Don't Be Like "Larry Tate" On "Bewitched"

Think of the most important business contact that you have...and think about how much money that person will bring you and/or your company in the coming year, if all negotiations go as you plan. Think about how you nearly trip over yourself to talk with that person...to make sure you say everything right...and how happy and "smiley face" you are with that person, whether you're talking to them in person or on the phone.

Now do you have that picture in your head?

Okay...well... that's how you should talk with EVERYONE in your life.  You should be THAT enthused...THAT happy...THAT excited...THAT willing to not only share your joy...but to appreciate whatever great and good thing ANYONE can bring into your life...especially if there is ultimately nothing in it for you except pure joy.

No financial contracts.  No monetary gain.  No "networking."  Just pure joy.

Are you capable of that?  Being nice to someone when there is absoutely nothing in it for you?

How nice?

Well, I remember a friend who was repelled by dogs.  At least I thought he was. 

One day someone brought a dog over to his home.  In retrospect, however, he was not pleased with the person.  He didn't like the person.  The person was likable.  But there was nothing in it for the dog-disliker to like this person...or this person's dog.

But when another individual visited with their dog...an individual of position...who could do great things for the dog-disliker...it was a different story.  The dog-disliker fell down on his knees and started playing with the dog on the floor.

I couldn't believe my eyes.

The dog-disliker apparently all of a sudden liked dogs.

But in reality, the dog-disliker was insincere...kind of like ad man Larry Tate, Darrin's boss on the TV show Bewitched.

Larry never really respects anyone unless there's something in it for him.

Is that really how you want to be?