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Shake That Brain!® Solutions
Volume 1, Issue 8 |
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IN THIS ISSUE: 1. THE NOT-SO-STUPID AMERICAN ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ As previously noted in this newsletter, when searching for a solution,
ask yourself: As a teenager traveling through France, I was determined to not be perceived as one more “stupid American.” My solution? Dive in with my best high school French (a B+ on the best of days) and – when necessary – resort to my well-practiced plea for mercy: "Pardonnez-moi, je suis un Américain très stupide." ("Pardon me, I’m a very stupid American.") 1. It let them know I knew what they were thinking. On this particular day, however, my "Pardonnez-moi, je suis un Américain très stupide" was NOT going to work. Here’s the scene: It’s winter in Paris and I’m trying my best to not stick out in this small café. So far, so good. But as I go to take my coat from the coat rack on the wall I wind up taking down not just my coat ... but the entire rack. A dozen coats and the rack CRASH to the floor. The room goes silent. Suddenly, everyone in the café is staring … at me. Thinking fast, I realize I can: a) Try to apologize best I can, thereby confirming my status as a “stupid
American,” or I chose “b,” acting imperious and – without saying a word – huffing, puffing, and demonstrating just how OUTRAGED I was that I should SUFFER such an indignity! And … it worked! The owner himself picked up my coat from the floor and helped me on with it as he dusted it off – all the time APOLOGIZING and asking for my forgiveness. The moral of the story? When in France … BE FRENCH. LEGAL DISCLAIMER: While the above story may be entertaining (and show the way to a very "creative" solution) it does NOT serve as an example of good ethical behavior. If you're wrong, admit it. Even better, keep out of trouble in the first place. MARTHA STEWART UPDATE: Martha Stewart was convicted for obstructing justice, making false statements and conspiracy - all of which occurred AFTER the federal probe of her alleged insider trading began. As New York University law professor Stephen Gillers opined, Stewart was trapped by her "effort to conceal information that could show criminal conduct, rather than the conduct itself." In other words, says Gillers: "You can criminally obstruct the investigation of an innocent act." Bottom Line? If you're wrong, admit it. And if you're NOT wrong, don't stand in the way of the search for truth. For the article, "What Should I Do?" (Being Ethical in Business)
see the Articles page at: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This newsletter has been brought to you by Joel Saltzman. Joel is a speaker, facilitator, consultant, and creator of the "Shake That Brain!®" system for Business Solutions: for building better teams, increasing sales, and improving the health and vitality of your business and personal life. To learn how Joel can help your organization, click on: http://shakethatbrain.com/wow TO SUBSCRIBE: If this newsletter has been forwarded to you and you'd
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to: join-stblist@mh.databack.com This list (and your participation in it) will never be sold, rented, or used for any purpose other than to entertain and inform you with our FREE Shake That Brain!® newsletter. TO UNSCUBSCRIBE: If you'd like to unsubscribe to our newsletter, send
the words TO BE HEARD: Send all comments, criticisms or suggestions to: comments@shakethatbrain.com This email newsletter is intended for the use of subscribers only and may contain information that is confidential, privileged or unsuitable for overly sensitive individuals or persons with no sense of humor. If you are not the intended recipient, this document may not be duplicated, transmitted, stored, genetically manipulated, spindled, folded, crushed, cracked, stapled, punched, bound, photocopied, tenderized, ignited, launched, lunched, axed, nixed, pressed, pushed, pulled, shredded, pureed, buffed, rebuffed, refrigerated or retreaded. Shake That Brain!® is a Registered Trademark. JOEL SALTZMAN
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