Mark my words. Perception is reality and how someone perceives you is their reality.
Perception number one, how you want people to think about you when you arrive and perception number two, how you want them to talk about you once you have left.
Each step of your current journey will take you to new and interesting worlds of opportunity and as every intrepid explorer knows, when one visits strange new lands one must be aware of their customs.
Fascinatingly resilient the tenacity of a child. Not yet conditioned by society to give up when instructed to do so.
You see continuous movement is the important thing here. Those who remain in one position and then lie to themselves about their progress are the ones in real trouble.
Listen to people from your heart, as if your life depended on it, and you will find that in turn people will listen to you with all of theirs.