JUDGEMENT|LIFELESSONS|ASSUMPTIONS
Life Lessons from Coconuts: Judging Others.
Treating everyone I encounter with equal value and respect
Assuming
We can all be guilty of judging others by their appearance. Have you ever met someone and started talking, having pre-empted in your mind that this individual won’t know much about your area of expertise? Only to learn the individual is super-smart and knowledgeable.
I will admit I have done it, made a false assumption based on the job someone does or the way they look: ASS-U-ME
Yes, correct, and like an absolute Ass, I inwardly kicked myself.
When we get a bit too big for our boots, the universe has these little tricks to play on us and will place us back where we belong.
I know “Nothing”
The coconut
Look at a coconut, for example. When first discovered, I wondered if people gave up trying to open the tough, hairy, rough-feeling, brown-coated husk.
Yet, when you finally crack the nut, it is full of thirst-quenching goodness and pure white energy-sustaining fruit. What a gift within, despite its odd exterior. The coconut tree is called the “Tree of Life” because all parts of the tree can be used to sustain human life.
“Amidst life’s challenges, good souls stand tall like noble coconut trees, rising above the saltwater tides of existence. They flourish in the face of hardships and graciously share the delightful taste of kindness and positivity with all. They offer the refreshing fruit of resilience in sweetness juice and sweet flesh even in salt water and salt air of life”- Srinivas Mishra
To get to the point of this writing piece, the lesson here is to never judge a book by its cover.
My car sales days
Back in the day, I worked for a short period selling cars. It wasn’t a great environment to work in with a boss who would scream and have childish tantrums.
One day, a rather odd, scruffy-looking man came into the showroom. My boss told me off for wasting my time talking to the man. I shrugged it off and gave the man my time and attention, just as I would any other person who walked into the showroom.
It turned out to be the swiftest car sale ever made. He immediately agreed to a test drive. While out test-driving, we chatted about his adventures and the things he liked to do. I sold him the car within the hour as though it was out of the dream sales textbook.
I have never forgotten my feeling of, can I say it? “Smugness” for selling the gentleman that car. He was an absolute delight to deal with.
I left that job after a few months. The manager tried to force me to sell unnecessary car warranties to innocent elderly people. One day, amid one of his tantrums, and in the middle of a sale I handed him the contract and the pen (actually I threw the pen) and walked out, refusing to rip off the innocent elderly couple sitting at my desk.
Sales must always be about selling a need and acting morally and ethically, through the process.
“A company’s attention must be on the welfare of its consumers, not on draining their wallets.”- Abhijit Naskar
Takeaways
- Like the coconut, never judge anyone on their external appearance.
- Some beautiful people on the external front are rotten to the core inside.
- Take time to peel back the exterior layers, and you might discover pure treasure within.
- Treat everyone you encounter with equal value and respect.
- Throw pens respectfully, and only if they deserve it (joking)
- Everyone that approaches your business is a potential customer.
Excellent tips and life lessons from Libby Shively McAvoy
Joyce Nielsen We may look different but inside everyone, there exists a life-sustaining spirit.
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✍ — Published by Warren Brown, at Dancing Elephant Press. Click here for submission guidelines.
