You can waste a LOT of time trying to give the right message to the wrong person.
I have a book in my office, which was given to me a few years ago, by an employee of one of my clients. This man was very likeable, yet totally demotivated. He was doing the same job at age 45 that he has done all his working life and earned less than anyone of similar age within the company.
He handed me the book one day, telling me that it would be “just my thing” because “it’s all about motivation and success.” I asked him how come he didn’t want it. He explained that he was not into that kind of stuff.
I then asked him why he bought the book in the first place and he told me he didn’t buy it – but that his wife had given it to him; though he had no idea why. He went on to say she often bought him books like that, which he never read. “You’d think by now that she would realise I prefer novels,” he said.
No matter how great your message is, you are wasting your time sharing it with the wrong people.
Jim that’s a sad story – but a pertinent reminder.
Scott,
The fella I refer to in that post is a happy enough person. He also has a stack of untapped potential, which is always a shame to see going to waste.
I think his wife saw the same stack of untapped potential you did and tried to release it, he just wasn’t into the books she brought him.
Maybe she should try a different method that might be more effective. We all need a human alarm clock from time to time to wake us from sleepwalking through life.
Anthony,
Your point is an interesting one.
The challenge is that unlike an alarm clock, which will wake anyone up; so long as it’s loud enough and rings for long enough – a well intentioned message will only work is the recipient is ready to hear it.
The personal development expert Jim Rohn tells a great story, about when he started out as a trainer / speaker.
Apparently, he used to tell himself “I will get these people motivated if it kills me!”
He goes on to say; “I almost died!”