Appearances Can Be Deceiving

One of the most important attributes to success in life, success in business, or success in anything is forming the right relationships and partnerships. How do you determine the value of a relationship? Is it first impressions? Did you ever meet someone that looked good on paper, had the right education, qualifications, eloquency of words, and even a good strong handshake but when you actually began interacting with them, they ended up being void of character or integrity? What about appearance? For those of you who ever watched Ashton Kutcher's and Tyra Bank's reality show, True Beauty, you saw that beauty had nothing to do with character. Character and heart must be built. It cannot be bought, caked over with make-up, or imitated.

That being said, why do we automatically count some people in and others out? What are our personal standards for successful partnerships? Do we enter into partnerships because we think lots of money will be brought to the table or do we enter because of character, vision, and value?

Wealth is good but why do we chase after it like our entire breath of life depends on it? In our pursuit for success, we tend to push the "insignificant" people out of the way. We turn up our noses at homeless guys in the street because they're "no benefit" to us. Did we ever stop to consider that as homeless as they may be, there may be truth and value to what they have to say. They may have stories to tell. That person whom you just stepped over might be a former Wall Street broker that happened to fall on hard times. He may be able to teach you something. But no - he's a dirty, lazy bumb with "no value". So we cut a potential valuable relationship. We lose out on life so many times because of our prideful standards. Some are accepted into our clicks while others are not.

Don't be so quick to cut off a relationship because of a person's outter appearance or difficult circumstance. Listen to what they have to say and offer besides notoriety, fame, and money. Appearance has nothing to do with the heart of a person. Integrity is invaluable. Loyalty and truth are invaluable. Pursue meaningful relationships as you build your life and your business, working towards your purpose. Remember that everyone on the planet is unique with something different to offer, irregardless of social status, class, or race.

Anyone who ever did anything great was ostracized, ridiculed, put down, and marginalized so could it be that "these people" including that homeless man on the street" could have greatness in them? Bill Gates, Ted Turner, Eric Schmidt and Larry Page, the list goes on and on. They were all entrepreneurs who went against the norm. They had to start somewhere, right? Doesn't it sometimes take starting at the bottom to get to the top? Don't we love success stories of people who started with nothing and went on to build multi-billion dollar corporations and brands? So then why do we ignore the people with nothing? Don't wait until they become what you think they should be in order to treat them with respect and integrity. Once they start making millions, you want to call them up, give them a handshake, congratulate them, and offer encouraging words. That's what we like to call "gold diggers".

For all of you who have been told the words, "can't", "impossible", and "insignificant". Pick yourself up and know that there is greatness in you! Your outward circumstances have nothing to do with where you're going, the way you think, and especially your heart and attitude. You were meant to do what they said couldn't be done. It's your purpose, your dream, your destiny, and you will acheive it through meaningful relationships, not fake copycats or substitutes for authenticity. Always keep in mind that every person has value and appearances can be deceiving.

Great read, Radicals and Visionaries:Entrepreneurs Who Revolutionized the 20th Century by Thaddeus Wawro .