Let Them Feel Proud

We like to hold down to our ideas and tell everybody that we are right when they are wrong. But we can let others be right, even if it is not true just to make them happy and we have a piece of mind.

When I was ten years old I use to trim my hair ate the nearby barber. But when I go to another barber to cut my hair he would ask me the usual question “Who cut your hair last time?” I would name the barber shop and he would quickly point out how badly that barber cut my hair and missed a spot without cutting. I usually smile or at lease agree with him just simply because he holds my head at that moment with scissors moving fast!! Sometimes the barber asks the same question while, but I answer immediately, “It was you cut my hair last time, but why?” The barber will be silent until he finish cutting my hair. I might feel smart with my answer, but the barber usually punishes me by not spraying me with his usual cheap cologne.

I am in Singapore now and I have to take a different taxi every morning from the hotel to National University of Singapore (NUS). I have a map to show the taxi driver to take me to the right building in NUS campus. Every taxi driver would look at the map and then take me through a different route to the same building and when we arrive there he will say something like “if I followed your map we would be late and …”. The directions on the map were prepared by the NUS staff and I am sure that they selected the best route to the building. I could argue with the taxi driver that he was wrong and yesterday’s driver said the same but I usually agree with driver and just pay the money and wish him a good day.

Arguing with the barber, taxi driver, or co-workers over obvious things may make you feel better but will consume your time without gaining any value over the argument. You might be right and they are wrong, you might have the supporting evidence, but agreeing with them will make them feel proud. Always agreeing with the others when no risk is involved, you will get what you want and they will feel proud.