Avoid putting the brakes on principles to experience an improved outcome
photo credit: KSquared_Photos
Have you ever considered compromising your principles?
A few weeks ago, we anticipated meeting friends in Orlando, Florida. Our plan was to rent a car and follow them to their home about 200 miles away. They insisted we save money and ride with them. But I refused to listen due to their driving a very old car and aren’t among the safest of drivers. So we chose to follow them home on the freeway – about a three hour drive.
My stubborness stems back to the fact I incurred a broken neck by another unobservant driver. It would have been great to have saved the Week’s rental fee but our safety is far more important.
After visiting Epcott Center, we began our journey that evening toward their home. Ninety minutes into the drive, I needed my husband to take the wheel. He then called the wife of his friend to let them know to get off the freeway at the first possible exit. As we exited, we began to wonder why they weren’t pulling over. Two miles down the deserted dark road, they finally pulled over to get out of the car and walk toward us.
Rolling down our windows, we were aghast when we heard them say, “Our brakes failed and it is the second time this happened.”
Imagine, had we agreed to simply save money on a rental, and get into their car for the long journey to their house, what might have happened. The four of us would have been at the mercy of the first car that put their brakes on the highway, and, most likely, we would have slammed into them.
I thanked my lucky stars that I am stubborn and refused to give in. Some refer to stubborness as leadership skills – my preferred definition!
In the end, our friends were thankful that we asked them to exit the freeway, remained behind them and were then able to escort them home in a new car.
I’m relaying this story in honor of the U.S. Labor Day Holiday today. Generally speaking, on holidays some people tend to drive drunk, text while driving or drive at very high speeds – all of which is illegal. And all of this leads to fatal accidents. Please drive responsibly.
Adhere to your principles for personal and business reasons – you be happy you did and experience the Smooth Sale!
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P.S. The Community Service project AmericaHires360 was developed to help Americans return to work. No Fee for Job Seekers. Take place online October – December.
You will find more information on sales techniques and strategies in these two books:
Nice Girls DO Get the Sale: Relationship Building That Gets Results
and
HIRED! How to Use Sales Techniques to Sell Yourself On Interviews
