*Learn The Nuggets of Life

I love the scene in a hit movie in which a private investigator is in the office of a woman police lieutenant. They are arguing. Finally, she says, "You know, I could make your life a living hell." His reply is, "No, thank you, I'm not interested in a serious relationship right now."

Actually, most people want to have good communication skills and be involved in good relationships. And those people who have a good balance of communication and relationships skills at home and in business are the most successful and have the happiest lives. There is a direct overlap between home and business.

We arrive in our relationships without the tools or owner's manuals for these six major areas: communication, relationships, marriage, sex, children, and money. Nevertheless, we attempt to proceed through life as though we are experts in each category. No wonder we often fail. Sometimes, the toughest lesson to learn is really the one we thought we already had learned.

But change can occur rapidly where there are skills, tools, and the Nuggets of Life that you did not know were there. Some of them are already inside you. Then, suddenly there is new hope and optimism over the fact that your communication and relationships can improve. And they will! Because these Nuggets of Life produce their own energy. A Nugget of Life is something that changes your life but not necessarily your circumstances, such as a change in attitude. Attitude is your rudder through life.

What is a firefighter doing here writing about communication and relationships? Believe me it's not one of the hot topics at the fire house. Hey, we're in a macho profession. This is a tough and demanding job. We're heroes. One word got me here . . . Pain! In my twenty-second year of marriage with my wife Harriet, things were at the breaking point. I had plenty of skill for my dangerous job fighting fires, but few useful skills for communication and relationships. We get few tools from our parents and we pass even fewer on to our children. This is truly one of the "sins of the generations."

As I started out to overcome my weak areas, I found that I wasn't the only one needing help. I was among the multitudes who had the same problems in communication and relationships. As I gained new skills, I was asked to speak and share my insights with others. The sharing has continued for more than twelve years.

What we're talking about here is the ability to recognize and understand the differences between folks and to use simple tools to uncomplicate our lives. Just minor changes in you can make major differences in your relationships.

We are dramatically, dramatically, dramatically different in incalculable ways. Is there anyone who hasn't figured this one out yet? Knowing this, we need as many of the Nuggets of life, as possible, to help us get to the areas of intimacy and happiness we say we are all looking for.

This also applies to single people who say, "Well, first I just want someone to stand still long enough to get a relationship started." These tools can help you to strengthen your position and to enable you to be able to provide more in establishing a relationship.

The Nuggets of Life that will be presented in this book are for anyone interested in establishing good communication skills and in strengthening and maintaining relationships. What's great is that these new talents can be accomplished without changing who you really are. You might need to adjust your course a little.

For those of you who are not too sure that you really want to read all this stuff about relationships, just try the condensed version of this book. There are eleven short-burst chapters marked by an asterisk in the table of contents and on the chapters themselves. (You are almost finished with the first of the eight chapters.) They will give you a quick idea as to whether or not you'll want to read further. We don't want anyone to be taken hostage, kicking and screaming all the way.

I want to add these disclaimers:

I was able to improve my communication and relationships with my family and others by using the information contained in this book. Countless others have had the same success. It is my hope that you can walk away with at least a few of these Nuggets of Life that will provide an easier journey along the way to improved communication and better relationships.