A promise
What is a promise? An agreement? A contract? A verbal affirmation between people?
In this day and age, promises are under-valued and freely thrown around. Is this a side-effect of the digital age? Speed? No time to think - hence, I'll spit out a promise and move on.
As a person who tries to be a loyal friend, worker and family member - I always try my utter best to fulfil (now there's a big word) my promises. I wouldn't go as far as to say that promises are obligations - although they should be, but keeping a promise to someone shows that you respect the person and that the person means something to you.
If you love someone, keep the promises that you make to them - no matter how small they are. I've been on the receiving end of broken promises and even though the issue at hand might be trivial, the principle is the glass upon which the broken pieces can cut deep. It's silly sometimes, but it's more than just factual, it's emotional. Disrespect - and that me and my feelings have no value to you.
At work, the surest way to not win any rewards is to constantly not follow up on things. There are people who do not reply to mails, do not follow up on their promises (I'll get back to you on that, I'll get it done by next week, I'll drop you a mail - heard that one before?) and who just keep pushing work to others. Working is a promise - that you will help your co-workers and that you will dedicate yourself to doing your best for the company in the team that you are in. Sometimes people have too much on their plate - nobody's perfect though. But I have come across some very reliable colleagues who do follow up, even if it takes some time. These are the winners - in life they will succeed and be recognised.
Promises these days are taken for granted - everyone's doing it (breaking promises), so it's OK. What if you come across someone who values promises?
In this day and age, promises are under-valued and freely thrown around. Is this a side-effect of the digital age? Speed? No time to think - hence, I'll spit out a promise and move on.
As a person who tries to be a loyal friend, worker and family member - I always try my utter best to fulfil (now there's a big word) my promises. I wouldn't go as far as to say that promises are obligations - although they should be, but keeping a promise to someone shows that you respect the person and that the person means something to you.
If you love someone, keep the promises that you make to them - no matter how small they are. I've been on the receiving end of broken promises and even though the issue at hand might be trivial, the principle is the glass upon which the broken pieces can cut deep. It's silly sometimes, but it's more than just factual, it's emotional. Disrespect - and that me and my feelings have no value to you.
At work, the surest way to not win any rewards is to constantly not follow up on things. There are people who do not reply to mails, do not follow up on their promises (I'll get back to you on that, I'll get it done by next week, I'll drop you a mail - heard that one before?) and who just keep pushing work to others. Working is a promise - that you will help your co-workers and that you will dedicate yourself to doing your best for the company in the team that you are in. Sometimes people have too much on their plate - nobody's perfect though. But I have come across some very reliable colleagues who do follow up, even if it takes some time. These are the winners - in life they will succeed and be recognised.
Promises these days are taken for granted - everyone's doing it (breaking promises), so it's OK. What if you come across someone who values promises?