The Hard-Sell - puffed cheeks

Pretty much everyone understands and appreciates an easy-sell. It's like asking an employee if s(he) wants a pay raise, or asking a child if they want their favorite toy for his(her) birthday. The question is easily understood and the response creates no suspense.

However, a hard-sell is an entirely different matter. The question, or statement, usually is met with an expression of shock/disbelief/ridicule, much like 'you can't be serious!' Saying that the outcome is filled with suspense is probably an understatement.

I suspect that we all have found ourselves on either the giving or receiving end of this scenario. The challenge is maximizing the value for you (or, minimizing the damage to you).

One of my earlier hard-sells, as a 7 year old, was demanding that my mother give me what I now wanted. I clearly warned her that I'd hold my breath until I died right in front of her (knowing that either her love for me or tremendous guilt would cause her to totally capitulate). She was at the sink preparing dinner and her response, with not even a glance in my direction was, 'go ahead'.

I'm proud to say that I aptly covered my stunned shock of the moment and deliberately took a deep and loud breath, holding it all in my puffed out cheeks. During this entire process I carefully watched mom for early cracks in her obvious veneer.

The outcome, I'm here today sharing my story with you. The question, did I learn from this episode, did I really want a piece of this?

Your thoughts?

How this all began...

Am I smarter than my smartphone

I occasionally will stumble across the TV program, Are you smarter than a 5th Grader?

My immediate thought was, TV has really hit a new low in reality programs. Who isn’t smarter than a fifth grader except maybe those kindergarten types. Out of curiosity and armored with my post-high school degrees I watched that program with the secure knowledge that, after the first few minutes, I’d quickly switch channels out of sheer boredom.

I was dumbfounded that I could barely grasp the questions that those snot-nose, smirking grade schoolers were readily able to answer. Time for reflection.

For those old enough to remember, there was a time when one had to memorize multiplication tables before being allowed to pass on to the next grade. Later in life, if someone asked me what was 7 + 5, all I had to do was count on my fingers. Now, I ask my ‘smartphone’ for the answer. I’ve actually forgotten how may toes and fingers I have.

Just the other day, I was attempting to resolve an issue with a company regarding damages to my home from the Sandy hurricane. I told the secretary, that if she had a smartphone, I could text the requested information to her. She said she did not own a smartphone and asked if, ‘I really felt smarter because of my smartphone?’

I just Luv’s my smartphone, my reliance on it and my attachment to it. It makes my world so much better. However, am I really better off because of it?

Once again, do I really want a piece of this? Your thoughts?

How this all began...

The passing of Sandy

First off, why am I starting this blog now? It was the week of October 28, 2012 and hurricane Sandy has blown through the east coast cutting off power and flooding many areas. I’m without a radio, TV, internet, lights or heat. I finally managed to charge my laptop but I don’t want to drain the battery mostly playing games.

I’ve got all this pent up energy to vent so I’ve decided finally to actually keep a promise to myself - to express observations that have always puzzled or amazed me. Maybe even find some solutions to the puzzles.

That being said, lets get back to the question, ‘do you want a piece of this?’ To many, this may seem to be a straight forward question, depending on your up-bringing. A simple yes or no response would probably suffice in most instances.