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out of your way to compliment those people who serve others but are not
usually treated with a great deal of respect. From the waitperson to the
skycap, from the hotel doorman to, well, any service person - aside from
tipping or a quick thank you, do you refer to them as sir or ma'am? Do
you acknowledge them with kindness? Do you genuinely think of them as important
and significant and does it show? Yes, it makes a definite difference to
their self-esteem. It also reflects how far they'll go out of their way
to make sure you are happy. And you never know when that will come in handy.
An
excellent illustration of WINNING WITHOUT INTIMIDATION by complimenting
the uncomplimented showcases the abilities of the great former quarterback
and now highly successful entrepreneur, Fran Tarkenton. As a quarterback,
and a small one at only 5'10", Fran was always the target of the huge,
tough, often merciless defensive linemen. Linemen can be mean to quarterbacks.
They're supposed to be. That's their job. On top of that, they know they
don't earn the kind of money most quarterbacks earn and they certainly
don't enjoy the same adulation and glory. Those 320-pound guys can be downright
rough on the Fran Tarkentons of the world.
But
Fran is a master at dealing with people. He is now, and certainly was back
then. According to his former teammate, Ahmad Rashad, after a rough hit,
Fran would acknowledge his attacker by saying something like, "Great day
for football, isn't it?" or "Man, that was quite a hit."
These
guys weren't exactly used to quarterbacks actually talking to them in more
than four-letter words - and they certainly weren't used to being treated
as human beings. Before long, they weren't quite as aggressive, mean and
nasty with Fran. Sure, they'd still hit him, but they wouldn't rough him
up as they did other quarterbacks. He took the anger out of them
and probably added years to his Hall of Fame career.
Wow,
that's when WINNING WITHOUT INTIMIDATION really comes in handy - when your
life depends upon it!
Of
course, most of us aren't professional quarterbacks, or otherwise chased
by wild-eyed, maniacal, and just plain nasty 320-pound men even for non-athletic
reasons...I hope. So, let's go back to how we treat those who are generally
not treated with a great deal of respect by other people. This also applies
to anyone who may not seem to be in a position to do something for us.
Maybe they are the one in need. As mentioned earlier, do you think of them
as important and significant human beings? Do you genuinely feel that way
on the inside so that your feelings radiate on the outside? Yes, it does
makes a definite difference to them, and does almost ensure they'll go
out of their way to make sure you are happy. No, that's not the "reason"
you treat them well...just the "result."
Bob
Burg
Bob
Burg is author of "Winning Without Intimidation"
and "Endless Referrals." To receive 20% off on Bob's
products visit www.YourSuccessStore.com
or call 877-929-0439. |