Promise yourself this and what a week it will be

In 1922, Optimist International adopted these inspiring ten lines by Christian Larson (author of How Great Men Succeed and Brains and How to Get Them) as their official creed. Reading them always raises my performance and my communication skills a notch. How about you?

Promise Yourself

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

And these last two lines were a part of the original "Promise Yourself" but were not adopted by Optimist International:

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words, but in great deeds.

To live in the faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you.

Note (added February 12, 2007, 9:50 AM Mountain): I had forgotten until a few minutes ago that today is Abraham Lincoln's birthday. Happy birthday, Abe. For more inspiration, see "Lincoln Logs of Wisdom" in which insurance defense attorney Daniel E. Cummins features some Lincoln quotations and explains hwo they relate to the practice of law. Below is an example; the whole article is well worth the reading time.

Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?

Similar to Michael Corleone's later advice in "The Godfather, Part II," "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer," Lincoln long ago recommended similar action to defuse one's opponents. Lincoln's advice goes a step further and advocates reaching out to one's enemies in an effort to appease them. Lincoln followed this advice when he famously filled his Cabinet seats with his political enemies. By doing so, he kept such enemies close and neutralized them by honoring them with prestigious positions of importance within the control of his administration.

In today's practice of law, we are routinely faced with adversarial attorneys we would much rather not have to deal with. As difficult as it may be, perhaps it is a better method of handling all adversaries by not retaliating in frustration but, wherever possible, greeting such opponents with appeasement or consideration.

Regardless of the shoddy treatment you may be receiving from an adversary, respond as you would wish to be treated. Routinely grant extensions or continuances when requested so long as it is not to the detriment of your client. Voluntarily disclose discovery that such opponents may be entitled to without the necessity of formal discovery requests or motions practice. Promptly return phone calls.

By acting in a nonconfrontational manner towards vexatious opponents, it becomes more and more difficult for such adversaries to continue to respond or litigate in a negative fashion. Additionally, if certain issues eventually come to a head and require court intervention, the court would look more favorably upon your efforts towards an amicable resolution of the issue when compared with the petty and negative conduct of your opponent.