If you cannot wrap yourself around the notion that other humans are worthy of your committed service and that you are not diminished but are instead elevated by providing that service, you will never really excel at what you do.

The Talmud18 offers an imaginary case for your contemplation. Suppose you embarked on a journey across a remote and distant desert in company with an associate. Imagine that you brought a large water supply for yourself, whereas your associate neglected that elementary preparation. Halfway across the desert, it became apparent that there was

not only are you facing the truth, but you are also nudging yourself closer to possessing a more modest demeanor.

Gaining wealth is about increasing wisdom.

You can easily imagine what an enormous competitive advantage is acquired by the business professional who really believes—no really, really, believes—with every microscopic molecule of his or her being that doing business is one of the most moral and best things to do.

All he must do is view his employer as one of his customers.

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” More and more, it seems like people want wealth, but they don’t want to work for it.

If you don’t think much of other human beings, well, then you are never going to be much good at customer service; and I think you will find other shortcomings in your life, too.

invitations and other opportunities to spend time with others. This is a mistake. How about if you have already been declining invitations for so long that you now hardly receive any? Or what if you are relatively new in town? Two of the ways in which channels of communication are built are receiving invitations and dispatching them.