This week
while waiting at a red light, I watched a crossing guard help four little
students cross the street. I don’t know if they anticipated Christmas or appreciated
being with friends, but their trip across the street made me smile. One kid
trotted, one skipped, one leaped, and another ran to the other side of the
street. They were bursting with joy. For some reason, it’s easier to identify a
happy kid than a happy adult.
We’re at the
end of another year, maybe it was a tough one or your best one yet. Check out this person's perspective:
In order to celebrate
the present, it helps to see past struggles as learning opportunities to triumph
over new challenges. Isn’t that the greatest advice for us all? Regardless
of the circumstances you face, what gives you joy?
No one
noticed that I wore one blue and one black sock this week. It wasn’t planned.
That’s what happens when you get dressed in dim lighting. One time, after a
busy morning, I accidentally wore mismatched shoes to an event. Again, no one
noticed. In my own defense, both pairs of shoes were identical, except for the
color. In college, I sported mismatched earring—on purpose. It was my attempt at
unconventionality. Apparently, a well-known fashion magazine now calls it a new trend. Fashion is a weird thing. Sometimes what seems so different at first winds up becoming popular, like these:
https://youtu.be/BspA-FF7wAo
Maybe you’ve
seen these on the street. Don’t laugh. I heard they’re
making a comeback, and before long you might own a pair, too. Once a group of high
profile people latch on to a trend, we’re more
likely to try it.
What trend
did you decide not to follow, and still won’t?
I have a talent for spotting tools—on the street. Not long ago, I saw a man strolling down the
street carrying a chainsaw. The scene resembled something out of a horror
movie. This week, I spotted a man crossing the street with a drill in his hand,
holding it like a gun. Maybe it’s me, but if you need to transport a tool, put
it inside a bag until you've arrived at your destination. Brace yourself when you see people using tools in unconventional places. Here’s an example:
The manufacturer
didn’t make the saw to spread salmonella. Tools, designed for particular
purposes, belong in specific situations. Tools are like talents and gifts, they require proper care.
If you’re a
singer, you develop your gift by enrolling in vocal classes to learn how to stay
in tune. If you’re a serious singer, you protect your vocal cords from the cold
with a scarf, and do exercises to warm them up before performing. Although you’ll
find outstanding singers singing in subway tunnels, you don’t usually find them
singing while roaming neighborhoods. That would be as peculiar as exposing a tool in the streets.
There is a special gift tucked inside every one of us. When it’s time to unveil yours, who will it benefit?
I joined a
gym. My initial visit turned out well, or at least I thought it did until I told
my family what I did. Judging by their puzzled looks and laughs, my workout routine
“exceeded” their expectations.
I used the normal
equipment like weight machines, the treadmill, and the stationary bike. The overall
program sounded fine, but I think my family had a problem with the execution. Apparently,
experienced exercisers don’t do fifty reps per machine. Apparently, they use more
weight and fewer reps. Apparently, I need a trainer to provide some guidance.
Given my
recent gym experience, here’s my advice for workout newbies: be careful when you
increase the treadmill’s speed, and don’t overlook the importance of the
handrails, if you want stay on your feet. And, if you want to zoom past your
workout goals, ask for help. Above all, don’t be this guy:
Usually
around mid-afternoon, I start thinking about dinner preparations. When I’m especially
unmotivated, I dig in the freezer for leftovers, hoping to heat up a quick
meal. Anyone foraging around in their freezer long enough might uncover a hidden
treasure, maybe some spare burgers or chicken breasts. If not, there’s an app
to help out. See for yourself:
https://youtu.be/tAG3IIQ1vw4
When you
tire of holiday dinner leftovers, order something more exotic through the app. Who
doesn’t enjoy sampling food from their neighbor’s plate? In many cases, it
helps to know who’s providing the bounty. What surprise have you received, but discovered
a bigger surprise in learning who
provided it?
Doesn’t
everyone enjoy a good massage? When our kids were younger, I offered them money
for back massages. The agreement worked well, until they got older. I thought
the days of two dollar massages had passed until one of our kids complained
about muscle soreness from sports practice and talked about needing a massage. Jumping
at the possibility of swapping services, I said, “Me, too.” And then, before I could
negotiate a deal, our sweet child added, “I guess we’re both dreamers.”
Talk about crushing a dream. If I want a professional massage,
I better start saving for it. Someone (Mike Phillips) once said: Money will come when you are doing the right thing. Check out the right moves these students are making:
They say you can tell what people value by where they spend
their money. Barring the necessary expenses like rent, utilities, and transportation,
how would you prefer to spend most of your money?
You probably
wonder how statements that begin with, “You know what they say… get started.” They who? You can tell they get respect because
people quote them a lot. Maybe “they” is a group of folks who’ve been there, done that, and are willing to
hand over the benefits of their experience to everyone else.
Believe it or not,
last week someone claimed to be part of the great “they” mystery. The
admission came as a surprise. In the middle of a conversation at our house,
someone quoted a theyism, like “You know what they say, you can’t judge a book by its cover.” We all stopped to
think about who “they” is. And that’s when a voice said, “I am.” And there you
have it—mystery solved—one of our kids is “they.” You know what they say, “Out of the mouths of
babes….”
I never
would have guessed that “they” lived in my house. Go figure. You probably
thought theyisms came from people like this:
And that’s
what one group of “theys” had to say. I hope you found a few words of wisdom
for yourself. Who’s the “they” you turn to for solutions to your difficult
questions and situations?
It seems like
stores want our feedback on everything we buy. When they send us online surveys
immediately after our purchases, it’s like going on a first date and being
invited out for a second date before the first date begins. After buying an item, we
need to wash, wear, and live with it for a while so we can give accurate feedback on our experience.
As a former
market researcher, I recognize the risks of a slanted survey. For example, I saw one customer satisfaction questionnaire that offered two possible ratings—good
or very good. That’s not a legitimate survey. In fact, it crosses the line. Customers want their views valued, not manipulated.
I don’t mind completing good surveys, but I do prefer to skip the rambling and repetitive ones. Checking off a lot of little boxes and filling out boring forms is no fun. A focus group is a whole different situation, especially when you toss in a couple of celebrities. Have a look:
I’m an avid
supporter of the underdog, even when it comes to life on the Serengeti. I saw
an animal show where five baboons chased down a baby gazelle. The babies aren’t
much of a meal, but I guess food was scarce. The baboons played a gruesome game
of Keep-Away, while the mother tried to rescue her baby. Finally, one of the
baboons carried it up into tree. The mother stopped, looked around, and ran circles around the tree. Looking confused, she ran from one
spot to the next, searching for the little gazelle.
I felt like
snatching the baby from the baboon’s mouth and handing over to its mother. But,
there’s the other perspective. Maybe the baboons were close to starving. Life
is hard for both sides. Consider another scenario. Who would you cheer for in
this match up?
https://youtu.be/TBpu4DAvwI8
Although the lions’ faces made me feel bad for them, I’m in favor
of the men feeding their families. Considering all the facts, the hunters did leave part of the kill for the
lions, and they get loads of bonus points for their bravery. Kudos to the first guy
who decided to use that hunting technique. In the presidential run-offs and elections, what key, underlying factors determine who you support?
This week’s beautiful
weather almost made us forget what the future holds. Ignoring the red and
orange leaves, the high temperatures nearly convinced us to anticipate a second
summer. But, we know the truth, right? Get ready to smile if you enjoy cold
weather because, based on normal patterns, winter is on the way. No doubt about
it. Or is there?
In addition to
the cultural and political turmoil, the weather’s turning chaotic, too. Think
about the monster hurricanes, record heat, and unprecedented snow accumulations
we’ve seen. Forecasters think they can predict the weather until this happens:
https://youtu.be/iRtwv3v4Mq0
Given the unexpected news stories, the future is as unpredictable as ever. One of
the best ways to impact the future is to manage the present. If we want to see ourselves
at a specific place in the future (call it point C), we need to be prepared to
execute points A and B. What steps can you take now to impact your future?
Look around
and you‘ll see Halloween decorations popping up throughout the neighborhood.
It’s the time of the year when people who are eager for Christmas decorations put
up black and orange lights instead. And it’s the time when neighbors complain
about the master decorator whose creativity makes the adults scream. Take a
look:
This
squabble could continue for years. While the master decorator enjoys the
holiday, his neighbors may think about “Halloweening” the decorator. Next year, if the
two sides talk to one another instead of talking to other neighbors, police,
and the media, maybe they’ll work out their differences. Talking begins with a
civil, face-to-face conversation. What’s the crucial conversation you’ve
avoided until now?
Kids say
the funniest things. They surprise us because we forget about the amount of
thinking that goes on in those little bodies. If you have a child or small
relative, then you probably have an own experience of when a kid’s comment
caught you off guard.
I remember the story about a relative who was heading off to work. She stopped in her tracks when her
straight-faced second grader said, “You look like a clown.” Her outfit, in all
of its polka-dotted glory, ended up back in the closet.
Yesterday I
asked one of our kids a question about doing homework. I got a blank look, so I
said, “You look as though I asked you to eat a cow.” Our youngster replied, “I
probably could if it was seasoned right.” You never know what kids will say.
Here’s more:
The one
little girl offered serious advice: You don’t need a raise. Problem solved. Wouldn’t
it be nice to get the “perfect” advice for every situation? We all need someone
to tell us the truth without tip-toeing around an issue. What advice have you
been hesitant to give?
Wind and
rain are two of our most powerful elements. Based on past hurricane seasons,
we’re familiar with the destruction they cause. Scientists discover and invent
so many incredible things, why can’t they control the weather? Maybe they can. See: https://www.intellihub.com/dr-michio-kaku-admits-government-weather-control-cbs-news/
For a fee, one
company offers weather–modifications, claiming to give you clear weather.
Cloud-seeding enables them to cause rain the day before your special outdoor event,
leaving you with sunny skies the next day for a wedding ceremony or company
golf outing. We’re closer to manipulating the weather than ever, and we’re
making progress in other areas, too. Take a look:
https://youtu.be/wMkorx3GzGM
Fascinating,
huh? Oh sure, those experimental findings seem beneficial—until scientists use their
powers for evil. Some of our greatest books describe what happens when others
control what we think, believe, and how we behave. If you had mind-controlling powers,
what thought would you implant in everybody’s mind?
I glanced in
our backyard and discovered a deer staring toward the street, and I could tell by
the expression on its face it was calculating the odds of making it to the
other side. Before I could stop it, the deer sped off toward danger. I ran to
the front window to see if it would survive.
It probably
sensed my concern because instead of crossing the street, it headed down the
block. Frightened by cars whizzing by, the deer panicked, dashed across the street and lunged into the
bushes. Seconds later, it leaped from the shrubs with a branch lodged between
its antlers, turned, and galloped into thicker woods.
Too bad deer
can’t take street-crossing classes. If that sounds absurd, take a look at some
of the incredible classes our schools offer:
It’s good
marketing when teachers use popular class titles to attract students, but it’s a
waste of money when the classes lack any real value. In your opinion, what type
of class should everyone take?
After
pulling into a pay-for-parking lot, the attendant asked for my license plate
number. I recited the first three letter/numbers and couldn’t remember the rest,
so I quickly added, “something, something, something.” I guess the attendant
wanted more details because he decided to read my plate for himself. I bet most
people can’t recall what’s on their license plate—or am I the only one?
Of course,
personalized plates are easy to remember. Think about the strange descriptions
you’ve seen on vanity license plates. People use the space to describe themselves,
their pets, their hobbies, and other surprising activities. Many times, no
one—except the owner—can read the seven-character message. Try to guess what
these people had in mind:
Maybe people
don’t care whether other drivers understand their vanity plates. Still, it seems
like a great spot to broadcast your views. If you could create a
free vanity license plate, what public statement would you make?
Relationships float through different stages. Last week, I overheard an
interesting exchange between a parent and a couple of kids. The parent kept
making funny faces and singing popular songs written long before the kids were
born. Judging by the kids’ expressions, they wanted no part of the performance. Undeterred by their eye-rolls, the parent added to the torture by singing off-key.
After several
minutes, one of the kids pulled a question from the childhood memory files. Questions
always make good diversions. The kid said to the parent, “Do you want to play a
game?” The second kid followed up with,
“Yeah, let’s play the quiet game.” How many times had the kids had fallen for
the “quiet game” tactic? Eventually kids will borrow their parents’
tricks and criticize parenting logic. Watch this:
https://youtu.be/GadAQd1IAzk
As kids grow
up, they’ll offer their parents advice on everything from fashions and
hairstyles to insurance and investments. Through the usual ups and downs of
life, parent-child relationships deepen and evolve. What’s your most important
relationship and how has it developed?
Would you play
an extra in a scary movie? Early one morning while driving through the city, I spotted
a tall, muscular man walking down the street. Judging by his stride, he intended
to arrive at work on time. Based on his tool belt and work boots, I assumed he
worked in the construction industry. Here’s the interesting part: he carried a chain
saw. It looked like the scene from a scary movie, but there were no movie
cameras in sight.
I didn’t
call the police. Maybe the man borrowed the chain saw from work to repair a
project at home. Maybe his job required him to bring in his own tools. He
should have hidden that tool in a bag. You can be the best construction worker
in the world, but when you walk down the street with a chainsaw, it’s not a good
first impression. Check out these impressions:
One expert
said first impressions are formed in seven seconds. They say perception is reality, and once established, “reality” can be difficult to change. Is
the first impression you give consistent with how you want people to see you?
A local museum’s
ad reminded me of a family vacation we took years ago. I told our kids that, during
the trip, we visited a museum that focused on wildlife and conservation. On an outdoor
exhibit walk around the building, we saw animals living in the grasses, bushes,
and in the river. Signs along the elevated walkway displayed pictures of the
animals’ “output.”
One of our
kids wondered why our local museum advertised an exhibit on “output.” I explained
that you can identify an animal by it, and added that the museum thought the topic
would attract kids who giggled at that sort of thing. I thought the
conversation was over until one of our kids asked, “Are we kids or barbarians?”
Barbarians—like the ones from the Roman Empire? Someone paid attention in history class. Maybe
this helps explain the museum’s topic choice:
https://youtu.be/bk0oWCiUob4
The scoop on
poop: Is it entertainment or education? Who knew output deserved so much scientific
attention? It can be helpful to discuss the scoop on poop, or any other topic. How
we say things and why we’re mentioning them will show whether we’re speaking like
decent people or barbarians.
Political
correctness shouldn’t force us to bury controversial topics, but it should encourage
us to speak on them without using pie-in-the-face words. What national conversation
do you want to defend without it turning into a big stink?
Help! I’m
stuck on You Tube and I can’t get off. Yeah, it happened. I tried to send an
S.O.S. text to the kids to come get me, but I couldn’t take my eyes off the
screen long enough to type it. Who doesn’t get trapped on Facebook, Pinterest,
Instagram, and the many other captivating social media sites?
I got online
to look for a music video, migrated to (Name a Country’s) Got Talent, and ended
with my favorite—flash mobs! It was that kind of evening. Here’s one of the
time-stealing videos I watched:
Hilarious! The
judges’ expressions seemed to say, “You’re singing what?” How does a huge voice
like that come from such a small mouth? The little singer seemed matter-of-fact,
but she had an extraordinary gift to share.
There was no
English translation on the initial video I saw. This one packed more power
because it explained how she found her song. I want to know how she found that
voice. Her video collected over fourteen million hits. That’s huge! If you
could make a video guaranteed to attract millions of viewers, what would you
share with the world?
P.S. I typed the last word in this post, glanced up,
and saw this face flash across the TV screen: https://youtu.be/SwhtbtSmcDsWhat a gift!
It’s over.
For more than twenty years, I boycotted a designer. I passed on purchasing coats,
pants, shoes, and all kinds of cool apparel. Here’s the back story:
For years,
I’ve enjoyed art and advertisements. I worked at an ad agency, and usually pay
close attention to magazine ad campaigns. One day, while browsing through a
fashion magazine, I noticed one designer’s ad for apparel or perfume. Over time,
I forgot the particular product, but the use of nude models stuck with me.
Nudity in magazine ads, in films, and on TV feels like an artistic cop-out. If a product or project is fantastical and compelling,
does nudity need to be part of the picture? It feels like a cop-out for a lack
of creativity. And so, without circulating a petition or making a scene, I started
my personal boycott of a fashion designer.
The designer
has suffered long enough. It’s time to end the boycott. Let bygones be bygones.
These days established designers manufacture apparel for all price levels, and so
I finally bought a dress by the designer whose products I had avoided for so
many years.
Boycotts
have a place whether public or personal, short or long-term, silly or serious. You
never know what people will want to boycott:
Every
morning people flock there for a morning fix. When we’re on vacation, we’ll
visit that establishment about five times a week for breakfasts, beverages, snacks,
or restroom breaks. I’m against genetically-modified products, too. I sympathize
with Mr. Young’s position, but another boycott? It’s too soon! I’m not ready to
make that sacrifice.
That’s the
problem with protests. Despite your best intentions, there will be non-supporters.
Regardless of how other people feel, what position would you defend for twenty
years or more?
Can you
believe it’s time for political debates and discussions about presidential
elections? After I updated our kids about the presidential candidates’ recent comments
and decisions, our youngest child remarked, “This is like a bad dream.” Let’s
hope the dream gets better—for us and for our children.
Young people
always offer interesting insights. Kids, no matter where they live, often surprise
us with their ideas about politics. Have a listen:
Kids may not
know everything about being president, but talking about politics is the first
step toward raising future voters. Let’s hope kids realize their voices can
make a positive difference, despite the political behaviors they see. Based on the current
political environment so far, we’d better strap ourselves in for the bumpy ride to
Election Day. Maybe during the 2016 election campaign, there'll be less bickering and more talk about solutions for the nation's problems.
Financial status, upbringing, and other personal experiences drive the
candidates’ political positions. You probably have one or two key issues that
drive the kind of candidate you’ll follow. Thinking about those topics, which of your personal
views cause you to support those issues?
Remember
that satisfied feeling you get after traveling a distance and finally checking
in at the hotel desk? You made it. With a key in hand, you head for the
elevator, hoping for a clean room and a comfortable bed. Your heart might skip
a little as you slide the key in the lock because the last thing you want to do
is find a problem with the room, forcing you to trudge back to the front desk.
We lived
that situation last week. With high expectations, we slid the key in the lock,
opened the door, and…surprise! Someone had turned on TV, but not only that—he
was seated on the bed, enjoying a show. Not good, and not what we expected. The
front desk goofed. Bewildered about how we received the key to an occupied
room, we plodded back downstairs for a new room. You never know what’s behind a
closed door. Look what goes on at one resort:
Conspiracy
theories will always accompany closed door gatherings. We’ll find one of two scenarios
behind closed doors: the expected or the unexpected. Is there a “closed door”
in your life? When it opens, what do you hope to discover?
What’s the
story with weeds? Why is it that the things we dislike the most become the hardest
to eliminate? Regardless of how many times we forget to water or fertilize the
flowerbeds, the weeds still thrive. Look around. They’re our sturdiest plants.
They protect themselves with prickly leaves, so when we try to uproot
them—ouch! They’re sneaky, too. As soon as they’re tall enough to be an eyesore,
they sprout pretty flowers to blend in. In a last ditch effort to bug us before
we yank them from the ground, they release fluffy, white seeds to birth future
weeds. Face it. Weeds are tough to eliminate, but if we keep them around, we’ll
be sorry.
Who knows
what lurks behind your weed stalks? Given what that lady could face, she has to
be prepared. Her leave blower is on-hand, and when normal weeding tools fail she
gets serious. Did you hear about her back-up weeding weapon? Stay out of her
way.
Weeds are like bad habits. Both can be
dangerous to our well-being. If we don’t eradicate them, our lives can become a
total mess. It might take extreme measures to uproot the firmly entrenched
ones. What’s your best plan for eliminating the weediest parts of your life?
How much do
you like breakfast? Would you eat it several times a day? I bet you’re wondering,
“Who does that?” Well, on a trip to the west coast, our family ate breakfast
three times.
We picked up the first meal at a local
convenience store on the way to an early morning flight. Several hours later, after
boarding the plane, the airline served “breakfast.” The flight was wonderful.
The breakfast? Not so much.
The flight
attendant offered us a choice of a cheese blintz or quiche. It was a lose-lose proposition.
Do people still eat cheese blintzes? I chose the quiche, which seemed to be a
mixture of egg and the crust that’s usually found under the egg. Believe me,
the texture of blended egg and flour didn’t work. To be fair, I did like the
fruit, the biscuit, and beverages. We ate our
third breakfast during a brief layover in Arizona. When I say “we,” I’m referring
to my family. While it was ten-thirty in the
morning in Arizona, it was lunchtime on the east coast. I bucked the trend and ordered a tuna sandwich,
but we laughed as the rest of the family ordered pancakes. So, that’s how we squeezed in
three breakfasts. In additional to the food, guess what else we enjoyed?
We didn’t
plan to eat that many breakfasts. It just happened. Although great
things can happen by accident, they’re often the result of intentional planning.
That’s one of my words for the year—intentional. If we want to change, grow, or
improve, it’s going to take intentional planning and focused work. Your goals are
worth it. What’s your plan for reaching your most important goals?
Banking on
the GSP’s promise of a gas station not far down the road, we set out on an
unfamiliar, alternative route toward the Californian beach. The road twisted
and turned through a mountainous region. Before long, we realized we picked the
road with only occasional guardrails
separating us from heart-stopping, sixty feet drop-offs. Besides that, directions
for the “promised” gas station led us to a right hand turn and a sign that said
“road closed.” Duped by the GPS again.
So, we inched along a long, windy mountain road
with only a quarter tank of gas, and due to the elevation, no GPS reception. But,
after several more miles, we located a gas station, regained the GSP signal,
and exited the harrowing mountain road. Looking back, I’m glad our drive on I74
looked nothing like this:
It’s amazing
what we’ll endure to get to where we want to go.As you heard, thirteen guys in China paved their own road, although several
men didn’t live to see the end. Robert Frost’s well-known poem implies that choosing
our own road takes courage. What’s the scariest road you’ve taken?
Can you hear
or smell colors? I considered the question when our kids mentioned how they
enjoyed visiting the AAA Travel agency because it smelled like travel. Really?
When I visited a couple of weeks ago, I didn’t notice a travel smell. Maybe I
missed it.
The kids’
comment reminded me of a story I heard about someone whose senses reached
beyond our normal experiences. I could tell you about it, but it’s more
astounding if you “see” it for yourself. The first video explains the
phenomenon, and the second one gives a personal account.
When last
week’s post asked you to name something incredible, I hope you thought about
yourself. Our lungs inhale and exhale, our hearts work non-stop for about seventy
or eighty years, pumping a vital liquid into tiny tubes throughout our bodies.
That’s incredible!
If your
four-year-old daughter or son, niece or nephew asked you what makes people
special. How would you answer?
What can you
do with a hot potato, besides eat it? At dinner last week, instead of eating
their baked potatoes, our kids rolled them over their faces and wondered why
hot baked potatoes haven’t replaced heated
rocks for massages. They explained how, after a relaxing massage, the potato could
double as a nutritious snack. Leave it to kids to find new uses for foods they
don’t want to eat. Here’s another idea:
Who knew
potatoes could change from glowing, squishy balls to liquid messes, dripping
off the palm of your hand? No wonder the video has millions of hits. But, wait!
There’s more….
One website
stated how a scientist created ice cream that changes colors when licked. The
ice cream is made from natural ingredients—maybe it’s potatoes. Scientists make
fresh discoveries every year, and we can’t wait until the next, new thing. The
more unusual, the better.What’s the
most incredible thing you’ve seen or heard?
Is it going
to rain or not? All day the clouds blow in; the clouds blow out, but no rain
falls. The weather forecaster’s stormy promises raise many questions. Should we
grill our dinner or play it safe and use the stove? Should we water the flowers and
vegetables, or wait for the rain? Sure, we get an occasional misting here and
there, but nothing like the downpours promised.
The weather
forecasts remind me of the dire warnings for predicted disasters. No one wants
a crisis, especially none like these:
The
predictions may continue for years. Researchers say “a big one” could occur
within the next thirty days or in the next thirty years. We’ve seen the cracked
tectonic plates, and heard the geologist’s testimonies. Experts are convinced the
big one is going to happen, but what about you? Are you concerned about catastrophic
events? What makes you believe one will occur?
How well do
you know yourself? You’ll see a whole, new side by playing a game I call “Impersonate
Me.” Our family has played it a few times. Each person adopts the mannerisms of
their selected person. What an eye-opener. You never fully know yourself until
you see someone imitate how you sit, eat, or talk. Try it and see what happens.
Over the
weekend, I felt sucked into a modified version of “Impersonate Me” when our
kids decided to describe the “the things I do.” They said sometimes, during
casual conversation, I launch into foreign accents—which I doubted—until I did
it. In the car this morning, one of the kids decided to mirror back the facial
expressions I made as I talked. Nice. I predict a long summer. But then, this video gave me a new
perspective on the coming months. Take a look:
https://youtu.be/FlqMnDUtfOQ
If I copy
these facial expressions and throw in a couple of Julia Child and Scooby Doo
voice impressions, within a week, the kids will be extremely annoyed with my shenanigans. If I'm fortuntate, they’ll grow bored with me
and move on to someone else. I better warn my husband.
Given the
number of roles we fill in our families, in school, and at our jobs, it’s easy
to lose track of our true selves. What about you? Do you offer people your
authentic “face,” or do you give them the one they expect to see?
Welcome to my
experience with a relentless telemarketing company. This particular company chose
to call me at 2:00, 4:30, 5:15, and 5:45 this morning. Was that their “surprise
strategy” for catching groggy households off-guard? They crossed the line.
I sent them a
text that said, “This is ridiculous. Stop calling.” A return message said I texted to a landline,
but a verbal message could be sent to the line for a fee. No thanks! Instead I registered
with the Do Not Call registry. I’ll keep you posted on what happens next. In the
meantime, check out this tactic:
https://youtu.be/M0yVBt-fLnI
If your
telemarketer is a human, they are no match for a child because kids possess special skills
for winning telemarketing phone wars. If a child is shy, talkative, or too
young to speak English, the telemarketer will beg to speak to an adult, and
eventually hang up in frustration. Perfect! You’ve won the battle—until the
next call.
We can address our problems head-on or minimize them with a change in perspective. In any case, we win. What has been your most
persistent problem, and how was it resolved?
