Comments on: #987-Quit Thinking Getting the Short End of the Stick Bites

By: Quit Bit Week in Review-Behind the Scenes

Quit Bit Week in Review-Behind the Scenes — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:57:57 +0000

[...] Quit thinking getting the short end of the stick bites (Open rate: 68.2%) [...]

By: Dean Dwyer

Dean Dwyer — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:05:05 +0000

Hey Lisa please feel free to comment at anytime on all things you like. I’m very good at accepting compliments and have discovered I have no limit in this area of my life

It’s funny because the list is very therapeutic for me as well. Last night I had to do some grocery shopping and in the check out I was actually looking for an opportunity to let someone go in front of me, but I couldn’t…namely because there was no one behind me….dang!!!

Today I am going to go out and rake leaves that a nice neighbour decided to put on the street that takes up 2 spaces of much needed street parking. While in the past my thinking would be to simply shake my head and wonder what people are thinking, I can add value by freeing those spots up for people who actually need them.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:23:47 +0000

Great post….love the list….I want to post it on my wall…and a few other people’s walls too ; ) Keep up the good work….I really enjoy your sense of humour, puts a genuine smile on my face.

By: Dean Dwyer

Dean Dwyer — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:10:41 +0000

Great comment Beau. I’m a big believer in changing the game. We get too caught up at times, well at least I fall prey to it, that things have to be done a certain way. This mindset creeps into all areas of our life. I guess it comes down to being a bit more aware of not just what we are thinking about, but more importantly, why are we thinking that and whether or not it is correct.

By: Beau Blackwell

Beau Blackwell — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:09:05 +0000

Great, thoughtful post. We’re so psychologically hardwired to always evaluate exchanges in terms of “justice” that we sometimes ignore both the long-term benefits of an exchange and even whether a certain action would just make us feel good right then if we view it the right way.

The study you cite is a perfect example, and isn’t just about “touchy feely” stuff- if I’m the person who has the chance to veto a transaction, wouldn’t I rather get a free $30 for doing nothing than get zero? You’d think so, but when we analyze everything for “fairness,” we’re going to be constantly disappointed by life. Life’s just not fair, and expecting that it will be all the time will just generate constant frustration.

You mention Chris Brogan’s thoughts on giving more than you get- in his book he also has the idea of “changing the game.” If you know life isn’t fair and you may get screwed sometimes, you can shift your expectations and how you approach it, and find your own ways to be happy within the rules of the game.

Your examples of ways of willingly getting the “short end of the stick” are some perfect examples, and illustrate how, by going into those exchanges mindfully, you can come out the other side feeling more satisfied than if you approach them from a negative or defensive perspective.

Keep up the good work!