In ensuring one stays engaged; i. e. able to notice and understand things that are not obvious, one can eliminate situations arising that cause us valuable time and effort. In part one of this two-part post, I provided examples of how being perspicacious can ensure one’s time and efforts are not wasted.
In harnessing perspicacity, one can make the utmost use of one’s time, which is certainly limited, in efforts to “make more monie”. Awareness is a good thing, as demonstrated in part one, and another good thing – just as, in fact, if not even more so – is being self-aware.
Take the case of a contractor I know, who has very strong political opinions that he shares with anyone and everyone he comes in contact with, whether asked to share them or not.
In currying favor in an attempt to gain business referrals from me – which I am usually happy to give as he does very good work for a very good price – he drove the two of us to that very same Costco I referenced in part one, to stock up on items needed.
As I waited for him to pick me up, I anticipated his being thrilled about a rather solid connection I was going to provide him. This connection’s upside was significant restoration work that would surely be coming his way upon my introducing him and, more importantly, upon my recommending him.
Unfortunately for him, he never stopped ranting about the latest political update he had heard on his favorite right-wing “news” radio and television program, which is omnipresent in his narrow-minded world.
Rather than a set of headphones isolating him from the rest of humanity, this individual, on this particular errand run, successfully isolated himself from a bonafide, money-generating lead, simply by sharing his opinions. Now in saying this, I’m not saying that it was due to them only, which would be enough for many as they are extreme, but because of the extremes taken in sharing them, namely in volume and duration.
His speaking at volume in an irritating, intrusively shrill voice actually hurt my eardrums and his non-stop, nonsensical tirade literally lasted the entire car ride there. It went on, figuratively, forever.
I’ve known this individual quite some time, and as such, know of his potential for drama and the exaggeration that accompanies his exasperation. I have come to expect “conversations” with him whereby it may be hard to get a word in edgewise. In this case though, and to no one’s detriment but his own, I, in actuality, could not get a word in edgewise, certainly and especially after giving up trying.
No matter who one is dealing with, whether personally or professionally, never bring up subject matter positions that could be considered “out there” by reasonable people. Furthermore, there’s a reason why politics, along with religion, aren’t good subjects of light conversation, as they are both highly personal and very private.
My acquaintance’s thinking that politics, including his own positions on the specific issues of the day are appropriate subjects to subject others around him to, is misguided at best. When his penchant for voicing his political opinions are combined with his brand of confrontational and alarmist political “theorocies” ‘n’ conspiracies, it becomes downright annoying. Listening to it is aggravating to even the most accommodating, regardless of where they may be on the political spectrum.
In efforts to “make more monie”, remember that one is always at risk of being labeled by extreme streams of consciousness. Unless you’ve revolutionized an industry a la Steve Jobs or Bill Gates – or are also creating entirely new ones like Elon Musk – always calmly and coolly project perspicacity and self awareness. It’ll take you places, like Mars, in fact, as, thanks to Elon, the sky’s no longer the limit!
Disclaimer: The information contained herein should not be construed or considered professional advice. Nonetheless, thanks for reading! If it resonates, there’s “plenty more where that came from” on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X ‘n’ YouTube.