The Zen Chair & the Art of Staying Positive


by Dr. Gary S. Goodman - Date: 2006-12-20 - Word Count: 310 Share This!

I just got off the phone with a business associate who shared some bad news.

I was particularly displeased because she didn't convey the right information in a timely way, and that's what fouled the deal; or at least that's what I was telling myself as I was on all fours in my office.

She couldn't have broken the news at a worse time.

I just sliced open a box containing my new office chair, which I have to assemble, one of my least favorite activities.

The instructions contain only drawings and the outlines of happy, productive stick figures at desks, sitting with perfect posture.

At first, I think they've left out some screws, and there is even a picture of a drone puzzling over not finding his screws, and then the next one shows him calling for tech support.

Gee, I thought, they screw-up so much, pardon the pun, that they even have to etch the problem and solution in silhouette-speak.

My frustration was growing, with my mind flashing back to that darned phone conversation and the problem it confronted me with.

And then, of course, it hit me, the old saying: "If you can practice when distracted, then you're really doing some fine training."

Ok, I thought, this is my chance to do a little Zen.

FEEL your anger big fella, that's right, feel it all.

Now, gaze back serenely at those instructions.

Look, you have all the screws!

They are FINITE. You can handle it.

And then, quite calmly I attached the armrests to the seat cushion, wrongly, backwards, of course.

No problem, I'm going to learn every way this DOESN'T come together! Then, I'll be equipped to assemble thousands of these items.

Your mind is wandering you blathering fool.

Gosh, I have to stop putting myself down.

NEXT!

Finally, I finish, convinced I left out something vital, that the chair will rebel and I'll fly right out the window.

Ooh that lumbar support feels good.

Better now.


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Best-selling author of 12 books and more than 1,000 articles, Dr. Gary S. Goodman is considered "The Gold Standard" in sales development, customer service, and telephone effectiveness. Top-rated as a speaker, seminar leader, and consultant, his clients extend across the globe and the organizational spectrum, from the Fortune 1000 to small businesses. He can be reached at: gary@customersatisfaction.com. Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles

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