Never Complain
David Berman • September 11, 2024
white half dome shape

Never Complain

 

No exceptions to that Rule. Zero. 

 

Complaining only and always generates friction, and not good friction such as the friction generated by hitting your brakes on your car's wheels.

 

Friction generated by complaining only creates breaks in the relationship you have with the person you are complaining to.

 

If there is something that is bothering you and you want to express that to another human being, do so in, at worst, a neutral way, or even better, a positive manner.

 

Let’s say you are at a new restaurant and there is something wrong with the expensive steak you ordered. How do you approach that?

Ex: I ordered my steak medium rare and look, it's so well cooked I can use it to replace the worn soles of my shoes. What’ wrong with you people? This is supposed to be a steak restaurant and if you can't get that right, what else are you getting wrong?

That will probably get you some external source(s) of saliva mixed in with your steak juice when they come out with your second steak. 


How about this approach:

Ex: I really appreciate your efforts here, but it appears as though my steak is overcooked for my taste. We have heard such great things about your restaurant from our closest friends and are looking for a place we want to frequent more often given that there are really very few if any [good] steak restaurants in our neighborhood that any of us like.

And then just stop talking. 

Odds are you will get a retry on that steak you ordered, sans the external source(s) of saliva.

 

I cannot think of one instance where you cannot turn a complaint into a positive statement maintaining focus on the same desired outcome.

 

Let me know if you have any.

 

Wishes for a great day to all,

Hugs and Love,

David/

 



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