I was sitting in front of a client who had written me a bad check.

It was the first I received in 25 years of business, so it would have been easy to find it insulting.

Patiently, I listened to his story about the client of his whose $30,000 check didnt clear, about how the company had experienced the worst month in its history, how if he werent such a stand-up guy, hed throw in the towel, when a few thoughts entered my mind:

(1) Gee, Im taking this calmly!

(2) Here I am, a lawyer and a Black Belt, and theres really nothing I CAN do, of a constructive nature, except to be patient.

And here I am, still feeling calm, writing about the experience.

Whats going on? Shouldnt I be really distraught about this?

The short answer is no.

What good would it do to let the animosity grow in me?

None, whatsoever, and it would also distract me from finding new and better clients, like the ones Ive been blessed with for these many years.

If theres a moral to this story, its what soul singer Marvin Gaye, sang:

Change what you can; what you cant, leave it alone. And have the sense to know the difference between the two!

One more thing: If someone robs you with a gun or with a pen, its too bad. But never, ever let them rob you of your positive attitude!