Want something? A sale? Somebody's help? You may be leading with the wrong strategies and tactics. Fine tuning objection handling techniques. Product comparative analysis. Ensuring your SEO target words are driving inbound leads. A clever way to argue your point. Sure, all that’s important but masterful stories are critical as an upfront approach. Tell great stories or, better yet, create 'viral' stories and look what happens next...

Every one has a trip tradition. Buy a spoon or a mug. Drink a local brand of beer or keep the coaster. Hold onto a piece of currency or make sure you get “that stamp” on your passport. What has been our trip-tradition? Buy a piece of art. Over the years, we have aquired works from Ireland, Cuba, India, New Zealand and Russia. Closer to home, Dallas, San Antonio, New Orleans, Chicago and New York. It wasn’t until Paris in January, 2002 did we realize how important ‘story time’ is in our buying decision. So important that it crucial in the corporate landscape as well.

Paris in the winter will drive you indoors. The denture jangling, bone twisting, don’t stick your tongue on that bronze gargoyle COLD - gets you running for heat behind welcoming doors. Once inside you are compelled to buy something. By design, you go to the district in Paris where art galleries are waiting for appreciative buyers.

At the closest art-shop you see, you stumble through the door. The tiny brass bell designed to flip a latch and ding decides to ring into non-existence. The entire latch and bell blast off the hinge and ding, klang, bang its way across the worn wood floor. You turn to your spouse and say, “It’s so cold, the doors are freezing their bells off.” Your spouse would laugh but it was so frosty her lips aren’t ready for action just yet. Things heat up when she scans the room for a piece of art waiting to be the next in the acquisition tradition.

The art is appealing and has potential. You envision what pieces could go on which walls. A cherished memory from this trip is waiting for your Amex card.

“Could you tell us about this piece?”

The gallery attendant has her head buried in something on her screen. Her wood desk has nothing but a lamp and a computer on it. It is a tired desk ready for some paperwork. She looked up with a confident gaze and said, “It is one sousand Euros.”

Expecting more of a description we realized the attendant, the resident pro, the sales goddess was clearly not enthused about the first attractive piece.

“Could you tell us about zat one?” you accidentally ask in a French accent.

“Zees is seecks ‘undered Euros,” the ‘sales person’ says with more interest.

“Yes. Thank you. What can you tell us about it?” asks your spouse, giving the ideal person the room the chance to put the “sell” into sales.

“It is oil. It is possible to ship. It is elegant – oui?”

You try to like what you see but nothing is connecting. Could we rationalize the purchase anyway? It is, after all, our tradition. But, a half an hour later you leave the store empty handed. Unable to contain her annoyance, your spouse says under her breath, “Why buy something without a story?”

Immediately upon going back outside the temperature froze any further inclination to spend money or time on a piece of art. The moment was gone and the French GDP would have to do without our contribution.

Now, let’s talk about your sales strategy?

What are the tactics and strategies you use to close a sale? Do you sell products, services or both? Or, are you selling a specific initiative at work? Are you attempting to convince an external client or a colleague of a certain direction? Chances are, if your lips are moving you are trying to sell something. If that is the case, what will help your cause? Story Time.

Story Time in Sales has three key elements in common:

1. Story Time is Personal. The purveyor of the story needs to connect with the story. In the case of the art work, the attendant should have said something about how she enjoyed meeting the artist. If it was a widget, the seller would say how he uses it at home.
2. Story Time Paints a Picture. When telling the stories, bring the listener into the experience. For example, the art gallery dud of a saleswoman could have said, the art was painted on the cold spring day where the artist had to warm her oils in her pants pockets. The widget seller could say the invention was an accidental result of trying to design a motion sensitive light and the widget became a better item.
3. Story Time is Experiential. Bring your purchaser into an experience rather than just being an observer. That means the art gallery lady could have engaged more. She could have asked about the design of our home. Mentioned how the artist was the same age as we were and how he always wants to keep every piece he paints.

If you want your stories to travel, make them compelling.

If you want to add rocket fuel to the sale, turn the sale into its own unique story that is a personal, picture painting experience. Do this and your product or service comes with an echo effect.

Case in point: I was test driving a Tesla. The copilot said, “At this straight away, step on it. Don’t worry. You won’t scare me.” I had no idea what he was talking about until the accelerator touched the carpet. With a zero to 60 mph in under 4 seconds, head pinned back, wheel gripping ride, the ‘copilot’ created a story I’ve told over and over. It was personal! The car painted the picture! It was tantalizingly, spine-buzzing experiential!

When a product, service, direction or idea captivates someone’s imagination it gets told repeatedly at the “purchaser’s” home or office. Like an objet d’art, the story about what you sell ripples across time and distance.

When others come through your door looking for the same thing, this means more sales.

Want to make your intentions sticky. Use story time and the improvement in your results will amaze.

Promotional Capstone about the Author: Vince Poscente has been described as an invigorating and masterful story teller. He is an in-demand motivational keynote speaker on the topic of Full Speed Ahead and inductee into the Speaker Hall of Fame. Vince is a New York Times bestselling author and Olympic competitor. Encounter his story about going from recreational skier to the Olympic Games in just four years, and you’ll have your own personal experience of Full Speed Ahead painted in your imagination. www.VincePoscente.com/video He can be reached through info@vinceposcente.com

A recent Wall Street Journal article affirms, Parents, let it happen instead of coaching your kids from the stands. Yeah. Makes sense. But, don’t be so sure with my Senior Citizen mom. Press the point and she’d probably mutter, "Well get off the ice if you’re not going to hustle."

Back-checking in hockey is a term primarily for forwards chasing down opponents on their offensive rush. Much like Horse-to-Barn, players find extra energy with the puck, while the opposition’s net is the barn. Your legs pump harder. Motivation increases. But without the puck, fear of being scored on increases while the muscles don’t get any motivational message.

It’s a paradoxical phenomenon. Salespeople agree... “The fear of loss is a greater motivator than the opportunity to gain.” Example? Black Friday shoppers line up at midnight to ensure they don’t miss out on a limited inventory's great deal. Put a sign out that says, "Sale" and you may get a few curious shoppers. Meh… Put a sign that says “Sale. Today Only” and interest spikes. Giddy up.

Flip the scenario for hockey forwards. The second you sense a chance to score a goal, adrenaline spikes. (The opportunity to gain.) But, the second you lose the puck to the opposing team, it’s a collective, “Oh crap. Now I have to chase a smelly guy around the ice to prevent him from scoring.” (The fear of loss.) 

This is where Mom’s voice kicks in. Each winter, Mom bugs-out of Edmonton to warmer Dallas climes.  God knows she has seen enough youth-hockey games in the sixties and seventies. But, she gets a kick out of coming to her 53-year-old son’s hockey contests. Trust me on this one, being a back-checking forward in your 50’s is NOT enticing. But, the sound of her familiar voice yelling out, “Hustle back Vince. Hustle!” is enough to reach down and get after the play. Amazingly, back-check hard enough and you’ll catch your opponents off guard a little – sometimes, a lot. Case in point: Playing hockey in Australia.

Thirty plus years ago, a chance to play a few weeks of hockey popped up in Sydney. Within seconds of starting the first game, it became clear both teams had an unwritten rule. “Mate, if you’re good enough to take the puck away from us, then you can skate down ice and take on our defensemen and goalie. I’ll get there in a tick.”

Cue Mom’s voice (despite being 8,258 miles away), “Hustle Vince. Hustle!” All neglected to point out their unwritten rule. I’d skate back, lift the stick of the unsuspecting offensive rusher and take the puck. Eleven players, teammates and opponents alike, seemed shocked to suddenly flip directions. We won every match during that stretch of games.

Finding an advantage in the business of life starts with what the competition is not willing to do.

Who’s cheering you to back-check?

Thanks Mom!

The trail held treasures for those willing to stop and look. Yet, the most delicious fruit was within reach - but untouched. Most were willing to comfortably pick low-hanging fruit. The best berries required stretching through some prickly branches. Human nature revealed itself in Mother Nature. When there is some form of resistance, our natural tendency is to stop short - even when there are treasures just beyond that invisible comfort-zone.  

John Steinbeck's iconic novel, The Grapes of Wrath, is about a depression-era family looking for hope and a better life. After their farm is seized by the bank, the family heads to California. On their difficult journey the Joads family discover their destination is not what they expected.

Ok, let's get one detail out of the way. Our “grapes” were actually blackberries. The combination of the Steinbeck metaphor, a blackberry's resemblance to grapes and this writer's pension for alliteration; made the title, The Grapes of Resistance, irresistible. The Blackberries of Wrath really doesn't have the same resonance to it. Think of this poet’s license as a way for you to stretch your imagination.

Let's carry on the trail.

Funny enough, the insight on human nature in Mother Nature didn't occur until; nature called. Tucked into part of the trail, out of sight from other hikers, the blackberries called out, "Pick me." Immediately, blackberry bushes were obvious every few steps on the path. The berries were in season and the most accessible bushes were picked over on the Lacamas Lake Trail. Take a step towards the very edge, saddle up to the branches, carefully reach into the chaotic web of barbs and you could rescue the tastiest berries destined for an unceremonious date with gravity and terra firma.  

Short people are regularly reminded of their vertical challenges when reaching for anything. We fantasize about comfortably reaching for stuff on higher shelves. (Those annoying tall people never fantasize about being short - unless, of course, they fly in coach.) Today was no exception. The Grapes of Resistance became an epiphany. If a Hobbit like me could access these berries with a little extra effort, anyone could. But they didn't.

What is the opportunity within your reach but mired in some form of resistance?

First, recognize opportunity just off your path.

Second, step as close to the resistance as possible (without getting hurt) and reach in.

Third, carefully choose the fruit that will nurture you.

Fourth, there's no need to be greedy. Ever. Abundance is everywhere with plenty of people stopping short when there is resistance.

Fifth, pick what you can comfortable hold, share and enjoy.

The Great Depression impacted millions of lives and inspired a classic narrative about struggle. You have delicious opportunities waiting for you and your family. Reach past human nature. Go through the resistance. Share HOPE and enjoy.

You would think at least one of us had life figured out with some form of stability, predictability or certainty. Look to your left. Max wants to make it big in the unstable music business. On your right, Alex has set her sights on the unpredictable entertainment industry. Isabella is determined to dance her way into the uncertain ballet world. Meanwhile, you launch into an unwavering dedication to a rebranding initiative which is a minefield of best-guesswork. All have the same intent. Reach that place where you experience your emotional buzz. Will you find YOUR buzz and enjoy the rewards?

From Unstable to Stable - Max is on the road with his band's seven city tour. His talented band mates are all dedicated to following their working musician's dream. But working ideally correlates to just compensation. In a market driven to streaming royalty payments the finances are a joke. One million plays on Pandora pays about $60 in publishing royalties. Case in point: In the first quarter of 2014, Pharell's song Happy streamed 43 million times on Pandora, which paid out $2,700 songwriter royalties. Is stability even possible in the music business? Would you like more stability in your life? Then take Max's lead guitar example. He is completely dialed in on the emotional buzz he gets from creating music. He will find his buzz by living his buzz.

From Unpredictable to Predictable - Alex just returned from a summer acting camp called Stage Door Manor. You have to book 10 months in advance to get into an alumni roster boasting Natalie Portman, Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Braff. Alex was selected for a coveted roll in Columbinus and earned a prestigious award for most improved. Still, the odds of someone becoming a famous or even, well paid actor is small. Yet, how many people dream of being an actor compared to those who make deliberate, purposeful steps in that direction. Is predictability even possible in the entertainment industry? Would you like more predictability in your life? Then follow Alex's standard. Find your buzz by ignoring probaility and take the next obvious step to getting there.

From Uncertainty to Certainty - When Isabella returns from the Pacific Northwest Ballet's summer intensive for pre-professionals she will will turn 15. She auditioned against thousands of girls across the country for this top-ten US ballet company. In her age group there will only be a couple of dozen girls but the competition is significant. How can Isabella be certain of her aspiration to make London's Royal Ballet? She can't. But she can live in the mindset of certainty. The doorway for certainty in her life and yours is by sustaining that emotional buzz. 

Your buzz is a vibration in every cell of your body. Your buzz is that place in your future that locks arms with your present moment. You reach your buzz by living your buzz. You find your buzz by stepping squarely in the direction of your buzz. By sustaining your emotional buzz you find your buzz in the years to come.

To that end, you may wonder where we have been all spring and summer? We have been rebranding.

Amigo - rebranding is an easy word to say but one heck of a leap. In this business of writing, speaking and consulting, having a uniquely valuable brand is critical. But the fact is ... there are no facts... until the market votes with its dollars. Is there a market for Max's music, Alex's talent and Isabella's expression? They won't know until they walk out the door to find their buzz.

That is why we, at ELEPHantPOWER Systems, are here. To help you find your buzz.

Chances are, you've never heard of Amanda Palmer. But she has 7 million views of her TED talk. She may not be on your musical radar but she has hundreds of thousands anticipating every new, uniquely AFP, release. You may be following business icons while you never noticed her record setting crowd-funding initiative - where she became the first musician to raise more one million dollars on Kickstarter. Her book, The Art of Asking, leapt onto the New York Times bestselling list with a limited promotion and marketing muscle. Who is this person and what can we learn from her on the topic of customer engagement?

Recently, sporting a baby bump, performing to a sold-out crowd at The Granada Theater, Amanda Palmer played a couple songs then asked to bring the house lights up. "What do you want to hear? But I won't pick you if you yell it out. Please let me ask you directly for your request" Enthusiastic hands flew up in the air. The raucous crowd turned politely silent and let her choose her contributor. She wrote down "Vegemite (The Black Death), Ukulele Anthem, I Want You, But I Don't Need You." Then she sang about Vegemite, Ukeleles, relationships and insecurity. 1,000 fans in the sold out crowd sang every word. 

If you read Palmer's book, you learn she started her performing life as a statuesque figure of a white bride. On the unforgiving streets of New York, she would hold a handful of flowers. Should a passerby pull out a bill and put it in her bucket, she would break her frozen stance, make eye contact, and add to the connection with the gift of a flower. She would suffer people yelling out, "Get a job." But these echoes would vanish with the next poignant connection. Amanda learned a unique art form of asking and connecting with those she touched. 

In music she became a zealot for building an AFP community. No opportunity was missed when an email address and a Twitter fan was in her crosshairs. She will tweet an invitation for am impromptu pre-gig concert. Haters accuse her of using musicians and not paying them. The optics of her asking for others to join looked like using. But all the while she just wanted to build a community.

Her community grows with each release, whether it is The Dresden Dolls, Evelyn Evelyn or her solo work. Her community expands when her TED talk hits a viral nerve. Her book amplifies the question, "What is it about Amanda F... Palmer?"

Here's what we can learn from her lead.

1. She is Fearless. Fearlessness is a marketable, appealing, engaging, romantic, enticing and magnetic quality. Examples? Comedians like Will Ferrell or Eddie Izzard (heck most any successful comedian). How about Rosa Parks, Nelson Mandela, Mother Theresa, Lady Gaga, MIss Piggy, Muhammad Ali, Elvis, that dude standing in front of the tank in Tiananmen Square in 1989. Fearlessness means you have, at least partially, tamed the raw, caustic power of ego. Being fearless means you have a passion that supersedes insecurity. You are fearless.

2. She is Empathetic. What appears to be performance or self serving forays are actually her way of reaching into another person's heart and holding on to that connection. Empathy is a well spring of connectivity. Making your talent about others. Being of service. Chasing answers for the better good of others. You are empathetic.

3. She is Vulnerable. There is a photo in her book. It is difficult to comprehend. She is naked with her fans who are signing her body. Those with limited information would call it a publicity stunt. Those who can take anecdotal information and turn it into a universal fact would call her audacious, irreverent, lacking a moral compass. Look deeper and you see someone obsessed about new frontiers of transparency.  You are vulnerable. 

Fearlessness, empathy and vulnerability - not exactly the tag line for a celebrated force of commerce in our midst but she is making it work because her community comes first. The money will follow - or not - but the community is still paramount. 

Build your community. Fearlessly, empathetically, vulnerably keep asking for what THEY want. Follow your passion. How? Stay engaged with those who raise their hands. 

PwC surveyed 1,322 business leaders across 77 countries between September 25 and December 9 in 2014, including 103 CEOs in the US, for insights on how businesses are setting a course for growth. PwC also sat down with 28 US CEOs to gain greater context.

US CEOs intend on making their company smarter

They are seeking to move their organization up the learning curve in distinct ways. This year, the interviews and responses reveal:

• CEOs are innovating and accelerating the impact of technology for their customers. CEOs say they are seeing real payoffs from these investments. They expect to take risks to operate within diverse and fluid networks.
• Yet as CEOs spiral up to better performance with a new set of technology capabilities, tensions are surfacing inside the organizations that are acute and are not going to get better. Activist investors and competitors are pressuring businesses to find new ways to extract value now. Half of US CEOs (50%) believe a significant competitor is emerging or could emerge from technology sector versus 32% of CEOs globally.
• Much within their own portfolios are under review—hard assets as well as capabilities. Over half of US CEOs (54%) say they expect to complete a domestic acquisition this year, up from 39% a year ago. This year, 23% plan to divest a majority stake or exit a business, up from 15% a year ago.
• But it’s not all about buying (or selling) assets. US CEOs are widening their use of alliances to secure new technology and speed up innovation. They are significantly more willing than peers globally to consider partnering with competitors or customers. Traditional industry boundaries are blurring, and CEOs expect cross-industry competition to accelerate. Over a fifth (24%) say their business entered or considered entering the tech sector within the past three years.
• Businesses are recruiting for a wider range of skills and looking for the right fit in more places. They want to better reflect the increasingly global and dynamic customer sets of their organizations as well as meet growing technology demands within their organizations. Over half (59%) expect to expand headcount this year.

For the full article... http://www.pwc.com/us/en/ceo-survey/index.html

When this quintessential entrepreneur spoke at an event in Savannah, something profound landed on the audience, "I'd rather have a fast no than a slow yes." In the age of speed, that sounds like advice to heed when considering time and opportunity.

Michael R. Bennett is the founder and owner of Bennett Hospitality. He started in the hospitality business in 1977 with an entrepreneurial venture he called "Free Wheelin.” His shoestring operation rented bicycles and mopeds when he was a junior in college. Not one to sit idle, he bought one property with a self described, "passion for creative financing." He then bought a second property the next year. He grew until he lost it all and then built a present day empire. He developed a hospitality company of 16 hotels and 8 restaurants in four states; South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Montana. Mike has an additional 8 hotels in development and over 6 restaurants in the pipeline.

According to his website, "With vision, passion and energy Bennett Hospitality is attacking when others are sitting idle. During the recession years of 2006-2011 Bennett Hospitality grew at a tremendous pace. Buying existing partners, hotels and future development opportunities is what sets Bennett Hospitality apart from its competitors. When others are selling, BH is buying, and when others are buying BH is sitting tight."

Mike's saying, "I'd rather have a fast no than a slow yes," can teach each of us about our own treatment of time and opportunity.   

There is a disturbing divide in how people are respecting their own time/opportunity relationship. On one side are the "Now Responders." On the other are the "Later Responders." The single most impressive Now Responder I've come across is Mark Cuban. Word on the street? If you emailed Mark with an idea he would respond. He has no clue who most of his inquisitors are. Last year, I emailed mark@axs.tv about televising high school arts magnet performances as part of reality programming. Zap! The response came back with a well thought out "No" explaining he would pass, due to the production costs and lack of demand for such a program."

The "Later Responders" are seemingly growing further apart from the Now group. Time/opportunity trends we are witnessing include:

• Invitations for a group meeting have to be repeatedly sent causing us the dreaded 'follow-through-time-suck.'
• The receivers of the email cause a cascade effect of confusion with others involved.
• The receivers cause themselves clutter in their own email responsibilities.
• We pick up the not-too-subtle insult, "My time is more important than yours."
• Those with multiple responsibilities are stacking tasks with the assumption everything will go as planned. Hence, we're seeing an increase in last minute cancelations and then the cluster of the 'follow-through-time-suck' starts all over again. 

Yes, it is anecdotal that Mike Bennett and Mark Cuban are both wealthy Now Responder advocates. But why don't we each take a look at our own life and be honest with how we treat time and opportunity. Take a hard look at the potential damage we may be causing as we choose to respond at a later time.

With a Now Responder approach you may find yourself having the luxury of spending more time on quality opportunities. Your empire awaits.

If you have clever promotional material, you will get someone's attention. If you can make them laugh, you've graduated to Giggle-Grab Marketing. 

Stand-out marketing materials have impact and influence. Unfortunately, the massive volume of other organizations with an event to promote, a product to sell or a service to pitch has made the prospect of engagement exceptionally hard. The solution lies in your ability to create what the competition hasn't thought of.

The following is an example of a Two-Part Giggle-Grab Marketing campaign to promote the Big Goals Fast keynote.

Part One:

As you remember in recent history, snow covered a massive part of the United States and Canada. We decided to seize the arctic chill with our high-value agency partners. With the 36 speakers bureau agents who booked us in the previous year, we stood apart from the competitive business of motivational keynote speakers and sent the following via the postal service. (Note: When is the last time you recieved a personal letter?)

1. A packet of Forget-Me-Not seeds.
2. A coupon for Free NY Times bestsellers for the agents' favorite client audiences.
3. A personalized note about planting seeds with their clients this spring.

Part Two:

Three weeks later, we reprinted the certificate. But this time, we crumpled it up and stuffed it into a small envelope with a Post It Note. We mailed this to the same speaker bureau agent. The note stuck to the crinkled certificate had following hand written message...

Dear (first name), We found this in your garbage and thought you should keep it. Seriously, we love making you look good with your clients. We hope your spring has sprung and the seeds you've planted grow into abundance. Take care, Vince.

Within days the phone lines lit up and emails flooded our inbox. The Giggle Grab Marketing campaign helped us stand out from the competition, build business and have a bouquet of smiles across the land. 

Sometimes enthusiastic people and opportunity intersect. Here's an example:

Kevin Harrington and Global Leaders Organization

Sometimes enthusiastic people and compelling opportunity intersect. Here's an example:

Kevin Harrington and Global Leaders Organization

You may remember Kevin as:

• The original Shark on Shark Tank, or
• Founder of As Seen on TV, or
• Inventor of the infomercial. Remember the Ginsu Knife?

He has been involved in over 500 product launches that resulted in sales of over $4 billion with 20 products reaching $100 million in revenues. Crossing paths with him recently, it's clear he's not done yet!

First, a bit of background... When Kevin was 15, he started his first business. By the age of 23, he founded The Small Business Center, a one-stop shop for all sorts of businesses; accounting, advertising and financing. This company launched his career as a serial entrepreneur and small business owner.

His passion for connecting business and people lead to founding the ERA (Electronic Retailers Association - now in 45 countries) and a founding board member of Young Entrepreneur’s Association (now EO), which boasts combined member sales of over $500 billion dollars.

This his busy brain gave birth to an extraordinary idea...

It revolves around how small business owners and CEO’s can leverage technology to do more business together, raise their visibility with decision makers and efficiently go public with their products/services without wasting time and money.

"So we created an exclusive platform for leaders of businesses doing over $1 million in annual revenue," Here are some details about the Global Leaders Organization (GLO):

• Members Only ($299 annual membership, or as Kevin gushed in his ultra-enthusiastic way, "Vince, that's 82 cents per day!")
• Marketplace - Showcase your company’s products and services with the option to offer 'Specials' to members. 
  
• The Deal Network - Provide GLO members new avenues for advancing key business transactions such as: raising capital, investing or acquiring companies, licensing, selling one's business or finding the right strategic partner.
• Peer to Peer Discussion Hub
• Lessons in Leadership - A webcast and podcast event series featuring today’s most relevant newsmakers and thought leaders.
• Main Street Leader - (My favorite feature by the way.) A personalized digital library curated daily from 100’s of leading publications so members save time, stay on top of topics preselected topics, and stay ahead of the competition.
• Knowledge Capital™ for participating there are GLO Points, a rewards system to cash in benefits such as: dinner with a NY Times bestselling author, one-on-one coaching sessions by a thought leader, custom tailored suits, luxury getaways, backstage entertainment passes and access to high-profile events (i.e. TED Summit and Clinton Global Initiative).

"BOOM," he said throwing his hands in the air. "Where do business leaders get that kind of value on one platform for 82 cents per day?"

When someone like Kevin Harrington and GLO show up, pay attention.

Question, how do you react when enthusiasm and opportunity intersect?

Here are three notes Kevin asked us to forward to you: 

1. Permanently lock-in this introductory rate by being one of the first 100 people in your city to join at $29.99 per month, or $299 if paid annually. Advertise your business and showcase your brand to peers you want to do business with daily plus enjoy all the benefits of GLO for same low price forever. Lock-in here.
2. Receive a 10% rebate by referring a friend. Both of you will receive the rebate on your initial membership once they join. Just click here. This represents a $72 total annual savings you share.
3. Give the gift of knowledge to an employee, student, friend or emerging entrepreneur. Provide two subscriptions to The Main Street Leader for a full year absolutely free. Just let us know whose day you’ll make with this gift. This represents a $144 value based on the single subscriber annual subscription price. Click here to take advantage.

Being quick to judge puts one’s judgment into question.

Go on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, TV shows, Shock Jocks on the Radio and see/hear examples of people being quick to judge someone else. Is this helping our society or tearing it down one judgment at a time?

Eight years ago, and seconds after the media released a recording of Alec Baldwin saying his eleven-year-old daughter was a “rude, thoughtless little pig,” people were judging him a terrible father. Assumptions quickly followed that ex-wife Kim Basinger leaked the voicemail with malicious intent. 

Baldwin regretted losing his temper. He referred to his words as a mistake like other parents make now and then. Later, Basinger denied leaking the voicemail. Yet assumptions without facts still swirl. Was it appropriate what Baldwin said? Of course not. But, was it right for people to be quick to judge him as an unfit father?

Mr. Baldwin continues to get caught up in the swirl of controversy and judgment. 

More than twenty years ago, I had my own bad experience of people quick to judge. It was at the tail end of an executive director job I held for a sport association.

One of the initiatives I coordinated was a combination of two half-time employee grants to hire a full time employee. After serving the association for four years I moved on to pursue my dream of competing in the Olympics in Speed Skiing.

A few short weeks after I left there was a new volunteer treasurer who announced to the board that I had embezzled money from the association. There were ten people sitting around that boardroom. Nine immediately said, “Wow, Vince is a crook.” Only one called me, without the board’s consent, and asked what was up. Eventually we figured out there were those two govenment hiring HALF-grants that were combined into one position. But, for some reason, the rookie treasurer assumed this represented two employee positions and questioned where their halves of the money ended up.

Nine people ignored all the hard work and commitment that I gave their association. They turned on me. Ouch! Twenty plus years later it still hurts to think about it. Turning your back on someone can cause pain and do damage. Being quick to judge is the fastest way to make things worse, not better.

A few years ago I heard a friend spit venomous comments about Bob who, "left his wife and kids." My friend was quick to judge without any understanding of both sides of the story. He went on to say how others also turned on Bob.

I sent Bob a letter about how painful it must be and the unfortunate reaction some people had. I iterated how my experience of Bob was always positive. I hoped he was able to take the high road in all things. Bob wrote back moved that "at least one person wasn't quick to judge."

To avoid the pitfalls of jumping to conclusions there are three things to consider:

1. If it’s your business then make it your business to find out both sides of the story.
2. It it’s not your business; mind your own business. You gain or contribute nothing by being quick to judge without the facts.
3. Reach out to those who may have been judged unfairly and write them a non-judgmental message. You will turn the tides of distrust and contribute to a solution. 

Do this and your judgment cannot be questioned. Society will be the better for it.