Listen To Me

This is Bob…

Bob is 35 years old, around 178 pounds and has a penchant for chocolate. This is an unfortunate predilection because Bob is no longer allowed to eat yummy chocolate. According to his wife Betty, a family history of diabetes and heart problems precludes him from eating anything sweeter than a piece of fruit.
Bob’s wife is a caring woman and Bob knows this, but in defiance of her requests (and doctor’s orders) he continues to have the occasional chocolate ‘blow out’. He enjoys it and why not?

Bob’s situation mirrors that of hundreds of thousands of people.

I’m not talking specifically about people with heart disease or diabetes. Or even about people with chocolate addictions. I’m talking about people who are determined not to listen to the people who have their best interests at heart.

Too many people in life, business, sport…the list goes on, do what they want against the advice of others who may know better and who have the life experience to back their concern or suggestion.

Can you think of sports identities who were given numerous warnings to behave but failed to listen to the most basic directives?  Now they possible face criminal charges or public shame.

Then there are the politicians who have found themselves in hot water. Failing to listen to their advisors they make decisions by themselves or behave impulsively and embarrass themselves. Had they taken the ‘time’ to listen to industry groups or their own advisors they may have had a more long term positive impact.

The most successful people in life are the ones who listen.

They are the ones who have surrounded themselves with people whose comments and ideas they respect and thus evaluate.

Before you ever dismiss even the smallest ideas, listen to them, evaluate them and utilise them in the most positive way ow can find.

It wouldn’t be too hard for Bob to stop gorging on chocolate, eat it in very measured moderation and accept his wife’s advice. If he does this, there is no doubt he will succeed in staying healthy, taking negative pressure away from his relationship and live longer to do the big things he always wanted to do.