greatest adversity.” — Daisaku Ikeda

Integrity doesn’t take advantage of another person’s misfortune for one’s personal benefit. Integrity lends a hand.

What you do and how you act when you are challenged and put to the test says a lot more about you and your true character than what you say or do when life is easy.

Find something that isn’t yours? Maintain your integrity, show your true character, and do the right thing.

“Your decision to think right, choose right, & do right will rarely if ever be the easiest course to follow.” — Thomas S. Monson

Originally published Mar 25, 2015

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Something worth striving for

January 2, 2021 by Zero Dean

Imagine if everywhere you went you felt the love of those who were grateful for your existence. Imagine if, with everything you tried, you felt the support of those who want you to succeed.

Would it change how you act? Would it change what you strive for?

While we can’t control others, we can control ourselves. We can be someone who actively encourages people with love, appreciation, and gratitude. We can help combat the criticism and negative judgments that those who are just trying to live fulfilling lives are frequently forced to face.

While we can’t change the world in an instant, the time it takes to lend our support, encouragement, and positive energy to people who can use it can change not just a person’s day, but their life. And while it’s not always easy to change someone’s life for the better, it’s something worth striving for.

One of the least expensive, but most valuable gifts

January 1, 2021January 1, 2021 by Zero Dean

One of the least expensive, but most valuable gifts you can give anyone is genuine appreciation.

Always be mindful of opportunities to show appreciation to those you care about. You’ll never know how valuable your sincere appreciation can be until you take the time to express it.

In a world of critics…

December 31, 2020December 31, 2020 by Zero Dean

It is entirely possible to help people without criticizing them or what they do. It is entirely possible to have a disagreement without being disrespectful. It is entirely possible to teach and guide people without abusing them.

There is no shortage of critics, haters, or people who complain about things that they don’t like. There is, however, a severe shortage of people actively encouraging what they do.

Encouraging what you’d like to see more of is a far more elegant and positive solution than constantly complaining about or criticizing things that you don’t.

If your method of “helping” people often involves making them feel bad, you may want to reconsider what it means to be helpful.

In a world of critics, be an encourager.

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Dear Self, I am working on being a better person

December 28, 2020 by Zero Dean

Dear Self,

I am working on being a better person.

Please let me be the type of person who I would respect & admire if I saw them in action. Let me greet each new day as another opportunity to get things right. Let me be open to thinking about things in ways I haven’t thought about them before. Let me find ways to make a positive difference in the world, no matter how small, and act upon them when I am able.

Let me be open to the challenge of change. Let me not shy away from things just because they are difficult. Let me face my fears and do things I would like to do even when they make me nervous. Let me be generous with what I have to give away. Let me remember to be grateful for every second that I get to make choices in my life and act upon them.

Let me make at least one person’s day brighter by having been a part of it. Let me accept my mistakes as learning experiences. Let me learn to love myself, flaws and all. Let me not care so much what others think. And let me be confident in my ability to succeed.

Thank you. — Me

Originally Published on: Jan 27, 2012

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Dear Universe, (in short, thank you).

People who are really good at hurting people

December 27, 2020December 27, 2020 by Zero Dean

People who are really good at hurting people have often been hurt by people who are really good at hurting people. And sometimes these people use their negative experiences to excuse themselves for behaving badly.

Break the chain. Refuse to let your pain drive you hurt people.

Convert your hurt into compassion for yourself and others. Be the kind of person you wish was there for you when you needed it.

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Being genuinely friendly

December 13, 2020December 13, 2020 by Zero Dean

Being genuinely friendly to others is the best way to encourage others to be friendly — being unfriendly to those who don’t reciprocate your friendliness isn’t. You show people what you want to see more of by how you act.

If you want more kindness in the world, put some there.

A positive reflection

December 10, 2020December 10, 2020 by Zero Dean

Strive to live in such a way that if someone introduces your name into a conversation, it’s for reasons that are a positive reflection of what you do or who you are — and not because you chose to act poorly or make a spectacle of yourself.

Lead by example.

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