"What hurt me most was believing that my problem was caused by rotten bosses instead of by a stubborn me. Had I not been so bullheaded, I might have realized that although I would have preferred bosses that left me alone, what I really thirsted for was respect, fulfillment, and the opportunity to do work of which I could be proud." (p. 28)
"If you poured your energy into your work, then your employer had better show you some gratitude and allow you some discretion to do your job the best way you knew how. That deal might be described as 'trading commitment for respect'..." (p. 84)
"First, nothing makes us feel better than helping somebody else who's in trouble. You probably know someone who has lost his job or retirement savings. Invite that person over for dinner or to spend an evening together. Show that you value the friendship. Not only will you be doing something nice for someone, you will he gaining something valuable, too: when you show respect and positive feelings for another person, you acquire them for yourself." (p. 8)