Perhaps the most arresting bit of personal advice I ever encountered was this:

If you want to be popular, live so that a blind person would like you.

The point is that lasting popularity depends not on having good looks or other surface personality traits but upon inner qualities that somehow communicate themselves to others.

Such qualities include a friendly voice, a sense of humor, kindness, thoughtfulness of the other fellow’s tender ego, sincere praise, gratitude and encouragement.

How well would a blind person like you?

And that’s something you can hang your hat on.

-mountainwings.com