"That's not true!"

"Of course it is. I read it on the Internet. They can't put anything on the Internet unless it's true."

"Where did you hear that?"

"I read it on the Internet."

You may have seen the commercial with this bit of dialog. The young lady, convinced of the Internet's veracity, then goes off with an obvious loser masquerading as a French model whom she met on the Internet. Are you doing the same?

One of the biggest problems we face is rumor control. People get hold of a "fact" that creates a perception that becomes sufficiently real to drive politicians to take inappropriate action. Sometimes those facts are real but taken out of context; sometimes they are based on flawed research and "studies".

As professionals, we shouldn't be part of the problem. We should be objective and we should bolster arguments with facts. We should not accept things at face value but should strive seek for the truth and to be the voice of reason. We won't always be well received but it comes with the job.

So give some thought the resources you need to fact check issues. Check the facts before acting or offering advice. Don't go off with that fake Frenchman!

 I may be showing my age a bit but there used to be a character in Al Capp's L'il Abner comic strip called Joe Btfsplk. Joe was a nice guy but he always had a small black cloud hovering over his head. This was because he was the world's worst jinx and brought disaster on anyone around him.

We all know a Joe Btfsplk. They're the one always complaining or always with a reason why something can't be done. They may be well-intentioned but the end result is that they keep you from getting things done by sapping your energy.

The people with whom we surround ourselves have a great deal to do with our success or failure in life. There's nothing wrong with being loyal to a friend but recognize when that friend is being less than helpful. Seek the company of people who challenge and stimulate you, not those who hold you back. You'll be surprised at how your productivity increases.