A little before I was about to present at a recent event in Minneapolis I was hanging out with a few people who were manning (or, is that, “personing?”) the Resource Tables for the various speakers. One was a table displaying Roxanne Emmerich’s book, Thank G-d It’s Monday.* The book is about how to make the workplace both a lot more fun and a lot more profitable. I read it. It’s terrific.
So, a woman who was not an attendee but attending another event within the same convention center walked by and, seeing some books on the table, stopped by. Nice enough person. The she saw the book’s title.
“Thank G-d It’s Monday?” she asked, with a tone of extreme disbelief.
“Yes” answered the person working the table, with a kind, genuine smile.
The woman, with a slight, disbelieving shake of her head, simply turned and walked away. No “good bye”, didn’t say “thank you” and didn’t any longer even acknowledge those at the tables. She simply walked away as though the event going on in the adjoining room must be some kind of rah-rah cult festivity. {quick note: realize that is simply my interpretation; I can’t read another person’s mind.}
One of the people from another Resource Table, turning to the person handling Roxanne’s table said, “Wow, does she need that book. You should have just given it to her for free.”
I opined, “She’d probably never read it.”**
“But, aren’t those the ones” asked the young man at another table, “who need it the most?”
Great question. And I believe that’s true.
Isn’t it interesting though, that indeed – about 99 percent of the time – the people who need something the most will never try it, use it, read, it, etc.
Yet, the 1 percent who do often make changes in their lives so significant, profound and dramatic it’s nearly beyond description.
For the 99 percent, it typically comes down to belief systems. There are certain things so far outside one’s “model of the world and how it works” that they will simply not be open to that suggestion.
So, what do you think it is about that other one percent that makes the difference; that causes them/allows them to be open to ideas with which they are currently not familiar?
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*Note: The title of the book has the vowel intact. I used a hyphen in the word, “G-d” in keeping with Jewish tradition of never spelling out the Name of G-d out of respect and deference.
**Note: Please don’t confuse my statement, “She’d probably never read it” with my saying that it’s not good to offer. Within the proper context, it certainly is. Had the visitor stayed around, asked questions, and shown any openess I would most likely have bought her Roxanne’s book and given her a copy of The G0-Giver, as well. She did not make herself open.
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I have given a lot of books out. Some of them people don’t even open, and return it to me brand new lol. Others procrastinate, and are still procrastinating until this day. They always say “Oh yeah i will get around to it” and they never do. Then of course you have the minority, the few, that when they read the first book, they can’t stop searching for new knowledge, and their lives start changing. The way they think, act, plan for the future, etc….
My guess it’s maybe that lady was not ready for change. That’s why we need to move on, and try to help the next person.
Bob, I believe it comes down to 1. Believing in ourselves AND that 2. We have a choice to make, then 3. Actualize that choice. That takes energy and emotional investment. Some folks prefer to slide by life. It’s easier that way. No challenges, no hard work. No improvements. And so sad.
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Great story, Bob, and so true. And, until you “get it”, you don’t “Get it!” And that is when you need it most. Keep spreading the word, though, and more people do catch on!
I remember when I didn’t think I needed to invest any time in personal growth and development; I was already a positive person. Wow, thank goodness I had a mindset shift!
EXPECT Success!
Jackie Ulmer
I believe the 1% have a vision of what they want to achieve or have, make choices that move them in that direction and take action. In pursuit of that vision they choose to make themselves open to all possibilities and opportunities. No matter what their current situation, good or bad, they know there are unlimited possibilities to make their vision a reality. When the student is ready the teacher, book, letter, email, information you need will arrive.
I agree. oh – and it would be “staffing” rather than “manning”. 🙂
Hi Bob! I agree with Ronnie….when you have a vision for what you want, you immediately open yourself up to possibilities. Considering that its a fact that the people you associate with have a significant affect on how you feel (and what you’ll ultimately achieve), I can see how a large majority of people would be stuck in this type of rut.
It reminds me of an old joke about a drowning Vikings player to whom G-d sends a row boat full of Packers.
I’m a horrible joke teller so I won’t go further. But, the point is G-d helps those who help themselves. You fulfill your purpose when you offer the book. They need to then fulfill their purpose by reading it. You can’t do for someone else what they refuse to do for themselves.
I learned this over the years as I have managed many different types of people. I do all I can to mentor, encourage, coach, train etc. But, at the end of the day, there are people who will never perform well. At some point, the fault is no longer mine and they need to take responsibility for their own station in life.
And, I’ve always loved Mondays, but I still read this book! (point proven I guess)
All the Best!
Melissa
It always comes down to open-mindedness, Bob. I believe that if we are not learning and growing, we are dying. (I think I’ll stick to the learning and growing) 😉
This post is yet another great observation and lesson from Bob Burg!
I think one difference in the 1% is simply believing that there is a possibility of change for the better, too many people I meet seem to think things only get worse. With that mind set, there is no point in trying.
I also think that the educational system (at least in my experience of it) is set up to discourage open-mindedness, and is still trying to produce factory drones, even though most of the factories are gone.
I was lucky to encounter some teachers (outside of “traditional” educational systems) who encouraged me to think for myself, and to see that change is always happening, and that while we cannot control all the changes, we can choose to control how we experience them.
A thought that helped me (I think it is from Vernon Howard) was “Change is never loss, it is change, only.”