In this case, we can see misunderstandings, humor and also exasperation. Can you imagine pilot assuming there was “autoload” on his or her airplane? There’s just no telling about other people’s assumptions. I’m reminded of attorney I once worked for who flagged me down while sharpening a pencil in an electric pencil sharpener. “How do I get this out of here?” he asked me. Or time our business went computer and my boss took his zip code for his salary and was furious. Sometimes communication takes a lot of tact!

We always tend to think things are easier somewhere else – that communications we have between inside sales and outside sales are worse in our place, or communication between lawyer and paralegal, or between partner and partner, or that surely pilots and mechanics can communicae—there’s “only” an airplane between two of them.

As I say in my ebook, “Communication,” good communication takes a lot of work – expressing yourself clearly, listening up, and repeating back for clarification to make sure you’ve understood and been understood. It’s particularly hard in writing where there’s no feedback (as we see here), and no non-verbals to read.

It also requires excellent emotional intelligence skills – creativity, flexibility, intuition, and empathy.

67% of qualities that contribute to success are emotional intelligence competencies. Work on your communication! It will pay off in both your private and your professional life.

The Golf Warehouse: I golf. My wife doesn't. Not a good idea if for some reason I ever decide to have another child. Although, it would give me an opportunity to try out all golf innuendo jokes wasted on my golfing buddies. "Honey, check out my new wood with stiff shaft." Or, how about, "Just make a smooth stroke."

NFL Shop: Unfortunately, thought of me in a Patriots game jersey - and nothing else - sickens even me.

Human Sex Pheromone: The subject line for this email was, "Don't Be Alone for Valentine's Day," which seems to be a very popular theme for Internet. And with this Human Sex Pheromone, I can drive my wife wild! After 13 years of marriage, I'm not worried about driving my wife wild. I'm worried about pissing her off. And, with my luck, they'd substitute human sex hormone for Sasquatch sex hormone.

Which brings me to . . .

Valentines day sale: V,iagra-Diet-more: "Make this years valentines day special," is text in email (the punctuation mistakes are theirs, not mine). According to these fine folks, for Valentine's Day I can "lose weight, quit smoking, and enhance sex." Further, they offer "Great prices on V/i/a/g/r/a," as well as "Pain medications Skin Herpes- Hair" (again, their spelling and punctuation). Now we're talking!

I guess I'm going to have to go back to drawing board in search for perfect Valentine's Day gift. And you know what? My wife is worth it. She puts up with me on a daily basis, and has even gone through pains of childbirth twice. So I guess I'll have to expand my Valentine search beyond confines of my email inbox.

I guess I'll have to search Internet now. Do you think my wife would like one of those Mini-RC racecars or Perfect Pasta Pot?

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