Beware of Sycophants (Flatters).
One day, John(a wealthy man) was travelling with his friends to a different city. John asked his friend do you think it’s a good idea to embark on this journey. None of the friends said no because John was wealthy and also give to his friends’ all the things they needed in life. They started the journey and after some hours they met a lady who was coming from their direction.
Let’s start with a story.
One day, John(a wealthy man) was travelling with his friends to a different city. John asked his friend do you think it’s a good idea to embark on this journey. None of the friends said no because John was wealthy and also give to his friends’ all the things they needed in life. They started the journey and after some hours they met a lady who was coming from their direction. She told them that the road is not safe and that they should return. His friends told John that the woman doesn't want them to reach the beautiful city they have heard about it for years. They met another person who repeated exactly what the woman told them, but they ignored. Later in the day, news came out that John the wealthy man and his friends had an accident. They all died. This event is sad, right?
In life, there are a lot of people around you that cannot boldly point out your wrongdoings. Those people don’t make progress in your life. Stay away from such people. This story implies that if the friends could have advised the man John, they would have prevented the death. In the same manner, the friends also think about themselves because they fear to lose their gift if they tell him the truth. A lot of people think that those that can boldly point out our bad behaviour doesn’t like us. But that’s the kind of people we need to move with. There’s an adage that if someone hit your head, it doesn't mean that the person won’t like you, but rather telling you to strengthen your neck. We have a lot of friends around us who are a sycophant.
Sycophant means that a person who tries to win favour from wealthy or influential people by flattering them. If the friends around you are sycophant then you have to be very careful. You have received praise from friends and other people around you just because of the gift you gave them, but no one reminded you about your attitude if is it’s good or bad and stays alert. "If after weighing your friends and no one can prompt you for information about your role or character, then ignore them." So, the question you should always ask yourself when someone praises you is this: Does this response make me more big-headed or more big-hearted?
In life, the leader doesn’t always know that he is wrong or right unless the followers prompt him. A friend of mine had a load of work, he thought he could do everything on his own unless I prompted him. At first, he thought I needed to take part in his work but until he felt sick and admitted at the hospital. The doctor told him he needed rest after he got to know that I was right by telling him to apportion part of the duty to others. At times, we should always know that people that can prompt us are the best of people we should keep in our life. As far as you are on this earth, you must fulfil your plans, get to find good people around you that can encourage and also prompt you when you are wrong.
Don’t surrender yourself with “yes people” that’s everything you will say they will agree to it whether good or bad. Don’t let the sycophant praise you. Our life is important don’t regret or never alter the word "HAD I KNOWN". Also, seek for good people who can evaluate your life. If you have a lot of rich people around you but yet no one could tell you the secret to doing business to progressing in life, then, they are not helping you to prosper. Do not be content with the little they give you. Seek for people that can challenge your life to prosper. The people that will talk you out of your foolishness. They will talk you out of your stupidity. We don’t just make friends; we have friends for a purpose. Have friends that you will gain something good out of the friendship. Make friends with people with the same vision. You must have a relationship goal. It’s time you decide your life. Assess yourself to find out if people around you are sycophants or not. In life, you’re better off with a person who will criticize you than a person who will flatter you. Treasure those kinds of friends for they are not easy to have such people. Always remember that sycophant is up to no good; he’s probably planning to take advantage of you. We don’t have time on earth, so make good use of the time you have. TIME AND TIDE WAIT FOR NO MAN.
Thank you for reading. Without your effort, we cannot go forward. For any comment connect me via twitter @abfred_1 .
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ABANKWA FREDERICK (PhD)
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FRED ABANKWA
Entrepreneur | Motivational speaker | Counsellor | HR Specialist |
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