Question: What is the best personality or the best identity for you to assume?

Answer: Anything you want to be! A cheerful friend, a businesslike executive, a caring listener. Whatever is best at the time. Different circumstances require different attitudes.

For example, to be a bossy manager at work might be appropriate, but you might drive your spouse crazy if the identity continues at home. To be a rowdy sports fan at a game is great, but not what you should be when asking for a raise.

The reason people have trouble determining who or what they should BE is because they don’t start with HAVE.

“Children in the West are commonly asked `What are you going to BE when you grow up?’ It is a silly question and can drive any child up the wall. Because it’s the wrong question—hits the wrong end of the cycle.”

“He is also asked, `What are you going to DO in life?’ That’s just as bad. It is quite difficult to answer.”

“If we asked children, `What do you want to PRODUCE in life?’ we could probably get a workable answer. From that he could figure out what he’d have to do to produce that and from that he could know what he had to BE. Then, with a little cooperation he would be able to lead a happy and valuable life.”