There’s a very simple rule in life that I’d like to share. It’s something I discovered quite early in life, and it has served me well during many a crisis.
Let’s take a typical example. Let’s say you have an awful boss. She wants you to conduct some training on a particular day. Unfortunately, you intend to take that very day off for some personal work. You know very well that no matter how well you do the training, she’s going to have major cribs about it. On the other hand, if you take the day off, you are going to get a earful and more throughout the week. So what do you do?
There are only 2 options here. Either conduct the training or take the day off. Let’s ignore a possible third option where neither do you take the day off nor do you conduct the training (there’s misery for you!)
There are several paths to these two options. One possible way is a 7-Habit kind of exercise, where you decide which is higher priority, your personal life or your work, and choose accordingly.
My way is slightly different. Though I’m not great at maths, I’ve learned some good things which come quite handy in life. Like common factors! 🙂
In the above case, my common factor is that I will be abused by my boss, no matter what. If I take out that common factor, the decision becomes very clear. I will do exactly as I please! 🙂
In other words, this is my rule:
If you’re going to be damned if you do, and damned if you don’t, it is always best to go with the choice that will make YOU happy.
This way, you will be damned for sure, but at least you will be happy! That’s certainly way better than being damned AND unhappy, no? 😀
Did you use this to decide whom to vote for? Thanks to this post, I did 😀
I guess I already knew, but I was playing an ‘honest’ devil’s advocate and trying to come up with counter-arguments as to why I should not vote the way I wanted to. In the end, I am better educated I guess, but have come to realize how hard it is for people (including myself) to give up or change dearly held positions. It also reaffirms my belief that rationality is overrated :).
BTW, here is an excellent article that gives very clear-cut guidelines.
Very useful, btw. I’ve stored it away for use.
Ok that statement doesn’t make much sense. I’ve stored it in my head. I’m going to make use of it in future also.
LOL! Understood. 🙂