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Playing the Victim: Why Go There?

In our blog, The Solution Is Right In Front of Me, I stated, “My life can and will be better when I choose to make it better. Anything else is blame, whining, procrastination, and victim thinking.”

Many Amen!-type comments arrived, but Alicia objected by email:

“John, self-effort will get a person off the couch and can improve a life (compared to being a slug), but self-effort alone is not the determining factor in achieving success. There are many other factors. To believe that is not ‘victim thinking.’”

That’s okay. Nice people can disagree nicely.

But then Lori sent a comment. Well, more of a story that we’ll share now.

The Lori Story

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The Solution Is Right In Front of Me!

Leave a comment on this blog and your name will be entered into our drawing for a signed Raising Accountable Kids book. So, jump right in!

On our QBQ! Facebook page, I posted, “My success begins and ends with my choices.” Many folks said, “Amen!”

Except for one guy. He wrote …

“How luck and random events play into the affairs of humankind must be considered. It’s surely fortunate to be born in the U.S., have the name of Trump, be healthy, and so on—but making good choices isn’t easy when the options are opaque, incomprehensible, or too numerous to master.”

Huh?

To be honest, this type of “rationale” exhausts me. Call me simple-minded, but I believe this:

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Are We Raising Victims? 13 Beliefs to NOT Teach Our Children

I avoid contentious Facebook battles because the “other side” can always respond, just like the first dog Karen and I owned. No matter how much we admonished Marmaduke for barking, he’d let out one more ear-piercing, “Woof!” Every. Single. Time.

Gone now 20 years, we still quote “Duke the Dachshund” when someone insists on getting the last word in.

Woof!

Anyway, skimming a recent Facebook debate, a comment made by a dad caught my eye. In a good way, he masterfully shut down the argument.

As his debate opponent lamented what is “happening to our world” and fretted about how “the children” will be affected, this wise father calmly replied, “I don’t worry about my kids. I didn’t raise victims.“

Well done, Dad. As Shakespeare wrote, “Brevity is the soul of wit.”

Let me now say what that father said in different words:

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Outstanding Organizations Know It’s NEVER About The Pickle

Outstanding! 47 Ways To Make Your Organization Exceptional

customers, customer service, choices, outstanding

This organization with more than 2,630 stores is very likely outstanding, but on this day, a franchise owner and his manager were not. Read on …

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My 29-year-old son, Michael, and I met at a sub sandwich shop down the street. A handy location for us both—and now our former favorite place to eat.

It was never about the pickle.

After interacting with a friendly cashier, we got our sandwiches and sat down. When Michael realized we’d not received our sliced half-pickle, he said to the counter guy, “Excuse me, we ordered a pickle and didn’t get it.” His response?

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Skip The Fads—Invest In Training That Achieves 3 Crucial Results

Looking for training that works? Click here.

“Dad, I didn’t know you could do that!” declared thirtysomething daughter, Tara, grinning ear-to-ear.

Little 4-year-old McKenna loved what she was seeing, too.

What were they so amazed by?

The QBQ! Grandpa efficiently spinning a Hula Hoop around his waist and hips—and keeping it going!

Hula Hoops, what a fad they were.

From pet rocks to PEZ dispensers to parachute pants to spinners, fads can be fun for kids and adults. However, here’s a truth:

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