Look around you. What do you see? If you were asked to be a witness at a trial, would you be able to remember details and conditions?

One of the qualities successful people from all walks of life have is a keen sense of observation. They notice things about people, human nature and the general world around them. Many of us, unfortunately, go through life with our eyes half-closed.

Perhaps you remember the story of the two streakers who interrupted a New York Yankees baseball game when Yogi Berra was the catcher for the Yankees. In the bottom of the ninth inning, two young people suddenly ran onto the field stark naked, slid into home plate, and then ran off again.

Asked later if the streakers were boys or girls, Yogi replied, "I don't know. They were wearing bags over their heads."

Of course, Yogi also famously said, "You can observe a lot just by watching."

That's why we love Yogi, even though his observations are mind-boggling.

Most people are easily distracted and not aware of what is going on around them. Being a keen observer is very important in life.

Perhaps one of the most famous "observers" in history is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes character. Holmes' method of detection was "based on the observation of trifles." To him, absolutely nothing was insignificant. Clues and information were all around, if only people would take notice. Doyle's readers are challenged to recall and relate details of his stories to solve the mysteries.

Dr. Joseph Bell was the physician said to be the inspiration for Sherlock Holmes. Doyle was particularly interested in Bell's emphasis on the importance of close observation in making a diagnosis.

For example, Bell told the story of a famous surgeon who used to tell his students that a doctor needed two abilities: freedom from nausea and the power of keen observation. One day he poured kerosene, castor oil and mustard into a little cup. He dipped a finger into the foul liquid and then sucked his finger. He passed the cup around to every student in the class and asked them to do the same. Reluctantly, the students did as the professor requested.

After all the students had dipped into the vile liquid, the professor remarked to the class: "I am afraid that not one of you used your powers of observation. The finger I put into the cup was not the same one that I stuck in my mouth."

Observation has practical applications in business, according to a newsletter from the Royal Bank of Canada: a businessperson being able to "size up a situation accurately and quickly; an engineer who can scan a factory floor and notice key aspects of workflow; a sales representative who can tell how best to approach a person after a glance at the desk ... An effective businessperson sees what others overlook, whether in a production line, an administrative routine, or a balance sheet."

Good observers filter out preconceptions, prejudices and cultural biases so that they see things as they are, not just as they want them to be.

An old lion realized he'd have to give up the title of king of all beasts. With failing eyesight, he grew dizzy from hunger and couldn't even muster the energy to roar. So he devised a plan to fill his belly before the other animals could figure out his secret.

He limped back to his den where he collapsed, feigning grave injury and illness and announced that his time on the plains would soon fade into the sunset. One by one, the animals of the forest came to pay their respects. And one by one, they disappeared as the lazy lion licked away any evidence of their visits.

But when the fox came to visit, he maintained a cautious distance outside the lion's cave.

"Who is that I hear stirring about?" whispered the lion.

"It is I," said the fox.

"Come closer, friend, for I can barely see you."

"No," said the fox. "Some distance between us is best. I see many footprints leading into your den, but none leaving."

The lion roared in anger, causing the fox and other animals to scurry into the forest. The fox was hailed as a hero, and the animals of the forest learned a valuable lesson: Those who are wise and observant learn from the mistakes of others.

Mackay's Moral: If what you see is what you get, make sure you're looking closely.

A few weeks ago I wrote a column about what you can do to get better at your job. I have some additions to my original list, which included improving time management, getting organized, staying positive, writing goals, compromising, developing confidence, exercising mind and body, using mentors and coaches, practicing public speaking, improving your relationship with your boss and learning to love feedback.

Add these ideas to your list. Just remember, the biggest room in the world is the room for improvement.

-- Be more resourceful. Resourcefulness -- using your brain to think outside the box and get the information you need or the project accomplished -- is one of the traits that I really admire in people. Webster's dictionary defines resourceful as "... able to deal promptly and effectively with problems, difficulties, etc." Resourcefulness is a real asset for anyone trying to get the edge over the competition, whether it's finding a job, keeping a job, making customers happy or landing a new account.

-- Forge strong relationships. People aren't strangers if you've already met them. The trick is to meet them before you need their help. Every person you meet should go into your contact file. A well-developed network is essential for any job.

-- Anticipate needs. This includes those of your department and your boss. Be a reliable source for your supervisor and team and provide solutions. Do your research. Study the industry. Follow through and stay available. If you contribute to your supervisor's success, you will position yourself as a team player and a dependable, valuable employee.

-- Delegate to elevate. Delegating is a key management skill, but managers often mistake delegation for passing off work. Failing to effectively delegate wastes your time as well as the company's time and resources. The most successful managers aim to make themselves unnecessary to their staff.

-- Listen to learn. Listening is a critical skill in everyone's life. If you want to be heard, you must know how to listen. We spend 45 percent of our waking time listening, yet we forget 50 percent of what we hear. Being a good listener can make or break a career.

-- Be a better team player. Teamwork is consciously espoused but unwittingly shunned by most people in business because they are afraid that it will render them anonymous or invisible. Nothing could be further from the truth. Working together is critical for success. No one is more important than the team. The key is how to build the team and make it more successful.

-- Encourage co-workers. Tell someone that they are stupid or dumb or bad at something and you have destroyed almost every incentive to improve. However, encourage that person and he or she will work tirelessly to excel. Encouragement is oxygen to the soul. It gives people a natural high. A person may not be as good as you tell her she is, but she'll try harder thereafter and achieve even more.

-- Spread enthusiasm around. Encouraging words have tremendous power. Things you hear and read affect your actions. Don't let others take away your dreams and wishes.

-- Reap rewards from volunteering. People who do volunteer work and help other people on a regular basis have a healthier outlook on life. They are more inclined to be go-getters and consistently report being happier. They also develop new skills like raising money, dealing with rejection, communicating and negotiating.

-- Stay humble or stumble. Humility is becoming a lost art in an era of self-promotion and making sure you get all the credit you deserve. Humility is not difficult to practice. It doesn't involve downplaying your achievements. It does mean that you realize that others have been involved in your success and you are prepared to be involved in theirs. You start by giving credit where it is due. As humorist Will Rogers said, "Get someone else to blow your horn and the sound will carry twice as far."

-- Always be productive. Arrive to work on time or, better yet, early. Don't procrastinate. Don't let work sit on your desk for days on end. Let's face it ... given a choice, people will perform the least important task first, and the most important last -- if at all. That's why "one of these days" becomes none of these days.

Mackay's Moral: Most people strive to be better off, but few strive to be better.

Joe DiMaggio of the New York Yankees had a fierce pride about always doing his best. The Yankees were on the road for a doubleheader against the St. Louis Browns. The day was not only boiling hot, the Browns were also last place in the league. Despite this, DiMaggio made an off-hand comment that he was looking forward to playing that day.

"In this heat!" said an amazed sportswriter. "How can you enjoy playing a doubleheader in stifling weather like this?"

Glancing toward the grandstand, DiMaggio said, "Maybe somebody out there has never seen me play before."

DiMaggio, affectionately known as the Yankee Clipper, was a prideful player. He was serious and genuine when he made those comments. Unfortunately, I know many people mistake pride for selfishness. When I looked up pride in a thesaurus, I was shocked at the suggestions -- arrogance, conceit, smugness, self-importance, egotism, vanity, immodesty, superiority and on and on.

Maybe there isn't a good synonym. But pride, to me, is being self-confident, but not egotistical. Pride is having a positive, can-do attitude because you will settle for nothing less than your level best.

I want people like Joe DiMaggio who are proud of the work they perform. Here are ways to build the pride that I look for:

-- Build your reputation. Whatever you do for a living, your signature is on it. You can't buy a reputation for doing good work; you must earn it. Reputation is one of the few assets that your competition cannot undersell or destroy. Would you buy a product or service from someone who didn't take pride in his work?

-- Play your role. Everyone has a specific job to do, no matter how small it might seem to you. Do it to the best of your ability. Be a good team player. The boat won't go if we all don't row.

-- Be confident, but not cocky. There's nothing wrong with being proud of your accomplishments, but you don't always have to tell the world. Keep your ego in check. A person who has the right to boast doesn't necessarily have to. Self-esteem is a must for a prideful person.

-- Stay positive. Don't let others bring you down, which is why I don't hang around negative people. Be friendly to everyone, including the people you dislike. As Michael Corleone said in "The Godfather," "Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer."

-- Build trust. The most important five-letter word in business is TRUST. Trust is central to doing business with anyone. People do not or cannot trust each other if they are easily suspicious of one another. When we trust people, we are optimistic not only that they are competent to do what we trust them to do, but also that they are committed to doing it.

-- Be knowledgeable. Learn as much as you can, and then keep on learning more. Knowledge is power.

-- Know that you don't know everything. The way I like to say it is: I know that you don't know, but you don't know that you don't know. You can't know everything, but you can know people who do. The best remedy for conceit is to sit down and make a list of all the things you don't know but should know.

-- Do good. Be a nice person and polite to everyone. Help people who need help. Try not to be judgmental.

-- Be kind. The Golden Rule applies here: Treat others the way you want to be treated. Smile and ignore anyone who wants to be mean to you.

As a professional photographer, Julie took a lot of pride in her work, and brought samples everywhere she went in hopes of getting new business. One evening she was at a dinner party, and her host asked to see her portfolio. She showed him over a dozen pictures, and the host was impressed.

"These are some really nice shots," he told her. "You must have a great camera."

Julie was annoyed at the suggestion that it was her camera -- not her talent -- that allowed her to take great pictures. But she said nothing until the meal was over.

"That dinner was excellent," she said.

"Thank you," said the host, pleased. "I prepared it myself." 

Julie smiled. "You must have some great pots and pans."

Mackay's Moral: Pride is the stone over which many people stumble.