SWAPPING COFFEE FOR LOTTERY TICKETSWritten by Terry L. Sumerlin
Every morning, when at barbershop, I walk across street to convenience store. I come back with three items – J.B.’s coffee, my coffee and my banana.One morning, as I was waiting in line at register, cashier scanned purchases for customer in front of me. When she came to his coffee she entered amount manually. Seeing amount on screen, he immediately reacted rather strongly. “Naw! Take that off,” he said. “I’m not about to pay ninety-nine cents for a cup of coffee.” The cashier, without so much as a change in expression, took off ninety-nine cents. However, it’s what happened next that is a commentary on human nature. The customer asked for a few lottery tickets. Evidently, they weren’t overpriced. As gentleman headed out door, I stepped to counter and smiled at familiar face behind register. “Don’t say a word,” she said. “You know what I’m thinking,” I replied. “Yeah, I know what you’re thinking,” she said with a smile. “Don’t say it.” We laughed, and I left – without saying a word. But now I will. First, a word about perceived value. When, as a boy, I would agonize over whether I ought to spend a certain amount of money on a certain item Dad would say, “Son, it’s worth whatever you’re willing to pay for it.” Similarly, difference in value of a cup of coffee and of a lottery ticket (as well as many other things in life) is difference in whose buying. I wouldn’t give two cents for a lottery ticket. But, obviously others can’t see paying ninety-nine cents for coffee. People have different values.
| | How To Take The Personal Out of the WorkplaceWritten by Joanne Victoria
Article Title: How To Take Personal Out of Workplace: Author Name: Joanne Victoria Contact E-mail Address: mailto:joanne@joannevictoria.com Word Count: 606, including signature box Category: Leadership/Communication Copyright Date: 2004 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Publishing Guidelines: Thank you for publishing this article in its entirety, including resource box. When possible, please notify me of publication by sending either a website link or a copy of your ezine upon publication via email to: mailto:joanne@joannevictoria.com . ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HOW TO TAKE THE PERSONAL OUT OF THE WORKPLACEBringing your emotional baggage into work place is inappropriate for all reasons you may imagine. Yet employees, managers and business owners do it all time. The question is, how do you handle it? How do you look at your manager and think, "No one is going to tell me what to do!" What if a client, peer or prospect gets you on a Bad Day? How do you take personal out of workplace? It requires discrimination and distinction. If you are having communication problems at work, look at how you view your manager, boss or employee. Does he or she represent a parent, mate or partner? Are your frustrations about what is and is not working in your life manifested on job? Learn to leave your troubles at door. Decide that what you do in workplace is your contribution – to yourself, your peers and community. This is your opportunity to commit to what you are best at doing and get paid for it. Examine your values. Values are how you live your life, about what is important to you. Choose values that help make you what you truly are. Your personal values and professional values can be same. Warning! Many businesses like to say they are like a family. Be cautious if you are enticed by this. Employees, managers and business owners may manifest characteristics found in your personal family. Why is this important? What can happen is, you may take on role that you do in your own family. If you are passive at home and come to work as a manager, what does that look like? Confusing at best. When a passive person has to function in a different role on job, they may revert and act like aggressive parent. Potential can best be realized under a thoughtful and caring leader. Attempt to facilitate, to make it easy for everyone to achieve their best.
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