Book Excerpts

While I firmly believe that “everything in life is negotiable,” you have to recognize that some situations are just plain “no win.”

I’ve known my wife for about 40 years and every time she tells me she is going to a new hair stylist, I feel like running away from home. Typically, here is what happens. My wife goes to a new stylist or she tries a new hair style. She cannot wait to return home and ask me that dreaded question, “Honey, how do you like my new hairdo?”

Think about it. There is no right answer. I may look up from the TV and say something like, “Wow, you look terrific!” The response usually is, “What was wrong with my old hair style?” Or it may be, “Well, if my old hair style was so bad, why didn’t you say something before?” On the other hand, if I take some time to really concentrate on the new hair style before committing to a well thought out compliment, the pause is interpreted as a loss for words. And that translates to “you really hate it don’t you!”

The lesson I’ve learned is whether it is a personal situation or in business, you better recognize a “no win” situation for what it is before you get in too deeply.