Perspectives

Relative Intelligence

Ever stop to wonder why we sometimes think that non-English speaking people are less intelligent than we are?  I was speaking to a friend a few weeks ago about this subject.  He has observed that many people think that when when someone does not understand English we sometimes tend to view them in a less positive light.  Here is a question to ponder:  If you were to move to Russia today, would you be less intelligent?  The same applies to immigrants.  We should realize that in fact the challenge is communication, not intellect and we should not confuse the two.  There is an equivalent for almost every English word in our vocabulary so the issue is translation.  Do non-English-speaking people become progressively intelligent as they increase their command of the English language?  I doubt it but our perception of them certainly changes.  Be mindful of what you think, because it can certainly result in action and cause harm to others.

Ilan Smith

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Get The Hired Gun

I had lunch today with a fellow business owner today just to talk and exchange ideas.  I shared with him some of Harvey Mackay's ideas regarding networking(Dig Your Well Before You're Thirsty) which include making deposits to the "favor bank".    I could see him listening attentively and pictured the wheels turning.  It's great to see the impact a new idea can have on someone.  He shared with my the idea of a salesperson who is a hired gun.  It's someone who already has a large network of contacts, gets paid straight commission, can sell "a green cow" as he put it, may have other clients, and is eager to get going.  It was certainly my turn to listen attentively as I had never thought of a salesperson in that manner before.  I really liked the idea and when I got home called two of my contacts to inquire if they knew such a person.  In keeping with the spirit of Dig Your Well, I gave him a lead, asking for nothing in exchange.  The value of exchanging ideas can be immeasurable.  Try to do so as much as you can.

Ilan Smith

Visit our web site at: www.oakleyassociates.com

Cash, Please

I recently traveled to Belize and had an interesting encounter with communications.  There were signs in the airport indicating that everyone leaving the country must pay a departure fee.  There were two rates:  one for citizens and one for foreigners and it was to be paid in cash only.  I got out of the line and asked an airport employee about the policy and he reinforced it and directed me to a bank branch in the airport.  I first had to go to an ATM, withdraw Belize currency and then go to the bank to buy American currency to pay the departure fee.  Back in line and having lost my place, another traveler inquired about the policy and I shared my experience of a few minutes earlier.  After checking in and inquiring as to when the departure fee was due, the airline employee advised me that it was included in the price of the ticket.  Removing the signs could not be that difficult and would certainly have avoided the unnecessary trouble of scrambling around for exact change in U.S. currency.  It is unlikely that I am the first traveler that this has happened to.  It is important to send a consistent message as there can be many opportunities for confusion and misunderstandings.

Ilan Smith

Visit our web site at: www.oakleyassociates.com 

You Never Know

A few days ago I was visiting some former colleagues when I happen to bump into one who had transferred to another location a couple of months earlier.  He had come to pack up the last few items in his cube.  We talked for a little while and of course I told him about my company.  He was very interested in professional development training and told me that he now has a large staff and he might want to offer them training.  I think back to a few years ago and am very glad that we had a good relationship.  It just goes to show - just because someone cannot do something for you now does not mean they will not be able to do so in the future.  Be nice to everyone you meet, as some day you might need that person.

Ilan Smith

Visit our web site at www.oakleyassociates.com

Excuse Me?

I was on a flight from Dallas, Texas to New York this past Sunday which was very crowded.  Customarily, passengers would walk to their seats, put their bags away and then allow the person behind them to pass by.  I found my seat, put one of my bags away quickly but noticed as I had just finished that the young man behind me squeezed past before I could allow him to pass by.  This stuck me as unusual, as we usually wait until the person in front moves out of the way.  Granted that I did not take more than two or three seconds I felt that he could have waited - I have had to wait a lot longer.  I later found out that he was from the Kingdom of Swaziland(he had his passport out in the open).  This reminded me that courtesy practices may differ between cultures.  However, we must remember that this is not always the case and that some people are just discourteous.   

Ilan Smith

Visit our web site at www.oakleyassociates.com