Mitch Carnell

Effective Communication Made Simple

Archive for August, 2010

Building Lasting Relationships

Aug 31

Posted by Mitch in Articles

All of life is relationships. Without a doubt the greatest destructive factor in any interpersonal relationship is a lack of trustworthiness.  There is no way to dress it up.People who lie, shade the truth or tell only a half truth not only reveal a total lack of self-respect but demonstrate a lack of respect for other people as well. Trust is a cornerstone of any meaningful relationship. If you do not trust me there is no firm ground on which to build. The Bible calls this building your house on solid rock. In the story of the three little pigs, it is the house built of bricks. Lasting interpersonal relationships need both a firm foundation and solid building materials.

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Protect Integrity – Key 52

Aug 30

Posted by Mitch in Articles

            Your integrity is the most important thing you have. Protect it at all costs. When it is gone, it is almost impossible to retrieve. It is who you are. It goes before you and follows after you. You are the message. Your integrity is a precious possession. It takes a lifetime to develop and nurture, but only an instant to lose it. Remember it is far easier to maintain your integrity than it is to reclaim it. My father often said to me, “Son I can’t leave you much money, but I will leave you a name that you can be proud of.” He was right on both counts. I have never had to be ashamed of who I am or whose son I am. My fervent prayer is that my son and daughter will be able to say the same thing. A good name is a far better heritage than money. More money would be nice, but it pales in comparison to a good name. “The supreme quality for leadership is unguestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.” Dwight David Eisenhower

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Thankful Thursday – The Rev. Paul Pridgen Jr.

Aug 26

Posted by Mitch in Articles

            On this Thankful Thursday I am thankful for my friend and mentor the Rev. Paul Pridgen Jr. Paul grew up the son of a well known fundamentalist preacher. He is proud of his father and all that he accomplished, but Paul has explored a different path and has influenced so many people. He helped found the Baptist/Catholic Dialogue and as pastor of the First Baptist Church of North Charleston brought needed health services into his church for the surrounding community. He is a tireless worker in fostering better racial relations. He continues to strive for the improvement of his city and county. Most of all he is a voice of reason in a climate of angry voices. Paul is respected by all who know him. He and his wonderful wife, Millie, make an unbeatable team. I am proud and thankful to call Paul Pridgen my friend. My only regret is that I didn’t get to know him long before I did.

            Thankful Thursday is an opportunity to select someone who is meaningful in your life and tell him or her. Make a telephone call, send a card, send an E-mail or pay him or her a visit. You will be glad that you did. It is an easy way to say thank you. All of life is relationships. Appreciate those who have contributed to your life and pass the blessings forward.

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Thankful Thursday – Suzanne Smith

Aug 19

Posted by Mitch in Articles

            Today on this Thankful Thursday and every day I am thankful for my daughter, Suzanne. She has a birthday on Monday. I can still see us coming back from our walks which started out as tricycle rides on Rittner Drive in Baton Rouge. As we returned home I was carrying both Suzanne and the tricycle. Beelzebub, a ferocious dog, who lived around the corner, had driven us away with his fierce barking. We arrived in Charleston the day before her birthday and on her birthday we followed up an ad to get her a new kitten. Of course, there was the day that she and her mother picked up our brand new car from the dealership and Suzanne came to get me at work. She wrecked the car at Wesley drive. Thankfully she was not hurt. The car was a different story. She discovered her calling at USC in the Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Program and is having a wonderful career first with Holiday Inns and now with the Marriott at Vanderbilt in Nashville. We have had wonderful trips to Ireland, the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, the Norman Rockwell Museum, etc. She is also the mother of my first grandson, Christopher. I know that every father is proud of his daughter and I am no exception. I have a daughter who picks out the scrawniest Christmas tree because,”Daddy, no one else will buy it and it will be left here.” She has a heart that reaches out to everyone and I would not have it any other way. Happy birthday, Suzanne. Your Dad.

            Thankful Thursday is a day to celebrate the contributions that someone has made to your life. Let her or him know how thankful you are. Send a card, make a telephone call or send an E-mail. Don’t let the day go by without doing it. You will be glad that you said thank you.

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Embrace Risks – Key 51

Aug 16

Posted by Mitch in Articles, Publications

            Nothing ventured; nothing gained. Take a chance. Push your boundaries. What do you have to lose? Get out of your box. Turn questions around. Put yourself in situations where your only option is to learn and grow. You will not learn or grow in your cozy den watching television. Ethel Barrymore said, “You must learn day by day, year by year to broaden your horizon. The more things you love, the more you are interested in, the more you enjoy, the more you are indignant about – the more you have left when anything happens.” She is right, but I would say that the more you practice these things, the greater your rewards resulting in a life well lived. When people come to the end of their earthly journey, the most frequent laments are about things they did not do not the things they did do. Let today be a day of new adventures both mentally and literally.

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