Is our society losing the ability to engage in stimulating conversation? Have we become dominated by new technologies, the Internet, and mind-numbing television? Are we unable to build strong, lasting friendships? Are companies too focused on short-term profits rather than long-term community involvement and ethical business practices?

I’m afraid the answer is yes to all of those questions. Over 30 percent of our children are overweight because they spend too much time in front of the computer and television. Families seem to cocoon in their homes surrounded by fences, security systems, and automatic garage-door openers. Businesses are focused on bottom-line results at any cost. Employees have become statistics rather than a human resource. Commitment, integrity, and common courtesy seem to have become things of the past.

Perhaps I have become too cynical in my viewpoint, but I cannot help but believe there is something more to life. So how do we change this ominous pattern? Well, let’s take a look at just a few things we might do better to enrich our lives.

Let’s start talking to people. Last night a high school senior asked me what I felt he should try to get out of college. On reflection, that’s a tough question. Beyond book learning, I encouraged him to engage people in great conversations; explore new ideas, challenge conventional wisdom, demonstrate compassion, experience the emotions of others, and become flexible in his viewpoint.

To succeed in the communication process, I tried to give him a few ideas to make his conversations interesting. Here is what I suggested:

1. Don’t be afraid to break the ice. Find a reason to draw people into conversation.
2. Ask questions. Sometimes the best conversationalists do the least amount of talking.
3. Be sincere. If your questions are hollow or you do not listen, then you are not sincere.
4. Stay contemporary. Develop a breadth of knowledge and a whole new world will open for you.
5. Don’t be too quick to judge. Be open to new ideas, opinions and attitudes. Diversity of every type enriches our lives.

Communication skills are an art. The more we practice, the better we become at it. Break away from the television and computer and start talking to people. Get up, get out and get moving. Find new avenues to build new friendships and partnerships.

Commitment is another attribute that seems to escape us. People are too focused on themselves and not on their relationships with others. Ask yourself how many times you have made an appointment and then failed to keep it? How many times have you promised to call someone back and then did not do so? How many times have you told your children you would spend time with them and then found a reason not to? How many times have you promised an employee a raise, promotion, or new responsibilities and then not lived up to that commitment? How many times have you told yourself you would make positive changes in your own life, and then let yourself down?

Let’s reaffirm a commitment to others and to ourselves. We will feel better, and others will feel better about us.

Last but not least, strength of character. Our principles and how hard we fight for them determine our character. Never compromise your principles - but everything else is up for grabs. Seek compromise without compromising your principles. Character is molded through the test of time. The elements of extraordinary character are very hard to find in any one person. Isn’t it interesting how we seek character in others, but too often we do not demonstrate it ourselves? Let us make every effort to be an example to others through our integrity, compassion, commitment, friendship, fairness, openness, and vision.

While our lives and our careers may seem like they are in chaos, we will find new hope and direction if we start to make some simple changes. Do not fear change - it can be the best thing that can happen to us. Here is one of my favorite quotations: "Pain is inevitable, misery is an option." How we deal with change is what counts. Through effective communication, commitment, and character, you can deal with the challenges and make good things happen in your lives.

Don Straits, CEO and Dragon Slayer for CorporateWarriors.com, is recognized as a nationwide authority on contemporary job search strategies. His organization provides world-class outplacement and individual marketing services to senior level executives. Corporate Warriors has earned industry acclaim for its world-class multimedia resume portfolios. Go to corporatewarriors.com or e-mail Don at don@corporatewarriors.com.

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