Chair Breaking Labor

Tis the season for extra hours, far rah ra ra rah ra ra ra rah rah raaaa.

Hope everyone is having an amazing holiday season. I have been very busy with my work creating campaigns, editing videos, dumping diamonds on people, and remembering where I stand after the chaos. It is a stressful yet eventful season. As I run into new challenges every day, I realize the impact is amplified tenfold as orders come flying into our store. So the question remains…

What Do You Want For Christmas

What do you want for Christmas?

Extra long basketball shorts and a polo so you can school people on the court? The ability to never guess the death card in Codenames on your extra guess? A ghillie suit so you can snipe from distance and be just in the right spot? Or maybe even a Curry like form so you are no longer just a speedster, but a horned animal who munches on cans.

While I can go on and on about all the skills and talents in this wonderful family, this question is really just the starting point. What you want is fun, but why you want it matters more.

Why do you want it? Is it a childhood memory? Something that has you excited or helps you grow a skill?

“You Are Right” Is The Worst Answer

So how does one find the why? In a book called “Never Split the Difference,” the author, former FBI negotiator Chris Voss, explains how to get the best deals every time. In one chapter he explains how to get to that right, and why “you are right” is the worst answer you can get.

See, when I am trying to explain to someone who has a duck toe why my insane “would you rather” is obviously genius, what does she say to get me to stop? “You are right.” Did I convince her that I was right? Not at all. “You are right” is just a way of saying, sure, now go away. It is not internalized or even considered something worth thinking about.

“You are right” is how people agree to end the conversation.

“That is right” is how people agree because you just named their truth.

You see, the trick is to find a way to share your point in a way that revolves around their why.

The Football Story And The “That Is Right” Moment

In the book, the author talks about his son and how he has to go from defensive linebacker trying to kill the quarterback to offensive lineman who has to protect him with his life.

The kid struggled. He wanted all of the contact and would often get caught trying to hit the other team rather than protect his assignment. Coaches told him to do better and be tougher and offered all the suggestions. What did the kid say? “Thanks, Coach, you are right.” A surface level answer, and guess what. Nothing changed.

So the author tried a different approach. He put himself in his son’s shoes and asked this question:

“Son, it seems like if you do not absolutely dominate and smash the person in front of you, it will make you seem weak.”

The son replied, “That is right.”

Then the author broke down that blocking is not weak at all. In fact, it is one of the most important roles on the team. His role is harder than simply hitting people. He is the key to the team’s success.

The son went on to kill it as a lineman and I believe went on to play in college.

Your Why And Your Work

Your why is the secret to doing anything that matters. And as a marketer, if my product can solve that deep dark problem that affects your why, then you will buy.

Now I am not trying to be some sleazy salesman tossing pest control around to people who do not even need it. I am asking you to think about your why. Why you do what you do or buy what you buy.

Your why is everything to you. When we end up in a place where we lose direction, it is often because we lose focus on our why.

My Why This Season

This season is hard because I always want my why to be my family and my Savior, not just because of the season. It is the least I can do, because when Christ was asked why He did what He did, His why was us.

Do not lose your why, my friends. And even though I wish Indiana could be removed from the United States at this time, I will do my best to remember mine too.

Have a good week.

Oh, also, my chair snapped on my big backed self during all the holiday madness. Glad I can now have a recliner as well.