This struck me because many times our comments can be taken out of context. Recently on VA Networking we were talking about what constitutes being direct vs. being rude. The post is extremely long, but it provides great insight into how the human mind works. What exactly is direct? What exactly is rude?

*Direct = To give authoritative instructions to
*Rude = Abruptly and unpleasantly forceful
(*-The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)

As you can see the words direct and rude go hand in hand. If I am providing a “direct” answer or opinion one can say that I am being “rude” and vice versa. In the end how one takes your particular comment or opinion is in the eye of the beholder.

Before you jump to conclusions sit back and ask yourself why this person is responding in this manner. Have they been there, done that and received the t-shirt? Are they trying to help? Is this person constantly negative? Many times when we take offense to a post on a forum or listserv it’s because we are making the same mistake. I say this because I was once there. Granted I was new and just getting started, but the more I read the valuable information placed before me, the more I grew. Did I grow because of the swift kick in the tushie? Did I grow because I was learning more than I ever dreamt possible? The answer to both of those questions is a resounding yes.

Become a Master Craftsman

Take some time today to evaluate where you are and where you are going. What do you need to get there? Do you need to change your ingrained mindsets in order to achieve the desired results? The world is there for the taking…you just need to reach out and grab it.

Becki

The Simpsons are known for their signature one-liners. Sure they get a lot of attention quickly, but the meaning fizzles away just as fast. Is your marketing message full of cheap one-liners or do you have a hard core message? You can be catchy, but make sure that you are authentic. Authenticity is missing in many of today’s marketing messages.

What can we learn from each of the characters?

Bart – Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.

Lisa – She’s smart, savvy and intelligent, yet is at times she is unable to relate to those around her. While it’s great to have book smarts, there are times when you have to put convention to the wayside and go outside the box.

Maggie – She is quiet and knows how to listen. She processes the information and stores it away for later use. Try this at your next networking event.

Marge – She is the pillar of her family and is what holds it together. She is forever after the mythical work/life balance.

Homer – If you sit around long enough, you’re bound to make an impression…and not necessarily a good one.

While taking a break for a few minutes today, I came across this “real life” clip of the Simpsons. Surprisingly it looks very similar to the familiar cartoon version.

Becki

Becki