"If I make deposits into an Emotional Bank Account with you through courtesy, kindness, honesty, and keeping my commitments to you, I build up a reserve. Your trust toward me becomes higher, and I can call upon that trust many times if I need to. I can even make mistakes and that trust level, that emotional reserve, will compensate for it. My communication may not be clear, but you'll get my meaning anyway. You won't make me "an offender for a word." When the trust account is high, communication is easy, instant, and effective."

What difference would a clear vision of my principles, values, and ultimate objectives make in the way I spend my time?

It takes a great deal of character strength to apologize quickly out of one's heart rather than out of pity. A person must possess himself and have a deep sense of security in fundamental principles and values in order to genuinely apologize.

Opposition is a natural part of life. Just as we develop our physical muscles through overcoming opposition - such as lifting weights - we develop our character muscles by overcoming challenges and adversity.

Vision is seeing a future state with the mind's eye. Vision is applied imagination.

You can retire from a job, but don't ever retire from making extremely meaningful contributions in life.

The key is taking responsibility and initiative, deciding what your life is about and prioritizing your life around the most important things.