A visitor /repairman came to fix my (elaborate!) Television.
Because of missing parts and trouble with customs he ended up staying 3 days.
I explained my coffee machine. Press this button for Expresso, this one for Regular coffee, this one for Latte and so on. Of course I also showed him where the soft drinks were.
He said, “If you’re having some then I will too. I don’t want to be a bother.”
In the morning my wife asks him if he wants breakfast.
He said, “If you’re having some then I will too. I don’t want to be a bother.”
At lunch time the same thing happens.
He said, “If you’re having some then I will too. I don’t want to be a bother.”
He’s having trouble with his Mobile phone so we offer our low cost “Long Distance” line.
“Well, that’s Ok” he said, “I don’t want to be a bother.”
While waiting for a part to arrive he looks over my other electronic equipment and tunes some and cleans some.
That evening I invite him to join us at a local restaurant and does he like Steak?
His reply really says something like:
He said, “OK, if you are going there. I don’t want to be a bother.”
But he ordered Fish.
On the third day when he left we both breathed a sigh of relief.
And yet he did not want to be a bother!
Review what you call being nice and simply say in a clear and pleasant tone what you prefer when asked. Being too nice does NOT please the person who genuinely wants to please you.
Don’t be a taker.
Give the other person the satisfaction that comes from them giving to you.
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These are related:
11 Feedback – 15 K.I.S.S. – 22 Attitude – 27 Responses – 35 One + One = Two! – 42 Leadership
47 Gold Stamps – 48 Saying No – 80 No as Information – 86 Don’t be Yourself!
99 Perfection! – 101 Relationships
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