The $50 Dryer

A client of mine recently shared a story with me. 

  Back in 1980, her family was struggling financially. One day their clothes dryer died and they had very little money to purchase a new one. So she visited the local garbage dump that sold used appliances.  She found a medium size unknown brand dryer for $50. The owner of the dump said he could not guarantee that it would work, however he did state that the people who dropped it off said it was still in fine working condition.

She took their word for it.

That dryer served her family for the next five years. In 1985 the family moved and had to leave the dryer behind. The new family that purchased her home offered $100 for the used dryer; my client denied and took only $50. That same dryer served the new family for the next three years. In 1988 the new family was expanding with three new children and decided they needed a bigger dryer. So they took the used dryer back to the same junk yard. When the owner of the junkyard saw the dryer he said, “I remember that dryer, does it still work?” The new family said “Yes, it works fine.” The junk yard owner gave them $50.

When I first heard this story, several words went through my mind.  “trust” “honesty”  “ appreciation” , even “serendipity”.

When I read it through a couple more times, I had an “aha moment”. The common thread here is actually “leadership”. You do the same…read it through a few more times and you will also have an “aha moment”.

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What is a "Conflictor"?

We all know one:

1. "Conflictors" know something about everything, just enough to be dangerous.
2. Disagree with you on everything, in a passive aggressive manner.
3. Challenge your knowledge, in a condescending manner.
4. Devalues your time, while their time is precious.
5. Tells you others are not team players, while stabbing you in the back.
6. Creates a positive facade, and then is negative about your positivity.
7. A "Conflictor" is always right, and if you try to prove them wrong...you will become mentally exhausted.

Bottom line; a "Conflictor" is a predator. When you are up they will get you down. And will you are down, they will take you deeper.

When a "Conflictor", by no choice of yours, becomes part of your team, family, or social circles...do not try to handle them alone. One on one they will drain you. Bond together with people you trust and eventually the "Conflictor" will get frustrated and move on to other prey.

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