I hate broken promises. This week I was promised something by last Friday (which I needed by this Thursday) It was put off until Tuesday and then it got done last thing on Thursday was rushed, looked bad and needs to be done again. Hence what I needed to be isn’t and now I have to put others out because I didn’t organize the item to be ready. (And I am no better, last week I promised a friend that I would go on a camp which I didn’t go on. – which I feel bad about even though I had a great reason / excuse not to go)
Now, general wisdom and the advice I always get is that I need to start treating people like crap if I want to get things done. That’s right my problem is that I am too nice. Well Frig off if you think that’s good advice. There is something seriously wrong with a world where 95% of the advice that I get to this dilemma is that I need to start treating people like crap. Well I’m proud to say that generally I don’t do this well and I have no intention of trying.
Jesus said “Let your yes be yes and your no be know” and I know that other things can get in the way so I propose we factor in margins to all our promises. So instead of saying “I’ll be there at 8pm” and trying to get there then. Say “I’ll be and there at 8:10pm” and aim to be at the destination at 8:00pm
Or, instead of “I’ll have this done by 8pm”. Say “If nothing else comes up today I’ll have this done by 8pm which there is a 90% chance of happening but, if something does come up I won’t be able to do it until 10pm. I’ll call you as soon as something does come up.”
This is not a simple yes or no but I think, it keeps the principle of being completely honest. So with the last dude I know that I’ll get my thing done by 10pm but most likely by 8pm. I can then plan around this.
Too much we tell be what we think they want to hear and then don’t follow through. “Let your yes be yes and your no be know” If you probably meet someone at 8pm and can definitely meet them at 8:30pm then please meet then.
Now, general wisdom and the advice I always get is that I need to start treating people like crap if I want to get things done. That’s right my problem is that I am too nice. Well Frig off if you think that’s good advice. There is something seriously wrong with a world where 95% of the advice that I get to this dilemma is that I need to start treating people like crap. Well I’m proud to say that generally I don’t do this well and I have no intention of trying.
Jesus said “Let your yes be yes and your no be know” and I know that other things can get in the way so I propose we factor in margins to all our promises. So instead of saying “I’ll be there at 8pm” and trying to get there then. Say “I’ll be and there at 8:10pm” and aim to be at the destination at 8:00pm
Or, instead of “I’ll have this done by 8pm”. Say “If nothing else comes up today I’ll have this done by 8pm which there is a 90% chance of happening but, if something does come up I won’t be able to do it until 10pm. I’ll call you as soon as something does come up.”
This is not a simple yes or no but I think, it keeps the principle of being completely honest. So with the last dude I know that I’ll get my thing done by 10pm but most likely by 8pm. I can then plan around this.
Too much we tell be what we think they want to hear and then don’t follow through. “Let your yes be yes and your no be know” If you probably meet someone at 8pm and can definitely meet them at 8:30pm then please meet then.
No comments:
Post a Comment