Intrepid honesty may be among the most difficult forms of being intrepid because, although we value honesty as a virtue in our culture, most of us have had difficulty facing it as regards ourselves.

To hear that we have let ourselves go, or that we changed from the sweet wonderful person we once were, or that we have caused harm, or been unfair, or that others are worried for us – these examples of being intrepidly honest demonstrate how we are likely to squirm when confronted with a focused view of reality – whether from others or ourselves observing ourselves.

Honesty must be constructively and lovingly offered to have a reasonable chance of being effective. Intrepid honesty is fearlessly loving in its intent to support one’s own or another’s growth.

How often are you intrepidly honest with yourself? With others? How do you access the level of courage required to be intrepid in sharing your constructive observations? Are you willing to be intrepid in your sharing even if you know that what you communicate will be met with difficulty or even total rejection?

Making promises can be a powerful ingredient of personal growth as long as promise-making is done in good faith with a complete intention to honor the promise.  We’ve talked in Study Hall about the definition of a brand (in business) as a set of promises, and there is similarity in how promise-making affects one’s personal reputation.

The more often we make and keep promises, the greater our reputation for reliability and credibility.

Can you think of promises that you have made that have had you grow beyond what you thought possible?  Have you ever tried to renegotiate a promise when faced with difficulty in delivering? What was the result?

Who in your life has the best reputation for keeping promises? Who has the worst?What did you learn from each person?

Increasingly, we live in an environment where everyone is a de facto entrepreneur – even if one has a salary. Our economy is trending toward ever more individual responsibility for career choices; and people are changing jobs and careers more than ever – and, obviously, often not because they want to do so.

One of the most basic ways to increase your income as either an employee or a principal is to identify a proven activity that, with consistent application, builds momentum over time and causes an increase in business. The classic example is to make one new business call per day. That’s 20 calls per month talking to someone new – 20 unique conversations. Depending on your business, results could range from good to off-the-charts spectacular.

What are some of your favorite ways to grow income in this economy? How has your business or employer addressed the issue of business development in the last 6 -12 months?

In the movie, “Yes Man,” Jim Carrey is challenged to change his self-talk of habitually saying “no” to almost everything to, “Yes, I will do that.” It’s a great premise in a movie that received mixed reviews, and Carrie’s performance illustrates the huge changes that can result from shifting one’s perceptions.

Because his character, Carl Allen, tells himself that he will say “yes” to everything, there are some admittedly wacky results, but also many poignant moments that reveal themselves.

When our self-talk permits us to think freely from an open mind to consider possibilities other than what we have been conditioned to hold as “the answer,” surprising growth and evolution can occur.

How has your self-talk been about an automatic and reflexive “no” – perhaps learned from a parent who modeled that behavior when you were growing up? What would happen if your self-talk allowed you to think more creatively? Have you observed anyone who could serve as a role model for you whose behavior indicates openness in her or his self-talk? How can you shift your self-talk to diminish your limitations?