To many times in our lives we give in to frustration. Life throws us a curve ball and we back up in the batter’s box or completely give up our entire at bat because we’re frustrated.
Frustration is a funny thing though, it stems out of confusion and misunderstanding, and can grow to be an insurmountable demon. But the best part is, it doesn’t have to.
Recently working on a project, I could see a growing frustration on faces and the general atmosphere just wasn’t right. When I spoke with both parties involved I could understand where the frustration came from. Within one conversation we had agreed that the frustration was due to a lack of communication and could easily be interpreted as a challenge.
Our world would be much better off if instead of getting frustrated with a problem, we look at it as a challenge. Challenges get you going, they’re the fire under your ass, they’re the reason why sports are so interesting and they could be your solution if you are feeling frustrated.
So what do you do when you’re feeling frustrated?
Photo Credit: Kim Jay Photography
In some industry’s I would argue brand loyalty does not exist for the vast majority of people. For these products price is the main reason of choice. In the grocery store I have too many options in front of me, so like any other confused male in their twenty’s in a grocery store, I begin to compare prices and inevitably many of my choices are dictated on which is the cheapest. But a product can look good enough that you will pay a premium just because you perceive it to have more value (this happens a lot). Many products in the grocery store are sold because of implied value, which creates brand loyalty. Marketing has aided this effort for years, making products seem better than they actually are, just so people would buy.
Alright so you buy Kraft over the no name salad dressing, and you buy Bicks because No Name pickles taste funny (when in fact they taste fine). Marketing has done a great job building trusted brands for us but I don’t agree with buying a name brand products just so a multi-national company can keep marketing it. Presidents Choice Cola tastes strikingly similar to Coke Cola but you don’t want to be known as the guy who buys PC brand Cola do you? Well why not? It’s cheaper and it tastes like the real thing.
One could argue that the more informed shopper will purchase the generic brands more than big name brands because they understand that the extra cost supports marketing efforts not improving the product.
The next time you’re going for groceries ask yourself, “why am I buying the name brand product.”
I know what you’re thinking and no, it’s not a typo, this post is titled act before you think. We have all heard the original saying stating the opposite but I think in some situations you must act before you think or else your thoughts will influence your actions in a negative way.
Have you have had to make a bad phone call, I mean the one you loath to make but have to? Ever scheduled a meeting with someone you didn’t want to and felt completely awkward the entire time leading up to the meeting to find out that it wasn’t that bad after all? Personally I hate these moments, talking to people I don’t know isn’t easy, especially if my mind is trying to think about every conceivable outcome. So what do I do? I don’t think about it, I believe I excel in these situations if I’m not thinking about it and just do it.
When we step outside our comfort zone it can be very scary, you don’t know what to expect, your hands are clammy, you get gassy and your thoughts are racing. But nine times out of ten it isn’t half as bad as we think it is, our thoughts make it to be worse than it actually is. So trust your instinct and act before you think.
Benefits:
- Your gut instinct is usually right, let it be your guide through this awkward situation.
- Every time you step out of your comfort zone you grow, you learn, you adapt in ways you never could have within your comfort zone.
- Every time you step out of your comfort zone it gets easier and easier.
So get out there and take advantage of those situations that you avoided at all costs, it is in those moments that we grow the most. To some it all up I think the Lulu Lemon bag says it best; “Do one thing every day that scares you.”
When you patronize restaurant, hotel, or another service industry and they make a mistake, they apologize. We all do it, it’s polite, you’re supposed to, and usually you get a good response when you apologize. But what happens when you apologize too much? Any service manual will say apologize three times over to make it right but is that excessive?
When you over apologize to me you make me feel as if you made a larger mistake than it seems. At restaurants if my server continues to apologize to me it makes me think that they really did mess up. Instead of sincerely owning up to the mistake and trying to make it up to me with exceptional service you keep dwelling on it. Unfortunately now you have put into my mind that it is a much bigger mistake than it really is.
Stop apologizing, I know you messed up, we all do it but please don’t over apologize you’re making yourself look worse than you actually are. If someone can’t forgive you for a small mistake after one apology then they don’t deserve you apologizing the fourth and fifth time over, save your breath.
on 
