Three guys who didn't like each other

There were three guys who didn't like each other. They competed against each other, even worked for each other and then left each other. They just didn't like each other one bit. No love lost.

Years later, they are sending each other business, two are now working together and are happy about it. They all get along well and respect each other with no underlying issues.

Did they have a knockdown, drag-out fight? Did they get counseling? Did they talk from the heart? Did they apologize? Did someone intervene?

Nope, they just got older. They realized what they did best and fortunately they stopped stepping onto each other's turf; and maybe in one case, one of them became realistic about what he could (or couldn't) do without either of them. Time and distance have brought them closer together.

Barry LaBov
LaBov & Beyond
http://www.labov.com/

Can-do to Can-think

Our company, LaBov & Beyond Marketing Communications and Training, just completed a brand assessment for a company. We found they were a "can-do" company.

Can-do is not necessarily good. It may mean you always say yes, no matter what. If so, that causes stress internally and it usually does not lead to clients respecting you, because they never get a true sense of how tough it is to do what they want.

Our company has the same tendency and we have to keep focusing to be not only can-do, but can-think, also. We have to make sure we're thinking first, before we say yes.

If we think first and calmly analyze what we can do to help the client, they will probably appreciate us more and be very reasonable.

We can still do what is needed, but with a little more thinking, it will be more rewarding for all.

Barry LaBov
LaBov & Beyond
http://www.labov.com/

Let it sink in

A consultant talked to me one day and was critical of an approach our company took in a particluar area. It wasn't a huge deal, but I thought about it and considered changing things to "fix" that. Then I forgot about it, fortunately. A month later, that consultant came out with an article in his newsletter touting that approach and giving our company credit for it. He obviously had changed his tune.

My learning on this is that some things take time to sink into our brains. Those things may be unattractive or uncomfortable at first. But after a while we see the beauty in them. Just like a song you hear the first time--maybe you don't like it or it's weird. Then a week later, you're humming it in your head and love it.

Our first response to ideas is not a guarantee, it may be only a reaction to something that feels different or unexpected. Likewise, had I knee-jerked and changed what the consultant spoke of, I would have been embarrassed reading his article.

Let it sink in. If you're humming the tune a week or so later, maybe it's a hit.

Barry LaBov
LaBov & Beyond
http://www.labov.com/