I was about to burn a bridge the other day. Fortunately my wife reminded me that I don’t do that. But I was pretty annoyed with something someone did.
A guy emailed me to write for Sunday| Magazine. I normally don’t find writers from them approaching me, but I figured it was worth a try. I told him to go ahead and send me some of his work and I’d check him out. We could talk about what he might bring to the table.
The next email I got from his was from his assistant. He outsourced his relationship with me to an assistant. He was apparently too busy to follow through on his own favor request. I deleted the email before reading it. That’s when my wife reminded me I don’t do that. So I read it.
I’m not sure if he was trying to show me he was busy or was legitimately busy. But I don’t really want to work with someone that’s too busy to chat with me on their own. I work with people I like – people I have a relationship with. And even more importantly than that, “busy” people are rarely the busy people. They’re the ones that want you to think they’re busy so they feel important.
Busy-ness is not importance. Your relationships with others is what makes you important. You should never outsource that. I may have been polite and responded nicely with my rejection letter – so I wouldn’t be burning bridges – but he may have burned a bridge with me that day. He showed me I wasn’t important enough for him to sit down and send me an email. I wasn’t important enough to develop a relationship. I was a “little person”.
I resolve to never make others feel small. People are important to me so I won’t pretend I’m too busy for them.
– As dictated by Jonathan’s personal assistant.
I love this. This and your “Friends Before Influence” post are two of the things I think about a lot as far as relationships go. Basically, I like your thinking on people interaction. Keep writing!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks so much, Liz! 🙂
I love this. This and your “Friends Before Influence” post are two of the things I think about a lot as far as relationships go. Basically, I like your thinking on people interaction. Keep writing!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks so much, Liz! 🙂
“-As dictated by Jonathan’s personal assistant.”
Haha. Best ending ever.
😀
“-As dictated by Jonathan’s personal assistant.”
Haha. Best ending ever.
😀
Mmmmm truth. I love your articles dude
Mmmmm truth. I love your articles dude
I appreciate that you’re willing to step on toes if necessary and call out the crap, bro!
I appreciate that you’re willing to step on toes if necessary and call out the crap, bro!
That’s powerful. Also, thanks for not only these words of encouragement and thought provoking commentary, BUT, thanks for keeping it real for us so we can never make such a horrid mistake.
Also, hope your Thanksgiving rocked!!!
That’s powerful. Also, thanks for not only these words of encouragement and thought provoking commentary, BUT, thanks for keeping it real for us so we can never make such a horrid mistake.
Also, hope your Thanksgiving rocked!!!