When my grandson was just three, there was once when I sat down with him to look at a photo of his “classmates” in his childcare center.
Little Blake would point out each one of them and call out their names.
And when he came across a kid whose name he could not recall, he simply said in his innocent way, “I don’t know.”
He didn’t seem embarrassed and he wasn’t ashamed to admit that he didn’t know.
He made no attempt to hide his ignorance and he didn’t pretend to know and he certainly didn’t attempt to hoodwink me by just mentioning a name. If he had, I wouldn’t have known anyway.
I wish adults are as honest as kids. I wish adults are not so self-conscious over their ignorance about stuff.
I have met my fair share of adults, many of them in so-called honorable professions, lying through their teeth.
People must know that it is perfectly ok to say that they don’t have the facts.
With my professional training and years of engaging with all kinds of people from all over the world, it is easy for me to see through lies.
People with no guts to say no for whatever reason but instead put forth a whole lot of lies – these people waste a lot of my time and energy.
The woman who interned under me and then went on to claim that she was the one who actually started the practice in the firm I was with; another person – a political animal with zero ethics – who claimed to have started a department I was running long before she came on board – these are liars too. And they even have the gall to make such fraudulent claims on their LinkedIn profiles!
And who are those who are worse than these dishonest people?
Those who say things like “I don’t want to get into that conversation” or those who simply do not respond to emails. The tactic of avoidance.
I am reflexively allergic to idiots who do not reply to emails. This behavior is anathema to the way I do business.
Recently I had to send this email to a contact:
Dear D
Going through my email archives, I realized I haven’t received a reply from you.
My email to you was sent in November last year.
Hope you are not being rude.
If for some reason or other you have not received my original email, please accept my apologies.
If not, then I maintain that it is only basic courtesy to send a reply or at least acknowledge it, something which I shouldn’t have to remind you of.
Regards
Mike.
Here’s another one I just sent:
Hi T
Not having heard from you for over a month, I am assuming that this subject is closed.
Regards
Mike.
What’s wrong with some people?
One word really: “unprofessionalism.” Plain and simple.
Now, if this is how some people want to present themselves to the rest of the world, it’s their prerogative.
I am no baby-sitter, but I will put you in your place.
You can trust me on that.