The Key

What is the key? Many say the key to a successful relationship is communication. Yes, I believe this is very true, why wouldn't it be? In fact, it is the key to ANY relationship. What happens when you cannot verbalize what it is that you need to communicate? You cannot put into words what it is that you need, lack or want. THIS is what I think "the key" is. Think about what attracted you to a person in the first place. I would even say that this attraction that you have for your significant other, could be a similar "attraction" that draws you to your friends. Mine is work ethic. Yeah, yeah personal appearance is the first thing that catches your eye, but what keeps you looking. What makes you want to talk to the person, learn more about them? What makes you think about them often? For me it is work ethic, because I think it is a big huge part of my life. It affects me not just at work but at home as well. It could be translated into cleanliness, organizational abilities, leadership skills, and many other things. I choose work ethic because it is a pretty generic, catch all kind of word, that means many things to me. Someone who is a natural leader, a "super star," whom has the respect of not only their subordinates and superiors, but most of all their peers. Someone who does what they do cause they have confidence in their abilities. Someone who gets things done, and isn't afraid of hard work or backlash. They are the best at what they do, the top performer. At the same time they are not arrogant nor are they pompous, but they are humble and open minded. Supportive and strong.
Yours might be different for different reasons. I think it might even change as we go through different phases in our lives. Recognizing what this is is important because then you are able to see a pattern. The pattern in how you choose your mate or your friends. A pattern in what is lacking when you feel things have come to a stand still. Understanding what attracts you to other people can be very useful in your effectiveness. Mine is surrounded by the idea of work perhaps because of my career choice, or rather my lifestyle choice. We are attracted to many people through out our lives and it changes with us. I started out needing to be needed. I am a supporter. I don't consider myself the type that stands out in front and leads the way. I am not a fire starter. I am a cheerleader and a team player. I can lead the way, but that is not my comfort zone or what feels natural to me. Nothing is more satisfying to me than when there is a group of people that work together, work hard at getting a job done. I think that is why I have always been interested in sales but have never been able to push very far in it. I love working with people, working with the team towards a common goal....but in sales, whether it be Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, Amway, or even recruiting I fall short in the end. I loose fuel when it comes to the independent success. Put me in a group and I will support the cause, I will provide the blood, sweat and tears of dedication, and reap satisfying rewards when the person next to me gets recognized for their leadership. The key is that I think I do what I look for in people. I look for what I want in me.