Achieve Personal Success Through Cultural Acceptance and Understanding

I'm a runner. You might attach a lot of different adjectives to that label. I've heard that runners are: crazy, dedicated, stupid, strong, athletic, headstrong, opinionated, healthy, etc. Many of those may be true, but they are all generalizing on a group, and that's what we all need to avoid. What do you think about when you find out that someone is Indian or South African, or a Catholic or Serb, or Jew or Buddhist?

How do the labels that are attached to groups (the stereotypes) effect how you approach people? Are you more polite when you speak to a woman or a man? Do you exercise caution with certain groups because you've heard that "X" is offensive? Do you avoid the steakhouse if you are having a business dinner with a Hindu? How in the world can we do business or have relationships, professional and personal, when you have to tread lightly for fear of offending, or do you throw caution to the wind and just say whatever you feel like?

The truth of the matter is that you need to walk a line located somewhere between the two. If you modify your behavior too much you'll be seen as two faced, if you speak without forethought, you'll be thought a boor. But, you need to realize that the stereotypes are not the individuals, while realizing that stereotypes usually exist for some reason.

Interact with politeness and be forthright and honest and you have a greater chance for success. No matter what group a person belongs to they will respect someone who is treating them well and speaking truth from the heart. Recognizing that in a person is paramount to success and if you are acting in integrity and you accidentally step on some "forbidden" subject or violate a cultural more, you will more likely to be forgiven the accidental indiscretion.

We all have a place in this world and need to realize that all interactions are a two way street. I was talking to my youngest daughter about perceptions the other day. She wanted to get a nose ring (which for some reason seems to be increasingly popular among teens and twenty-somethings) and she asked my opinion. I told her it would alter people's first impressions, and she replied that people shouldn't judge a book by its cover. I agreed, but when it comes down to it, we all do make judgments.

We are human and by nature we become nervous at people who don't look, act and talk like us. We just need to keep in mind that from the other person's perspective we are the one that is different. With a little shift in thinking, we can all get along better and become instruments in an orchestra of success. Each unique sound contributes to the beauty and harmony.