Thought #3: “It is mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”

We all do it—we hear an idea, and we immediately attach ourselves to an opinion about it without really giving it time it takes to form a reasoned conclusion. The problem with smart people is that we tend to use our intelligence to argue in defense of our chosen opinions. We’d be a whole lot wiser if we did less arguing and more thinking!

The next time someone makes a suggestion you don’t like or states an opinion you disagree with, try this: Wait three minutes before denouncing it. Now, this doesn't that you should just sit there, fuming or smug or disinterested. Instead, “entertain” thought. Ask questions. Show interest. Be open, engaged and nonconfrontational. When your three minutes are up, you can feel free to express your original opinion. More often than not, your original opinion will have changed a bit because you have spent some time holding a thought without attacking it.

The trick here is to separate thought from thinker. Are you sure you don’t dislike thought because you dislike thinker? We all have people in our lives who push our buttons. Take high road. Entertain thought. Your eventual rebuttal will be more easily accepted after you’ve shown that you have carefully considered concept. Try this at work, try it with your friends, try it with your family. This is a surefire path to excellence.

Thought #4: “What lies in our power to do, also lies in our power not to do.”

Ah, yes. Those bad habits? You can change them. If you had initiative at some point to do something, you can choose to stop doing it. This goes for overeating, smoking, drinking too much, and all usual bad habits.

It also hold true for things we don’t even think of as habits anymore—watching too much television, driving instead of walking, reading nothing but celebrity magazines, gossiping, spending too much time shopping, etc. If you haven’t always done it, you don’t have to continue doing it. You do have power to make changes.

Thought #5: “Well begun is half done.” We all understand that setting a goal, doing research, and making a plan will increase likelihood that our chosen task will be successfully completed. Whether it’s a home improvement project, a vacation schedule, or a tricky new recipe, proper preparation will save us a lot of time and effort.

Start using Aristotle’s ideas today to help you become an excellent human. Make your best acts your best habits. Learn something new each day. Entertain contrary thoughts. Begin to undo bad habits. Prepare yourself for excellence.

Aristotle would be so proud.

As a professional life coach, I talk to people with a view to ascertaining what they are looking for in life - where they want to be in (say) ten years time. Ask yourself same question in relation to your job and you will discover one of two things: either 1) your pay has hidden aspects that you love, or 2) That you are in wrong job! So, in essence "pay" you receive for your job should consist of more than financial aspect. If you are feeling brave, try this little self-assessment that will give you some indicator as to what your hidden salary may consist of and just how much job satisfaction you may have. Oh, by way, in case you haven`t cottoned on yet; "job satisfaction" is another name for "hidden salary"! Anyway, here we go:

1)What is greatest thing you enjoy about your job?

2)When you get up knowing you are heading for work, how do you feel about it?

3)How would you feel if, through no fault of your own, and your employer was reluctant, they told you that they had to let you go?

4)How do you feel when a colleague you know leaves company?

5)How do you feel about majority of people you work with?

6)Where do you see yourself in regard to your job, in (say) five years time?

We could go on with pulling this type of question out of a hat, but it isn`t necessary as by now you should be getting point. The real question is "Just how important is it for you to have those elements of hidden salary each and every month?" In other words, are you simply in job for money? Or do you have other values that dictate your presence in company?

A person`s values do not simply involve you in your working hours of course. What happens when you go home? Do you leave work behind? Or do you bring it home with you? If you bring it home with you simply because you enjoy your work so much that your brain continues to kick ideas around in your head, then to a point, that`s okay, (though, if you have one, your spouse/partner may not think so!). If you find yourself bringing it home nothing but moans, groans, and complaints, then I think you will agree, you have a problem! In such a scenario, your personal values are being abused. A question though: Who is permitting abuse? Who has control in such a situation? Guess what? You are always in control - if only by implication. Think about that statement for a while. It emphasizes an important concept of self-control vs. toleration.

So if you want to discover your hidden salary in your job, it is within your control to do so. It has always been within your control.