Be Nice
I’m reading a book on sales because I have no idea how to sell this program I have. Really, I have no idea how to sell anything. That partially explains the lack of posts over the last week – I’ve been trying to improve myself.
This book, “How To Become A Rainmaker” by Jeffrey Fox, has a stack of short chapters with advice. Some of it has been very useful and some of it has been how to monetize what I’m offering for the customers – not so useful.
The reason I was spurred to blog about it though was the chapter, “Treat Everyone You Meet as a Potential Client”. In it, Fox suggests that you be nice to everyone. Just in case.
It’s a sad indictment of our society that people need to reminded to do this. That being nice is such a rarity that it differentiates those who are from the masses.
How many nice people do you know? What percentage is that of all the people you know?
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There was a popular quote a few years back during some major layoffs.
Be careful of the toes you step on today, because they may belong to the butt you have to kiss tomorrow.
Definately ‘me’ oriented…
Matt —
I really enjoyed this post. I’m always really curious to see how people treat their assistants/secretaries. It’s usually a pretty good barometer.
Now on the topic of marketing your program — I am in charge of Cultural Enrichment for my school again this year. Would love to put your materials in front of our school.
My best,
Whitney
I was actually going to email you tonight. Look for it soon.
I like whitney’s comment about secretaries and assistants and I would extend this to people in the service industry as well. It amazes me how rude people are to those who serve them food…this would also verge on stupidity…I had to leave a night out because my friends up at school were behaving so badly, I apologized to our waitress and the manager , paid my bill and left. I didn’t explain it to my friends as I thought they should know better, maybe they got the message…
I want to add onto what Kit said. The way people treat police officers saddens me. These brave men and women do a dangerous job day in and day out for little pay. People love to bash on the police and even target police officers and their family JUST FOR THE JOB THEY DO. I think it is funny, people only like the police when they NEED them, other then that they’re the enemy. The truth is a lot of police officers are only mean and aggressive when the other person (civilian) is to start with.
*I generalized “people” for most people, I know there are people who respect and are polite to police officers…to bad there isn’t more like that!*
Kit and Steven,
Thanks for extrapolating with those comments. You can definitely make judgments on people based on spending time in a restaurant. And the police force sit in a very odd position.
What about the people who clean the bathroom where you work? Or the cooks? Being nice to everyone is apparently not an expectation.
Another story for you that is related. I going between classes this semester and one of the custodian’s cart flipped, 4 people walked straight past her…I thought this was fairly outrageous, so went and helped her pick her cart and the trash that fell out. She seemed rather surprised by this gesture…apparently people are just very impolite…again this really annoys me…
VERY good post. A boss at a former job once told me to NEVER burn bridges, no matter what. And he was so right.
It’s funny… There are people that I *knew* were genuinely nice, but then a tough situation came and they turned downright cruel. I was shocked! It’s true that a person’s true character shows when things aren’t going well.
Thanks Steph. Character certainly shines in the bad times, but also the small moments. It’s the bad and small where many people “forget” to be nice. Nice people don’t need to remember, it’s a habit.
Matt…to extend onto what you are saying about the custodians, or other people in your buildings…
I have some serious issues with this. I have a superior at my work who would rather walk into a wall than look at you and call you by name. I have NO respect for this man.
Yet, another superior, who is higher up in the ladder, calls me by name daily and asks how the kids are. I would do anything I could to do an excellent job for him.
Little things go a long way. Saying hi to the guard on the way in and calling her by name doesn’t take anymore time, and yet it means so much.
I held a door open for a girl as she was walking out of one of the cafeterias on campus for her only to keep walking without saying anything. My buddy who was with me said “shivery is dead”. It’s shocking to see someone not even say “thanks” as they walk by. it doesn’t take much to breathe and as you exhale say one simple word.