If you’re supposed to be somewhere, aim to be there right on time. It is better to be early than late. If you know you might run into traffic or other obstacles, leave early to give yourself extra time.  Being punctual is one of the best ways to show that you are dependable. Even being just a few minutes late can send the wrong message. Set alarms on your phone to wake you up in the morning or to remind you when you need to leave. If you know you need a lot of time in the morning to get ready, make sure that you wake up early enough to get it done. If you receive an email, phone call, text message, or letter, read it and respond to it within 24 hours. By doing so, you'll make sure that they get the proper response and that you don't forget to reply to important matters.  If someone calls and you’re not available, try sending them an email or text message asking if you can call them back later. Set aside 30 minutes in the morning and afternoon to answer all of your emails. This will help you answer them if you are busy throughout the day. Occasionally making a mistake doesn’t mean that you are not reliable. Just make sure that you accept responsibility for all of your mistakes and offer to fix them as soon as possible.  For example, if you promised to pick up groceries on the way home and forgot, you might offer to go back out and get them. If you made an error on a document at work, tell your boss that you will fix it right away. Whether you’re helping your friend assemble a TV stand or preparing a presentation at work, always do your best work. Go above and beyond if possible to show that you can perform good work consistently. For example, if you are helping someone put up pictures on their wall, take the time to measure out the space and to level out each frame. Don’t just put a nail in the wall and walk away. It’s hard to be dependable when you’ve taken on too many responsibilities for one person to handle. Don’t be afraid to ask friends, family, or coworkers for help when you’re feeling overwhelmed. For example, you might say to your spouse, “Can you pick up the kids from school today? I promised my boss I would get this report done by the end of the day, so I may need to work a little late.” Changing your habits takes time and commitment. In order to change your habits permanently, you will need to keep at it over a long period of time. Studies show that, on average, it takes 66 days of daily, persistent effort to change a habit. It’s likely that you’ll have setbacks along the way, and that’s ok—just try to identify what caused the setback, so that you can avoid it happening again.
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One-sentence summary -- Show up on time. Respond to emails and messages quickly. Fix your mistakes in a timely manner. Deliver good work every time. Delegate tasks, when you need to. Be patient with yourself.


If you’re like most people the idea of sharing with your siblings doesn’t come naturally, particularly if you already share a room with them.  Whether it’s clothes, music or, for younger siblings, toys, sharing seems to breed a lot of arguments and hostility. Set some ground rules about sharing personal belongings. Inform your sibling that they are welcome to borrow your items as long as they ask you first. If there are items that are off limits be sure to let your brother or sister know. Don’t get too angry with them if they forget to ask you the first time they borrow something. Nicely remind them about your rule. This is particularly relevant for older siblings, as it’s often younger siblings who want to hang out with the “big kids.”  While it can be annoying to have your younger brother or sister around constantly, it’s also nice to include them from time to time. Set boundaries. Let them know when it’s acceptable to spend time with you and your friends. Be sure you’re only including them in age-appropriate activities. For example, if you’re watching a violent movie and have a much younger sibling, it would not be appropriate to include them. Older siblings, this is applicable to you as well. Just because you’re older, doesn’t mean your younger siblings don’t want to be included anymore! If you’re going on a girls trip, invite your younger sister to join. Though it may not seem as obvious as letting your brother borrow your car, sharing your wisdom and expertise is still sharing! In fact, giving your sibling advice, can often be the very best form of sharing.  Regardless of your age, siblings are always in need of advice. Brothers and sisters can be  our best collaborators, co-conspirators and role models, but can serve as a cautionary tale as well. The fact that they are older or younger doesn’t matter much either, as everyone has some piece of knowledge worth sharing! Don’t offer advice where it’s not wanted. Let your sibling know that if they ever need your advice, you’d be happy to share it with them. Otherwise, you shouldn’t butt in! Sharing a space with your brother or sister can be difficult. Do your best to be generous when it comes to your living arrangements.  It's particularly important to be generous if your sibling is living with you for the first time. Maybe they've just moved into your room or apartment. Make them feel comfortable with a what's mine is yours mentality. If they want a particular side of the closet, let them have it. Learning to share your space and not get into petty fights is a great start to getting along with your sibling.
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One-sentence summary --
Share your personal belongings. Let your sibling hang out with your friends. Give them advice when they need it. Be generous if living together.