• Quotes

Borrowing Strength Builds Weakness

<aside> 🎓 Borrowing strength is the act of using some extrinsic source of strength/power unrelated to the situation to impose one's will, instead of using intrinsic power. It violates the character ethic and creates strained relationships and personalities.

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• Common sources of borrowed strength: size, physical strength, position, authority, credentials, status symbols, appearance, past achievements
• Creates weakness in the person being dominated because it stunts independence, growth and reasoning
• Creates weakness in the dominator because it reinforces their dependence upon external factors (the sources of power)
• Creates weakness in the relationship both it is based upon the imposition of external power, leading to fear and distrust

Personality and Character Ethics

<aside> 🎓 The Character Ethic teaches that there are basic principles of effective living, and people can only experience true success and enduring happiness as they learn and integrate these principles into their basic character

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<aside> 🎓 The Personality Ethic teaches that success is a function of personality, of public image, of attitudes and behaviors, skills and techniques, that lubricate the process of human interaction

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• The elements of the Personality Ethic are useful (and sometimes essential) for success. Nevertheless, they are secondary: if your character is fundamentally flawed, in the long run people will see through every trick and tip that you use

Paradigms

<aside> 🎓 Paradigms are the way that we see the world. They provide a frame of reference against which everything is judged.

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• Using the wrong paradigm means that improving behavior and attitude is meaningless
• Broadly speaking, there are two types of paradigm: maps of the way things are (realities), and maps of the way things should be (values)

Principles

<aside> 🎓 While paradigms are frameworks through which we see the world, principles are natural laws of human nature that cannot be broken. They are guidelines for human conduct that are proven to have enduring permanent, value.

For example, fairness, integrity, honesty, human dignity, service, excellence, potential, growth, patience, nurturance, encouragement

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