Dec 22, 2010

Who knew that there was a guy out there who monitored the net for Dean Martin-related stuff?   Isn't the internet amazing? 

In comments on my last post a Deano devotee pointed out that I had confused Mr. Martin's DOB with his DOD.

Sorry Deano, wherever you are.

Are you the kind of person who says pretty much what you think or are like the rest of the 99% of us who habitually bite our tongues?

Most of us are too timid or too civil to call people on their nonsense, or even give an honest opinion when asked.

We had a store meeting the other day and one of my coworkers was going on and on about a customer who kept her tied up for an hour trying to select a paint color.  It seems customers like this one, keep her from other pressing matters.

A couple of people offered ideas to her, but they were rebuffed with emphatic head shakes and facial contortions.

"No, every time I tried to get away, she would pick out another sample."

Oh, the humanity.

It has long been a Sneed tenet that people rarely want your advice, even when they ask for it.  They usually want you to validate what they really want to do.  Or they want someone to blame when things go wrong.

So, after she had gone on for a while, I blurted out, "You are the problem, stop blaming the customer.  She didn't have you at gunpoint, so figure out how to manage the situation."

Seems harsh, but the best way to fix a problem is to find a solution.  The worst way is to whine about it. 

So, my resolution for the new year is to be more forthright with my opinion.

That applause you hear in the background is Mrs. Sneed who for the past 41+ years has accused me of being wishy-washy.














Things in this blog represented to be fact, may or may not actually be true. The writer is frequently wrong, sometimes just full of it, but always judgmental and cranky

5 comments:

Kurt said...

But I love to whine!

a. said...

Mrs. Sneed might not like it so much when you start disagreeing with her opinion. :) Just kidding, Mrs. Sneed, you are lovely!

I find that since I got pregnant it is pretty much all I can do to remain "civil" and treat people in a socially acceptable way. I don't care and I don't have the patience.

Twice last month I confronted people at my work. I am pretty non-confrontational in general, especially at work. Although it created awkward situations that I was then forced by my bosses to resolve by apologizing to the big babies who can't handle someone having a differing opinion, it actually felt pretty damn good and I don't regret it.

The Bug said...

I admit - I have a lot more forthright thoughts than I have the courage to pronounce. Although family is fair game in my opinion so they get the unvarnished me :)

Bella Rum said...

I agree that most people don't want the opinion of others - even when they ask for it. So I mostly keep my mouth shut unless it's a close friend or relative. Having said that, my sister once tole me that I offered my opinion too often. And here I though I was exercising restraint? Who knows?

Wishing you and your family a great holiday, Merle. All the best.
Bella

Barbara said...

Wow! I'd say that was letting her have it with both barrels. People are going to stop and listen when Merle Sneed speaks!