Kool-Aid Man

I like being a believer, so I have always been susceptible to “Drinking the Kool-Aid”. I try balance that with healthy scepticism and good old fashioned South African distrust for authority. After giving a convincing answer in a client meeting once, I was shot down with, “That makes sense, but you have a silver tongue”. How do you respond to that? I also almost didn’t get a job once because a reference (attempting to be on my side) said I was very convincing. They didn’t want to hire a hard salesman. Everyone has to eat, so when an offer sounds too good… it is worth adding some doubt. The balance to hard sales is expectation management. Being completely transparent with the downsides and what can go wrong. Transparency requires the admission that we are all making it up as we go along. Making mistakes and making a living. Chipping away at problems and trying to get paid. Building cushions so we are okay even when we are not okay. Building containers so the people we care about are looked after even if they are not the best. Committing and believing.