the job that's never started

It's the job that's never started as takes longest to finish.


J. R. R. Tolkien
The Fellowship of the Ring (Sam remembering the Gaffer). George Allen. 1954

cultivate a reputation for excellence

Work is an antidote for anxiety, an ointment for sorrow, and a doorway to possibility. Whatever our circumstances in life... let us do the best we can and cultivate a reputation for excellence in all that we do. Let us set our minds and bodies to the glorious opportunity for work that each new day presents.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

“Two Principles for Any Economy,” Ensign, Nov 2009, 55–58

to be offended is a choice we make

Certainly clumsy, embarrassing, unprincipled, and mean spirited things do occur in our interactions with other people that would allow us to take offense. However, it ultimately is impossible for another person to offend you or to offend me. Indeed, believing that another person offended us is fundamentally false. To be offended is a choice we make; it is not a condition inflicted or imposed upon us by someone or something else.

David A. Bednar

"And Nothing Shall Offend Them," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 90

the conversation is the relationship

The conversation is not about the relationship; the conversation is the relationship.

Susan Scott

Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work & in Life, One Conversation at a Time. 2004. Page xvi. 

On page 6, Scott relates the following: "During a keynote speech at TEC International's annual conference..., [poet and author] David [Whyte] suggested that in the typical marriage, the young man, newly married, is often frustrated that this person with whom he intends to enjoy the rest of his life seemingly needs to talk, yet again, about the same thing they talked about last weekend. And it often has something to do with their relationship. He wonders, Why are we talking about this again? I thought we settled this.... Eventually, if he is paying attention, it occurs to him, Whyte suggests, that "this ongoing, robust conversation he has been having with his wife is not about the relationship. The conversation is the relationship."

As quoted by Mariann Pike, 1/25/09, 12O2 Ward, Tempe South Stake. Chandler, AZ

two questions are paramount

In processing anger toward someone with whom you have a relationship, two questions are paramount: 1. Is my response positive – does it have the potential for dealing with the wrong and healing the relationship? 2. Is my response... designed for the benefit of the person at whom I am angry?

Gary D. Chapman
Anger: Handling a Powerful Emotion in a Healthy Way. Moody Publishers. 2007.