Giving power in return for profit
#33 - words have power
Hi there,
It’s May Day, alternatively known as International Workers’ Day, Labour Day or, as a quick Google search of today’s date will tell you, Save The Rhino Day. Talk about diversity and celebrating organisms (not people) of all backgrounds and colours.
In all seriousness, this yearly day of commemoration originated over 150 years ago, in 1856 Australia, to mark the start of the eight-hour workday movement. Thank those Aussie labourers for you being able to miss 5 alarms in the morning, and practise your sprinting at 5 pm in the evening; I’m sure many can’t imagine a world without it.
It means that the first Monday of every May, tomorrow, is a public bank holiday, leaving us just 4 days of lessons to go. While ordinarily, you might celebrate the fact that you’ve got just four days of school to go before I am (technically) on holiday, the mood in the air (or rather in the classroom) is certainly not one of festivity.
Highlight of the week: being able to play sport again! Despite parental angst, I step foot into the sports hall on Friday to play a bit of badminton during our P.E. lesson. A further encouraging sign after me having no pain in the last 2 weeks!
A short idea to ponder over this time after last week’s essay of making a mountain out of a molehill i.e. a whole post out of 1 chicken nugget
On our last day on our trip to Yorkshire, my dad offered us the incentive of a far-from-posh yet delicious breakfast at McDonald’s in return for packing up quickly and checking out of the hotel room at pace; not something our family is renowned for, let’s say.
We succeeded in our mission, got there, ordered what we want and munched away. In order to quench my adolescent appetite, my dad bought me 2 Egg McMuffins whilst my sister only got one 😏.
(Hang in there, the Ray of Sunlight takes a while to reach you…) After finishing hers quickly, she asked for mine. I’d just finished my first one and was beginning Round 2.
“Could I have some please?”
Anything wrong with that question?
Whilst she’s gotten in one of my all-time favourite words, Please, it puts the onus on her and it’s her desire that needs to be quenched.
A subtle yet significant and perhaps successful edit would be:
“Could you give me some of that please?”
What’s the difference? Here you are giving the ‘giver’ the power: it is their choice whether to share with you what you want. You are communicating that you understand they are the superior person in this interaction and that you are asking their permission. Your request is conveyed like a request, not a command/demand.
Why? People love power. It is the things that we don’t have power/control over that stress us out: exams, what topics will come on there, the future, what others think.
Therefore, giving someone the power, albeit not explicitly, might just mean that they are more likely to comply.
Speaking of what you have control over, a reminder that you can’t control the past or future, but you can change the present. For a more poetic, mystical version, enjoy Master Oogway’s gem of a quote from Kung Fu Panda which my sister was re-watching yesterday:
There is a saying, 'Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift - that is why it is called the present.'
By the way, I know I’ve portrayed my sister in a negative light twice in a row. That simply isn’t the case…she is a wonderful human being……….
Not including Book of the Week because if I did, frankly I’d feel inadequate. Hence…
Podcast of the week🎙️
The Tim Ferriss Show: #582 - Mark Zuckerberg on Long-Term Strategy, Business and Parenting Principles, Personal Energy Management, Building the Metaverse, Seeking Awe, the Role of Religion, Solving Deep Technical Challenges (e.g., AR), and More
Don’t be overwhelmed by the breadth of the topics listed above, nor by the length of the conversation - work through it slowly. It’s an interesting conversation between a highly intellectual world boss and Tim, a magical interviewer who has mastered the art of questions.
Article of the week📰
5 Pieces of Unconventional Life Advice You’ve Probably Never Heard Before: Jordan Gross
I remember this one from a while back, dug it out of my bookmarks.
Quote of the week💬
“Do not be embarrassed by your failure, learn from them, and start again.” - Richard Branson
Adi
P.S. just realised that both last week and this week’s posts have been influenced by McDonalds #notsponsoredbutwouldlovetobesponsored