Chapter 89
You Show Real Class When You Do This...
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Today's Empowering Quote
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"I will utter what I believe today, if it
should contradict all I said yesterday."
-Wendell Phillips ------------------------------
Today's Empowering Question
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"What would I think of (Joe) if he came in right now and
told
me he was wrong about the thing he fought so hard for
earlier?" ------------------------------
Today's Fast Session
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I don't know about you, but today's question just blows me
away. Let's say that your employee or co-worker failed to do
something very important. And for whatever reason, let's
also say that you happened not to be in the most
resourceful state of mind. In fact you were in a downright
rotten mood. Now, when you're feeling like this, you don't always act
the way you want to act, right?
Little things can get you going. Possibility?
You're not as forgiving when you feel like this.
You're simply not in the mood for failure or excuses.
Instead, you want to assert your authority, tell 'em what
you think. You're ready for a fight. If you hear any
crap, you can't be held liable for what you do or say.
Bring em on! You call the perpetrator into the room to read them the
riot act. You ask why such and such wasn't done. You tell
'em how important it was. Your voice starts to get shaky.
"Please just argue with me," you think.
And what do they do?
They agree with you. Yup.
They start in. "You're absolutely right. I should've
done that. There is absolutely no excuse, so I won't give
you one. I could've done it, but I didn't. It's my fault
totally."
So what do you say?
"Well, it's not all that bad..."
Can you believe it?
They took all the joy out of it for you. You couldn't
possibly rip them the new one you had planned.
You must be seen as benevolent now. Merciful. Certainly
not the three-headed monster that you'd be if you kept
thrashing at them.
I probably shouldn't admit this, but when I was in direct
sales in the late 80's and early 90's, I spent a lot of
time driving between appointments... and I did my share of
speeding. I scheduled myself tight and was in a hurry
everywhere I went. In a space of about 3 years, I got pulled over for
speeding 12 times. And I swear to you, I talked my way out
of every one of those situations. Of course #13 was
unlucky for me, but still... 12 times in a row!
I did it by doing what we're talking about here. I
admitted my error... told them that I wasn't in any kind of
a hurry and that I wasn't paying attention. I was in the
wrong. I deserved a ticket.
So they let me go!
It just wasn't any fun for them. We usually ended up
laughing together. One of those times I was going 35 miles
per hour over the speed limit. Imagine that!
And yes, I've changed my ways and don't do that any more.
Now obviously, you don't want to be making the same
mistake over and over. However, there are often situations
where mistakes and setbacks are built into the job by
nature. If you constantly argue and debate and deny and point the
finger somewhere else... well, who likes to hear that?
Do you?
When you pull this, you can almost guarantee a fight.
When people do it to you, YOU don't like it.
So don't you do it... Because when you do, you look just
as dumb as the people who do it to you. And you will get
no mercy. If you mess up, admit it sincerely... and try not to
repeat it. But if you do it again, admit it again. And learn again.
And you CANNOT say things like "ALLRIGHT, I MADE A
MISTAKE!" in an angry, sarcastic tone said obviously just
to shut the other person up. You know what it means when
others are doing that and so do they. Mean it.
This is a small change, but it has GIGANTIC implications
in your life. Because you're probably making little
mistakes and inaccuracies all day long. It's called being
human. Admit yours (but don't ever call yourself stupid) and do
your best not to repeat them and you'll gain the respect
and admiration of all the people in your life...
...Including yourself.
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Today's Winning Beliefs
---------------------------- -- I respect myself enough to admit my mistakes
-- I'm taking responsibility for my actions
-- I'm helping others become more responsible today
-- I'm able to handle all my duties effectively now
-- I'm honest and sincere with myself and others
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