JANE CHIN, PH.D. ∞

As for people:
Always believe in the positive things said of other people.

Be skeptical of negative things said of other people until you have proof through personal experience.

Good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people.

As for consulting or advising or business conduct:
If you don’t have a healthy % of people who can’t stand you, it means you’re being too much of a yes-man.

Look at the credibility of the source – if someone you trust as a peer tells you that you’re a jerk, it may be true.

Surround yourself with peers who aren’t afraid to tell you that you’re a jerk.

Make the right choices when no one may ever know about it or care.

People who don’t pay believe you owe them the favor. Collect with your best effort and set a “bad-debt write-off” date.

As for backstabbing:
Insecurity breeds things we don’t need to overanalyze (“it’s not you, it’s them”).

If you need to manage your insecurities on a minute-by-minute basis, do it (“it’s you, it’s not them”).

Don’t take backstabbing personally.

Know when you’re backstabbing.

It’s never too late to stop backstabbing, even when you’re right in the middle of it and may think you’re enjoying it.

Miscellaneous:
You don’t have to “be OK with it” to keep on living a meaningful life.

It’s OK to pat yourself on the back when or if no one else does it (or care).

Imperfection is fun. It keeps people guessing about you or keeps them intrigued with you.