Life is a constant stream of encounters with other people, and we get only one shot at making a favorable first impression.

So, a young man – or woman – would be ahead of the game if they possessed good verbal and written communication skills. And, as someone else mentioned, they need to know how to dress well, and appropriately for a given situation.

It’s an accepted fact that the outcome of a job interview is often decided in the first few minutes of the interview. Why? Because the interviewer is making immediate judgments based on appearance and presentation (communication). The all-powerful first impression at work.

I’ve passed on many otherwise well-qualified job applicants because their résumés were poorly written, riddled with misspelled words, or because their shoes looked like they’d just hiked 50 miles in them, or their shirt looked like they slept in it.

I think reading is a crucial skill and interest. Not just the ability to read, but a real desire to read. A first class, well-rounded education can be acquired by simply reading – fiction, non-fiction, and periodicals. I’m confident that the vast majority of people successful in life – personal relationships, careers, financial achievements, recreational pursuits etc. – are “readers.”

As a guy who was in the banking industry for 35 years, I’ll loudly second Groo’s recommendation that young folks need to have at least a basic knowledge of things financial – before they discover credit cards, car loans and mortgages. This is so important, and so overlooked. A little knowledge goes a long way and could make the difference between a happy life and a not-so-happy life.

Like Groo also said, tell ‘em “Plan for your retirement and start early saving for it.” It’s hard for most young adults to think of retirement as anything but an abstract concept (Hey, I’m young, it’s time to have fun!). But I guarantee, later in life, many will wish their parents had shared this concept: “Son (daughter), if you start saving $200 a month at age 25, and keep it up until you’re 60, you’ll have nearly $300,000 saved, and you’ve invested only $84,000. But if you wait until you’re 50, you’ll have to save $1800 a month – $216,000 invested – to accumulate the same $300,000.” I’ve seen way too many elderly folks in disastrous financial circumstances to not feel passionate about this (and young ones too for that matter). It ain’t a pretty sight.

"The magic of compound interest." <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Interesting thread.



Do not handicap your children by making their lives easy.
-- Lazarus Long (Robert Heinlein, "Time Enough for Love")

"How to deal with people who are members of groups that you have strong opinions of (i.e. drug users, firearm "enthusiasts", homosexuals). Do you treat them as human, or not?" (Your quote above). <img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Exactly what is it in your opinion that makes "firearm enthusiasts" non human? If so, there are a lot of non humans on this forum. More, I suspect, than you would imagine. And I take great offense at being grouped with homosexuals. I think your remarks were way out of line and poorly thought out before you engaged your fingers on the keyboard. Your mind was clearly in NEUTRAL! <img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Boone

I totally missed that until you pointed it out. But I'm not sure he's implying that drug dealers and gun enthusiasts share any quality other than "I have strong feelings about ______". I have strong feelings about puppies and apple pie. That doesn't mean a puppy is an apple pie or that I feel the same way about both (wouldn't eat a puppy). <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Joe, mellow. Nobody here will think less of a gun owner just because an abstract collection of symbols for gun owner was placed next to the abstract symbols for Gays. You want peace and quiet in a gunstore? I was sitting outside mine years ago well before opening hour. I was enroute to a excavation in the desert and wanted to pick up my .375 H&H mauser in case of rabid desert tortoises and pagan biker gangs. I'm kicked back, drinking my Starbucks and listening to a D'Oyly Carte recording of H.M.S. Pinafore. Truck pulls up behind me like the spaceship in Close Encounters of the Third Kind in the predawn dusk. Guy gets out and walks up to my open window ( my hand slipping down for the Walther PP) " Well morning friend-blah blah-blah I did two tours in Nam, blah blah, Homeschool my kids, got born again- you've heard of Jesus have you? Blah, Blah And I' m lifetime NRA, hate gays, Democrats, hippies" and more stream of consciousness dogtail sniffing who are you smalltalk than the collected poetry of Rush Limbaugh. All I wanted was to do was sip my 'Jo and hear my brit light opera. I finally said deadpan " I'm GAY" and he ran for his truck and rolled up the windows. I again relaxed and sang along with " I'm called little buttercup, sweet little buttercup, though I shall never know why--." The cashier Robin walked up from his cami painted VW thing in a german uniform and said " good morning Buttercup, going to the great Western gunshow today? I had the whole store to myself as my erstwhile friend sort of pressed himself between the cigarstore Indian and the reloading cabinet. You never know when labels can help out <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I don't know...

To hear some folks talk about it these days one might be tempted to think they could catch "it" like the cold. And we all know that once you've got it, it's like a gateway drug in that it leads to other untoward things.

So grouping words together is just asking for trouble...

Why once my name was listed in the same program as one of them famous ones and I could feel it creeping onto me like the voodoo. My wrist started going limp on its own I tell you.

/sarcasm

LOL

I apologize, the point I was trying to make is that these groups of people are the groups that people in the U.S. are sharply divided over in their perspectives and/or prejudiced against. A young man must decide how he will handle people that respectively do not hold his views, or the person that outright oppose his views in a fanatical fashion. Will he just believe he is right, or try and find out why someone believes that way? Doing this will allow you to understand your fellow "man" better, and possibly assist in living in this world.

I had actually spent a considerable amount of time on the post, and as I wrote my post, I did not see the alternate meaning of the paragraph. I guess this would be "forgiveness", and also the concept of "seeing things from another person's viewpoint". Both good things to learn.

And maybe we should add being "inquisitive", not in a interrogation fashion, but the desire/need to learn about everything around us. Someone makes a post that is offensive to yourself, do you immediately lash out and declare them an idiot, or, do you ask what the reason and meaning of the post? <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Plus, I think this shows only one thing: You never stop learning.

SheepDog,

Any young man or young woman could benefit greatly from the wisdom of “Uncle Eric”. (Actually, any adult could learn a great deal with minimal effort.)

Here is a quote from Richard Maybury’s website:

“The Uncle Eric series of books is written by Richard Maybury for young and old alike. Mr. Maybury plays the part of an economist writing a series of letters to his niece or nephew. Using stories and examples, he gives clear, simple explanations of topics that are generally thought to be too difficult for anyone but experts. If you want to understand what others don't, read these books. Each "Uncle Eric" book is consistent with the principles of America's Founders.”

The books are paperback, modest in size, and large in content. The books are a “big picture” look at many topics that that are confusing to people or distorted by our media and public schools. I have several of the books and when my children reach an appropriate age Uncle Eric will share his insights. I highly recommend these books.

Here is a list of the titles I personally own:

Uncle Eric Talks About Personal, Career and Financial Security

Whatever Happened to Penny Candy?

Whatever Happened to Justice?

Are You Liberal? Conservative? Or Confused?

Ancient Rome, How It Affects You Today

The Money Mystery: The Hidden Force Affecting Your Career, Business and Investments

The Clipper Ship Strategy

Other titles available:

World War I, The Rest of the Story

WORLD WAR II, The Rest of the Story

The Thousand Year War in the Mideast

More info: http://www.chaostan.com/eric.html

I hope this is helpful,

TR

I take it you've never been REALLY hungry <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Troy

Or people who write "ie" when they mean "eg". <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />