I have been remiss in writing a good rant for a few weeks especially when so much has happened for me to rant about! I guess it is because that I have just been so overwhelmed with the disrespect, lack of civility and stupidity that is running rampant that I couldn’t focus on just one or two issues. And I still can’t! So I‘ve decided that you folks might be willing to put up with a series of short rants on all of the things that I am finding especially irritating in the news and in life these days. I hope you enjoy, if you want to share any of these, feel free but give credit and send folks over to the blog and to my fanpage on facebook. This little rant is obviously called, “It’s a damn shame……………….”
It’s a damn shame when someone writes on my Facebook page defending irresponsible behavior with the words “Personal responsibility is such a cliché. It’s a condescending over-used phrase that has become the stock answer to everything.” Yes! It is the answer to everything! And it’s a damn shame that people would rather do anything in this world than take responsibility for their actions, including dismissing the notion as cliché and condescending.
It’s a damn shame when all of us can’t be happy when one of us has something good happen. Obama gets the Nobel Peace Prize and it suddenly becomes a battle cry of the right wing about how he doesn’t deserve it. If your name isn’t Nobel or you aren’t on the committee then you don’t really have a say in his deservingness. Don’t say he didn’t earn it – it’s not up to you to decide that. The Nobel Peace Prize committee decided he was deserving so you don’t really get a say in who wins the award since you don’t sit on the committee. This is not about politics or whether you like Obama’s stance on … well, anything! It’s about the President of the United States gets recognized on the world stage for something good and our divisive political system can’t say “congratulations” and then move on to better things. Which means it’s a damn shame when important things like healthcare, the recession, Medicare, Social Security and other major issues are taking a backseat to this inane non-issue.
It’s a damn shame when instead of respectfully disagreeing with someone, that you must resort to name calling because you aren’t smart enough to justify your argument with facts, thoughts or civility.
It’s a damn shame that the guy who screams the loudest is considered the winner of an argument instead of the guy with the smartest, most well-thought out, logical point of view.
It’s a damn shame that America has become the land of scream now, think and do your research later, if ever.
It’s a damn shame when people care more about which political party is proposing an idea than whether it is a good idea.
It’s a damn shame when the color of your skin or sexual orientation is still any kind of issue.
It’s a damn shame that our country has become so full of hate, paranoia and meanness.
It’s a damn shame when a Cox Cable repairman (or any other repairman) can set an appointment, miss an appointment, and after being called to task over it have nothing to say about why he didn’t bother to show up or call to let me know he wasn’t coming. No apology. No remorse. No answer at all. I sit and waste a day waiting for a guy who evidently had no intention of coming in the first place. That is my weekend experience but it happens all over the world every day and it’s a damn shame!
It’s a damn shame when people can’t remember to say thank you for holding open a door or for spending your money with them.
It’s a damn shame when people will knock you down to get down an aisle or through a door and the words “excuse me” never cross their mind.
It’s a damn shame that it even crosses a man’s mind that jerking an award out of a little girl’s hands is acceptable behavior. Someone should have bitch slapped Kanye West off the damn stage – THAT would have been the best video of the year. Where is Toby Keith when you really need him?
It’s a damn shame when you think it’s okay to spend more than you make and then honestly believe that the government owes you a handout or a bailout. You are an idiot and got yourself in your own mess so fix it yourself or suffer the consequences.
It’s a damn shame when people think that good thoughts are more important than hard work; when meditation has become more highly regarded than action; and when yoga classes are full and math classes are empty.
It’s a damn shame that people with money and jobs and who can afford to make their mortgage payments feel it is acceptable to walk away from their obligations because it makes sense “strategically” to do so. It’s called an obligation. You made a commitment. It’s a contract! You should keep your word even though it no longer “makes sense” to do so simply because you gave your word.
It’s a damn shame that parents have turned their children over to the television, the internet, their cell phone, the school system and their peers to raise them instead of stepping in with the firm hand of love to control the upbringing of their own children. (If you agree with that one, then you are going to love my next book, Your Kids Are Your Own Fault: A Guide For Raising Responsible, Productive Adults.)
It’s a damn shame that people resort to talking heads on television and on the radio to do their thinking for them.
It’s a damn shame that reading is down yet television watching is up.
It’s a damn shame when television shows are made about people who think 18 kids is a good idea (the Duggars) and about self-centered, egotistical brats with 8 kids (Jon & Kate) and about single mothers on welfare with 6 kids who have 8 more kids (Octomom.) More than that, it’s a damn shame that people watch them.
It’s a damn shame when you spend more on your cup of coffee than you do to feed your child a healthy meal. (Not a Happy Meal – a healthy meal.)
It’s a damn shame that 25% of teenage girls have an STD. Parents, where the hell are you?
It’s a damn shame that daddies are too uninvolved to teach their little boys how to be men and to teach their little girls what a man is. (By the way, the idiots who appear on Big Brother and The Bachelor and the other reality shows are NOT real men.) A man knows how to act with integrity, ethics, honesty and knows how to treat others with respect, compassion and dignity. That lesson is being missed. Instead it is being replaced with a tolerance for insolence, arrogance, entitlement and disrespect.
It’s a damn shame that mommas let their little girls become obsessed with the shallow and the superficial. Parents have to display the behavior they want their kids to exhibit.
It’s a damn shame that two thirds of our country is obese and going to die early when they don’t have to.
It’s a damn shame that people don’t have the balls to look you in the eye, face-to-face and say what they think of you, but will run home and trash you on the internet anonymously.
It’s a damn shame that teachers get paid less than fast food workers. And it’s a damn shame that tenure allows the bad ones to keep their jobs and that low wages forces the good ones to look for other jobs.
It’s a damn shame that cops and fire fighters and soldiers get paid so little and politicians get paid so much.
It’s a damn shame when Monday Night Football is more important than making sure your kid is studying for their spelling test.
It’s a damn shame when texting in the movie theater is more important than respecting the people sitting around you putting up with your distraction.
It’s a damn shame that people think it’s okay to take a cell phone call during dinner with you at a restaurant.
It’s a damn shame when a man can work hard to build a career and a company and the government can step in and cap your salary and tell you that you are too profitable.
MOSTLY, it’s a damn shame that any of this even needs to be said.
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Suggested reading. I have two for you this time:
Joe Calloway, Becoming A Category of One: How Extraordinary Companies Transcend Commodity and Defy Comparison. Great business book on branding, marketing, and positioning.
http://www.larrywinget.com/calloway-one.html
Sharon Lechtor, Three Feet From Gold: Turning Your Obstacles Into Opportunities. She takes the principles covered in the classic Think And Grow Rich and updates them with inspiring stories.
http://www.larrywinget.com/lechtor-gold.html
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All the best to all of you. Join me on Facebook and check out No Time For Tact.
FACEBOOK FAN PAGE
Folks, I am soon going to run out of room for friends on Facebook so there is a new fan page for you to keep up with my daily rants and activities. Even if you are a current friend, I suggest you move to the fan page. You may even want to hide me as a friend so you won’t get duplicate postings from the fan site. My goal is to move to just the fan page soon. You will know it is the fan page and not my personal page because the fan page has the full stand up photo of me! Go to:
http://www.larrywinget.com/facebook.html
Follow Larry on TWITTER to read what’s going on. http://twitter.com/larrywinget
Good stuff, as usual. Thanks for putting all of those ideas in one spot!
RIGHT ON LARRY!!!!!
Larry,
It’s a damn shame that the United States has become a country of overweight, celeibrity obsessed, foreign product dependent mush brains. Why do people care more about what you look like then what kind of person you actually are?
It’s a damn shame the people who need to read this probably never will but I’ll pass on the word.
Larry,
I think it’s a damn shame that people these days give their children no responsibility and then wonder why these same kids are irresponsible. I had lunch with some ladies last week and one spent twenty minutes complaining about how her daughter does not know the value of money, does nothing around the house, etc. She’s almost 18 years old….I’m not sure when they expect to start teaching her what life is all about. The kid has never done chores, worked a part-time summer job, babysat, nothing. What do people expect?
It’s a damn shame when the people who should identify with some of these comments never will…
I for one see myself in here!
Rock on Larry!
“It’s a damn shame” that there are people like me, that post about my stuff on others turf, and then don’t even comment on the person’s post.
I had to almost chuckle, when I came to your blog and read your post here. How appropriate, or ironic.
Thank you for writing so elequently on a vastly important topic of our age. I will pass this along, as it is so very relevant to so many of us.
I think you bottled this stuff up a little long. Just my opinion. But, right on target as usual. And I’m with KevinOK above, the people who need to read this probably won’t. I’ll do what I can to pass it along though.
It’s a damn shame when we accept mediocrity is all we strive for.
Larry,
Funny that you mention the Obama Nobel thing, as I was almost sure you would have blogged about it at some point. I blogged about it myself, and my beef was more with the Nobel committee for giving one to everyone else for the work they did and then choosing to give one to someone on projection.
You’re right about it being their choice to give it to whoever they want. My point in my post was that I had to stop whining about not liking their decision and recognize that life isn’t fair, and people are going to get stuff for the most random reasons.
Thanks for being different and making waves. Its only when we’re uncomfortable that we make the changes we need to make.
Larry just one more,
It’s a damn shame that I could eat myself up to about 500lbs and most likely my health insurance would pay for a gastric bypass, but the same policy will not pay a dime on hearing aids to assist me with my hearing impairment. Just doesn’t seem right to me that losing weight with surgery can be considered a medical necessity and hearing on the other hand is not.
It’s a damn shame that we can’t disagree with the Nobel committee’s decision just because we are not part ot it.
Larry, you are so right! We are in a world that lacks personal responsibility. At least we can continue to be role models and that will eventually impact other people! Guess you have seen the social studies based on Framingham. It has been featured in various papers, and I wrote about it my last blog ‘Seriously, Are Your Friends Making You Fat? bit.ly/112sSN
The findings should, however, not be an excuse for not doing anything because my friends are fat. Rather the opposite. We have a change to change USA and the world.
You set an example and so does a lot of other people. So let’s continue to kick some serious ass!
Its a damn shame that no one stops at stop signs nor uses their directions anymore. PTL that brake lights are automatic.
Larry, you speak the truth. I love your books and I love your blogs. I will be linking this blog to my friends because they need to read it!
It’s a damn shame people feel it’s OK to manipulate others. Civility is dead and shouting is vogue. Pathetic situation.
Thanks Larry for your bit of sanity.
Larry,
Thanks for pointing out the way our value system has gone down the toilet.
Here’s another one…
It is a damn shame that the Pro Sports players, coaches, owners and announcers make more than the teachers, firemen, soldiers, and policemen that are guarding and educating our country and risking their lives on a daily basis.
Keep up the good work!
It’s a damn shame you’re right!
I appreciate the way you think Larry!
Larry,
It’s a damn shame that people in other countries go to bed hungry while we have game shows with cash prizes for those who can lose the most weight. The obesity problem in this country has reached epic proportions.
It’s also a damn shame that people assume they can buy anything at the grocery store and its ok to eat it because “the government wouldn’t let you buy it if it weren’t ok to consume”. The government doesn’t feed you. You do. (Paraphrasing from Jack LaLanne’s new book)
Finally, it’s a damn shame that people can lose the same amount of weight in a year (on average) with diet and exercise as they can with gastric bypass, but it’s easier to let a doc modify your body so you HAVE to lose weight than to gain control of the demons that made you eat yourself that way in the first place.
Larry, it’s a damn shame that award shows have become nothing but a bunch puffed up chests and oversized egos that think they are more important than the young men and women who defend our country, or the people who teach our kids, or the owners of the small business down the street that really make our country go. They spend time either patting themselves on the back or insulting someone else. I am with you on Kanye. Obviously no dignity or respect for other people.
It’s a Damn Shame that the ‘pull yourself up by your bootstraps’ mentality that hard work is a good thing which in turn leads to exceptionalism has been replaced by feelings of entitlement and satisfaction with mediocrity!
love your posts! thx for being who you are man. my #1 rant with American behavior is that there is a tremendous LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY…seriously. it’s always someone else’s fault or responsibility to make you feel better about you & your crap. it’s exhausting! i have my own crap i am being responsible for. i don’t have any space to be responsible for yours too!
Larry,
You have hit the nail on the head with this entire rant! You say what needs to be said, when it needs to be said. This rant couldn’t be more appropriate than now.
BTW, if I had been at the awards show, I’d have bitch slapped Kanye off the stage myself. I’m glad Beyonce was more human (yes, I do mean human) and gracious than Kanye will ever be.
Right on, Larry! Great as usual! Keep talking!
I think that “damn shames” are a damn shame! LOL
AMEN!!!! I withdrew my son from an affluent school that, although it was rated “exemplary”, was filled with self-centered, egotistical brats (as you call them)… and that was just the PARENTS! Their kids were spawn of satan!
We’re at a new school… just a plain ol’ school, now. My son’s so-called ‘anxiety disorder’ was alleviated as soon as we were free of that toxic environment.
It’s a damn shame that parents have declined into such self worship (under the guise of “taking care of yourself” or “finding yourself” that their children have become an inconvenience.
It’s a damn shame that those people are so ugly inside that they can literally poison the social environment…through the hearts of their own children… passing it on from generation to generation.
It’s a damn shame that their are millions of people like Maria Shriver think the rules apply to everyone…but them.
It’s a damn shame that people focus so much on obesity, because it’s an easy visual target, when most people have much more serious problems. It’s a damn shame they feel the need to throw stones at the fat folks to make themselves feel better, about what miserable wastes of DNA they’ve made of THEMSELVES.
I just love you Larry!! Thanks for always telling it like it is. We are the most narcissitic country in the world, everybody believes somebody owes them something and no one wants to work hard for anything anymore we all want handouts!!
Please don’t get me started on the kids of today, totally irresponsible, rude, spoiled, and disrespectful. I’m appauled daily by the comments my daughter says are made by students to the teachers a total lack of respect. When will people realize these are the people that will be running the world soon. So sad!!!
More rants:
It’s a shame that the government feels so qualified to take over the healthcare system, when it has done such a rotten job at Medicare.
My mother was showing all the classic signs of heart troubles (sudden erratic heart beat, SKY HIGH blood pressure, tremors, arm pain, abdominal pain), but Medicare declined her having a nuclear stress test because she had already had one a the beginning of the year at the recommendation of her physician. Coincidentally, they told her that if she ‘really thought she had a problem, she should have gone to the ER”. She had JUST RECEIVED a threatening letter from Medicare against going to the ER unless you were pretty much dying.. so she held on and went to see her PCP in the morning. So because she did what the letter had told her to do, her health is being jeopardized! THIS IS INSANE!! And the government thinks they can be trusted at the federal level to make these decisions???
It’s a damn shame people feel qualified to make sweeping judgements about people they know NOTHING about.
It’s a damn shame that people can have a couple beers and be ALLOWED to get behind the wheel. It’s a shame anytone thinks their chemically-altered judgement is trustworthy.
It’s a damn shame that smoking is seen as a bigger health issue than alcohol. I never saw someone who smoked too much get behind a wheel and kill people because of it. I never saw a smoker beat his wife and kids because he’d had too much nicotine.
Alcohol abuse is a MUCH bigger issue than many of the current media targets, and is much more prevalent. It also has far more innocent targets. Yet drinking is glamorized. It’s a shame that bragging about how much you drank is a pastime.
That’s a stinking shame.
I don’t smoke.. so no I’m not defensive about it. It’s freakin’ logic, people…
Larry:
You’re behind the times. The Duggars are now pregnant with their 19th child. And I think it’s a damn shame that the Today show can’t find anything better to report on.
And I’m working on the weight (mostly because of your nagging), so back off. ;o)
Stephanie:
Agreed. My insurance would pay for a gastric bypass as long as I don’t lost 10 pounds, but not for a nutritionist.
byrdjh:
Or looks in the direction they’re turning and goes into the first lane. That one killed one of the best friends I ever had in my life – a woman who was like a second mother to me – and injured me.
Trish and Rachel:
Amen!
Thanks Larry!
I think it’s a damn shame that Congress votes on bills they have never read (ie stimulus, health care yesterday etc)
I think it’s a damn shame that individual liberty and personal responsibility are taking a back seat to an entitlement “socialism” welfare state mentality.
I think it’s a damn shame that the very talented speaker, Obama, doesn’t use his skill to encourage individuals to improve themselves and work hard to be successful. Instead he convinces them that they are victims and entitled to free stuff from the government.
Well, I can’t “look you in the eye, [and say this] face-to-face”, but at least I won’t post anonymously — I think you’re spot-on with just about everything in this post. But the Nobel Prize issue bugs me.
The way I see it, it’s a damn shame the committee would cheapen such a prestigious prize by using it to make (as far as I can tell) a political statement about the George W. Bush years. I have nothing against President Obama (and I do have issues with Bush, even though I used to call myself a republican), nor would I complain one bit if he got the prize after he’d had more time to prove he’d merited it. Frankly, if I were President Obama, I’d value it more myself if I’d gotten it in my fourth year.
It’s a damn shame that – if we’ve acknowleged TV is the medium of the masses – we can’t get another 10 seasons (minimum!) of Big Spender, which is obviously very much needed!!! Damn you, A&E!
It’s a damn shame that I haven’t come up with a good enough excuse to drive the silly 15 miles south on Hayden from my office and thank you in person. 🙂 I don’t want to be a creepy fan, but if you ever need extra hands, let me KNOW!
It’s a damn shame that no-one feels shame anymore. It was the world’s greatest motivator. I recently had to suffer through a speech by some supposed expert who said that no child should have to feel shame. What a crock. I called her on it and it felt great.
Thank God for Larry and for the strong women over 40. Many of them do have common sense and speak their mind because after 40 they don’t give a rat’s ass what people think about them.
Parenting is the key ingredient to making a child that will grow into a kind,loving,respectful,considerate adult.
When my five year old held the door open for a man who did not even acknowledge they were alive and she then proceeded to ask me “daddy, why didn’t the man say thank you. ” I had to make up a story. what I wanted to do was throw him through the door. I have zero tolerance for people who do not treat others with respect ESPECIALLY CHILDREN who are sponges and want to do what is right!!!
You’re right on with this. And it is, indeed, a shame.
Larry,
I love you for what you do and say. I think its a damn shame that doctors a making a killing doing these gastric bypass operations instead of teaching these people how to eat and excercise right. Now they have an operation to have another gastric bypass operation, in case the first one does not work. Are u an IDIOT!!
Its a damn shame that most of Americans don’t want this health care bill passed. TRY FIXXING THE INSURANCE COMPANIES!! or is government getting paid off too much and don’t want to lose that?
Ita a damn shame that we have so many children that are over weight and are developing diabetes as teens? ARE U KIDDING ME? My purpose in life at 55 years old is go into the schools and teach children and parents about the risk of all these health issues.
DAMN!! Who is running the ship in America?
These things may be a “damn shame”, but other than the internet, they aren’t new. You already said it best. People are stupid. People are lazy. People don’t give a damn.
And that’s a damned shame.
(BTW, what’s up with trashing the Duggars? He makes enough money to support them all and there’s enough love in the family that they are all well-adjusted kids. It’s their own damned business how many kids they have.)
Larry, I agree with most of what you said. For the most part you are spot on. But I don’t know why you have a problem with the Duggar family. If they were using their large family as a source of getting money and fame from their TV show I would have a problem with it. But just having a big family in and of itself is not a problem. My mother has a friend who grew up in a family that size and their family is very loving and close knit even to this day. So if you can have a large family and make it work well, both financially and otherwise, I don’t see what the problem is.
Yea Larry!
It’s a damn shame that people that truly deserve to read all this are the same people that say that they don’t need it or don’t have time for it.
U rock Larry!
Larry,
I happen to agree with you and that’s probably the reason I can honestly say you should interview me for your new book on parenting. I have three great sons of whom I am immensely proud. They are great (responsible!) young men, in contrast to much of what I see in our population today.
Your book will probably be “must” reading for the younger generation of parents who are starting the parenting process.
Hi Larry;
I agree with most of your posts and I read and enjoyed your book, but dislike the negativity of this post. I figure a positive guy like you would also have a blog called….’Isn’t is great that…’
Well said Larry!
Agree with you and so wish it didn’t have to be said. On a positive note, I just got “Three Feet From Gold” in the mail today.
Alain
Rupert – I have never claimed to be a positive guy. In fact, I have always been very much in favor of a negative attitude. I wrote a blog about that months ago. I have also written about that in most of my books.
Rupert, for you:
Isn’t it great that: only 1/3 of our society is not obese.
Isn’t it great that: 75% of teenage girls don’t have an STD?
Isn’t it great that: people read at a 7th grade level and only 58% of Americans will read a book after high school?
Isn’t it great that: that 50% of people actually spend less than they make?
Best I can do on short notice. People don’t change when they feel positive, they change when they feel negative. Being uncomfortable is a much bigger motivator than being comfortable. It’s a fact.
Regarding personal responsibility: I am a personal trainer and work mostly with people from the overweight 2/3 of our population. I know whether a person will successfully lose weight and keep it off during the first meeting based on whether they accept responsibility for their condition. Those who start making excuses and blaming a variety of external factors almost never make the recommended eating and lifestyle changes, then blame us when they don’t lose weight. Those who understand their condition is the result of their choices and actions and that they are responsible for changing those behaviors typically do very well.
I have no doubt you could predict chances of success in business, parenting, relationships, etc. based on a person’s attitude about personal responsibility as well.
WTF is TLC thinking? Toddlers and Tiaras? As if parents parading their 5 year old daughters around on stage as sex objects wasn’t distasteful enough… TLC finds it necessary to broadcast it all over the country for all the sicko pedophiles to enjoy… all so they can linte their pockets with dirty money. The parents should be indicted on child abuse charges and have their parental rights stripped. It’s a damn shame!!
Larry and Rupert:
Thought you might find this article interesting.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1220783/Positive-thinking-positively-bad-look-glum-slide-life.html
Larry, I am the genius who posted the brilliant remark on facebook. I see I made it to the top of your list. I take personal responsibility for not articulating my thoughts in a clear enough way. It is my fault that my words did not convey what I intended. The point I was trying to make is that you are at your best when you stick to your original wisdom. When you say, “People need to shut up stop whining and get a life”, you are the most witty and original writer out there. That hits home like a sledgehammer pounding reason into our uninspired brains. Your books are without doubt the best in their genre.
However, when you start going into personal responsibility, you are just repeating something that we have all heard over and over again ad nauseum and ad infinitum. Anyone that still needs to have this repeated and pounded in their brains repeatedly is really in trouble and probably beyond help. Of course lack of personal responsibility leads to failure. The vast majority of us already know this. But the people I encounter on a daily basis make mistakes then try to fix them. On a percentage basis I am willing to bet you that the great majority of people exercise personal responsibility to the utmost. When I go about my life, I see people working, doing carpools for their kids, helping their kids with homework, shopping for groceries, filling up their gas tanks, preparing dinner, mowing their lawns, and taking personal responsibility to provide for their families. These are just some of the beautiful activities that make up our wonderful lives! When we make mistakes, it is better to hear, “Shut Up Stop Whining and Get a Life”. That’s your original God given talent at work. I know that you have an unlimited reservoir of such talent. This is what makes me and millions of others, anxiously await your next book. Thank you so very kindly for sharing your wisdom with the world. You are indeed a great man as proven by your works.
To Armando
“…..going into personal responsibility, you are just repeating something that we have all heard over and over again ad nauseum and ad infinitum. Anyone that still needs to have this repeated and pounded in their brains repeatedly is really in trouble and probably beyond help.”
You know the main reason most people get into trouble financially and struggle with debt, its because they repeat the same mistakes, again and again and again. If they didn’t have parents, siblings, spouses, or even Larry hollering from the roof tops a repeated message(s) to stop and be accountable for their decisions then this person would never hear the message that needed to be herd.
Debt and spending habits are obviously a direct link to personal responsibility, you spend you remain accountable. But there are many other decisions in life people must remain responsibility for and sometimes it helps to hear a new and fresh voice when trying to remain true to taking responsibility for your actions. Not wanting to speak for Larry, I think this is were he calling out to have people look introspectively at holding yourself accountable for your own actions.
Case in point, I’m struggling in my professional career, my industry is dying on a vine. So I have two choices, rollover and dye with everyone else or accept and adjust. I’ve chosen the later, but just because I’ve made this choice doesn’t make it any easier. Looking for inspiration to continue the uphill battle I revered back to words and messages “we have all heard over and over again ad nauseum and ad infinitum”
I refer to the language/quotes of the legendary John Wooden;
“be the best you can be in whatever endeavor you undertake”
“never mistake activity for achievement”
“winner” is one who pays attention to the perfection of minor details.
And I think the one most applicable to what Larry provides to all of us through his books and his online venues,
“Failing to prepare is preparing to fail”
In my line of work, failing to prepare is the kiss of death. You are so right. The bottom line is that maybe some of us have gotten a little lazy and irresponsible. Larry’s work has helped me personally to get over some rough times. If he helped me, then I’m sure he’s helped many, many others. I’m learning that I need to shut up more and let Larry do his job, cause he sure as heck does a hell of a good one!
Armando, I trademarked the moniker The Pitbull of Personal Responsibility® nearly 15 years ago so my personal responsibility approach is hardly new to what I do. I believe personal responsibility is the key to success, happiness and prosperity. Saying it differently doesn’t change the message. I’ll keep it simple just like I always have and just tell folks to take responsibility.
It’s nice to know that my head isn’t the only one with these rants swirling around in it.
And as a bit of an anecdote. After numerous times of contending with the disrespect, I informed every one of my friends, individually and personally, that if we are out together (whether it be dinner, movie, coffee, a walk, whatever) and they feel the need to text, twitter, facebook, or call someone else I will walk away and it will be the last time I initiate plans with them. Only about 1/3 of them took me seriously–the other 2/3s of them have rapidly disappeared. I feel like a dead weight has been lifted off my shoulders because I was letting their rude behavior make me think that I wasn’t worthy of their time and attention–in actuality, they just weren’t worth mine.
Larry you are right. Any excuse not to take responsibility. Always passing blame outside of ourselves. We need to take stock and stop screwing up.
It’s a shame about people who hate to read — who doesn’t feel like it’s worth the effort — and then will ask, with a straight face, how the something in question works/what needs to be done.
I must add the employees of the world, who will complain on and on about “not having enough money to put food on the table for my kids” yet can find money to support their two pack-a-day habit…oh, and they are usually on asthma medication on top of it.
Oh, and…similar employees who will either come in late or not at all, claiming to have “not set the alarm clock” or “having had a rough night” yet know what time it is when the magic paycheck appears.
i do think that you have the right idea on things but why do you have to be negitive on some things?
Hi again Larry & Hi Elizabeth;
I just saw your comments here and I am grateful for them. I am also surprised that what I said provoked a reaction. It is true Larry that negativity is a more powerful motivator. Or, more specifically, avoiding pain is a powerful motivator. I can vouch for that first hand. Things have to get uncomfortable for most people to act.
It takes action to effect change, all the positive thinking in the world will do nothing to ‘fix’ a given situation.
However, I DO believe that having optimistic people around me is much better for my happiness and well being than having miserable negative people in my life. Negative people are a drain on my soul, whereas optimistic people enable me to view my future (and present) in an uplifting way.
I’m late to the party, but I thought I’d say I disagree with one thing you have on there. The Duggars are pretty entertaining. They are an amazing example about how to live your life the right way. I’ll give it to you that they probably shouldn’t have 18 kids, but …
The kids are educated and respectful. They are good natured, thoughtful, and responsible.
The parents are modest, demonstrate positive communication methods, and hold their children to high standards. Somehow, they are able to support their children.
The family, as a whole, demonstrates an immense amount of personal responsibility and love.
As a Jewish guy, I’m not so interested in becoming Baptist (or Mormon), but these families know how to raise their kids well.
I dressed up as you for Hallowe’en!
I am reading three of your books from the library. The only one that says “all copies checked out” is the one about money. I guess people care more about having more money, than about general self-improvement.
Preach on.
Larry,
You’re right again!!! Gotta say though, that you must be the only person on Twitter with a big following, but is following no one but himself. Come to think of it though, if a Pit Bull was following me, I’d run like hell!!!
Larry, first time listener…first time emailer…just listened to one of your bits on Talk Radio about your ‘Shut Up & Stop Whining’ book…waited in line for my comment, but too many callers. I look forward to reading your material…I cannot comment fully on all positions/thoughts, but the core message of personal responsibility speaks volumes. I’ve had many up’s and down’s in my life…but I refuse to accept hand-outs…and want to earn my keep. This country was founded on the idea of being able to pursue happiness…pursue…no one said it would be easy to achieve…or that it would just be given. Over the decades, our culture has really softened…and all of the so called ‘socialist’ movements people talk of…well…blame yourself…you’ve been screaming bloody murder for it forever. Hypocrites. Rather than sitting around ‘whining’ as you called it correctly, do something. This goes for everyone. I feel some of the biggest hypocrites are the blue collar and white collar people who on one hand call foul for progams that are considered handouts…but at the same time are just as guilty…if not more for buying 2nd and 3rd homes…and then demand being bailed out. You made your bed…sleep in it. I commend you for your stand w/Cavuto…I just wish you would have pinned him down more on answering your comment of ‘what govt program does not have misuse and corruption’… Keep being what you are being…and let’s find a way to get your book/thoughts in the minds of the blue collar and white collar hypocrites that add fuel to the fire, rather than engaging in helping rebuild the character of America.
Hey I agreed with everything except the Duggars. They’re off limits. They are self-supporting and if they want to have 85 kids, so be it. Clearly, they are respectful, educated and healthy kids. As long as these kids aren’t going to be on public assistance or on America’s Most Wanted, I say birth away!
All of you who defend the Duggars – do some research – they declared their home a CHURCH , thus giving them tax exempt status. All of their groceries and vehicles and diapers and clothes are for the CHURCH – they don’t pay property taxes. Don’t you wish you had that tax exempt status? These people are sick hoarders – they hoard children and attention!
Good info and straight to the point. I am not sure if this is truly the best place to ask but do you people have any ideea where to get some professional writers? Thank you 🙂
It hurts but your are right we North America Canada and the United States suck maybe we should read Robert Hughs book culture of complaint.