Thursday, January 31, 2008 Issue #6
“Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.” – Norman Vincent Peale
Were you able to learn from Tuesday’s story and put the lesson to work? Great! Here is one more short story about the power of effective communication when we use intention and confidence.
Several years ago AKD was at a club with 3 other buddies. There she was, the “untouchable” girl who always seems to be sitting at the bar of these places. Very attractive, sipping her drink by herself. AKD’s buddies all boast that she will dance with us. None of them are trying to “pick her up.” They really just wanted to dance. One by one they approach her, ask her to dance and are summarily rebuffed. Back at the table, AKD says, “I’ll bet you each a beer that she will dance with me.” They all laugh and eagerly take the bet, as they know their friend is certainly no more interesting or better looking than the rest of them. They know she’ll dismiss him at once.
Off AKD goes, walking to his doom (or at least a round of beers for his buddies).
He approaches her and says, “Excuse me. I am not trying to pick you up. I have a friend, but she’s not here. I love this song. Can you give me two minutes of your time to dance with me? In two minutes it will be over and I’ll be on my way, but it will mean the world to me.”
She stared at AKD for a moment and then smiled, put down her drink and got up. “It would be my pleasure.”
Two minutes or so later, AKD’s buddies all bought AKD a nice cold beer and learned a lesson. It’s not what we communicate; it is how we communicate our intention.