Counting our Blessings

Never deny a blessing that comes your way.

Based on a true story ??

Ignorance is acceptable...for some time. Nobody is knowledgeable about everything. That's a fact!

Stupidity is bearable as well... to a certain extent. Nobody is perfect. We've all had such moments, and we will indeed keep on having them.

But when someone insists on firmly sticking to his argument about a certain matter, and when that same someone totally refuses to look at any situation from a different perspective... and, on top of all that... his egotistical arrogant personality starts getting more and more nauseatingly apparent through his broken-record argument, then such a mix of ignorance, stupidity, and arrogance becomes a major attitudinal problem...

Mr. Moe, some dude that I recently met on a flight back to Dubai, has approached me on several occasions to help him land an assignment as a freelancer, after learning that I own my own training and Consultancy company, J&R Business Consultancy.

Since he's also a corporate trainer, in one of the exclusive topics that very few are masters of, he kept on boastfully telling me and repeating over and over again, that he's a maestro in his field. Well, that's great to know.

So, one day, a training opportunity comes my way that perfectly falls under his expertise and qualifications.

Right away, Mr. Moe comes to mind and the very first thing I did, obviously, is to refer him to that client. So, I provided him with their contact information, and I highly suggested that he share his CV with them.

His first reaction, however, was to make sure to let me know that he never approaches anyone for any job opportunity. I was kind of surprised at first and I really did not quite understand what he meant when he adamantly refused to contact that client.? After all, he's approached me on several occasions to remind me to consider him for training opportunities that fall under his expertise.

I simply informed him that this is actually an opportunity that he should highly consider as it perfectly fits him.?He kept on going on and on that, he doesn’t like to approach anyone for any assignments and that he would only go with those assignments that I would hire him for.?I tried, wholeheartedly, to put some sense into him that all he has to do is just share his CV with the client.?I mean, I literally went out of my way to help him land such an opportunity by giving him all kinds of tips he could use for his own sake.

Well, he finally did contact the client, and guess what??The client was so impressed with his CV that they gave him a call within a very short period of time.?Wow, isn’t that just wonderful??At least that’s what I thought!

He ends up totally turning down the offer! And, believe me, it had nothing to do with financials at all! In fact, the conversation did not even reach that stage, as I understood from him. He adamantly turned down the offer simply because it was a one-day training program and not more as he was expecting! He simply refused to understand that the client just wanted a simple introductory one-day program to introduce such a critical topic to management, and not a fully-fledged training program. And, of course, it was a fully paid training course that was taking place right in his backyard. He kept arguing with the caller that something like that should not be done over a one-day training session. And, apparently, the caller kept on reasoning with him that all they needed was an introductory awareness session. I mean, why in the world would anyone miss out on such an opportunity, beats me! ?

You'd never know what might come out of such an experience. Seize the moment, go for it, showcase your expertise, and prove yourself to the world that you can do it! After all, it's your field for God's sake. But unfortunately, some people deny their blessings.

In Arabic, we have a proverb ?????? ?????? or “a beggar who imposes conditions on you.” What a pity.

He left me a message afterward, making me feel guilty for referring him to such a client.?I could sense in his tone of voice how upset he was that he ended up listening to me for sharing his CV with that client.?Oh wow!!!

OK, hold on... I'm not done yet ??

In addition to all that, and during that whole brouhaha commotion I was listening to, he kept on boasting and insisting, over and over again, that he holds a Ph.D.!!! "I'm a doctor, I'm a doctor" he kept on saying. Well, yeah! I know that already. You've mentioned it to me like 147 times during our 4-hour flight back to Dubai.

I was like "Oh my God!!!" That was definitely one of my Holllyyy Molllyyyy moments indeed, hahahah.

I mean, I went out of my way to help him out and I kept on telling him that it was in his best interest to contact such a client and it's his decision, after all, to either accept such an opportunity or not...but surely in a diplomatic approach. After all, he has the power to either accept or not. He even boastfully told me that he ended the call by telling the caller that they were calling the wrong number and that he was no longer interested in further continuing with the conversation.

I really don't understand why some people out there love to make a big drama out of everything. I mean, count your blessings for heaven’s sake, and take advantage of such an opportunity!

I'm no psychologist, but I think this is the epitome of a toxically arrogant personality, unfortunately.

Oh well...

This only proves, ladies and gentlemen, that education has nothing to do with attitude. No matter how educated you might be and no matter how many acronyms you might hold after your name... if you have a shitty attitude, you will be perceived as nothing but a shitty person...

Zig Ziglar once said, "It's your attitude, not your aptitude, that will determine your altitude!" And, this is so true, indeed, guys and gals!

Give that quote a moment to reflect on, and always count your blessings! Always appreciate what you’re offered, always seize the moment, and always take advantage of any opportunity you might be offered.?You’d never know how things might turn out to be.?It might very well be the Golden Opportunity you’ve been waiting for.?

All the way from Aytat, Mount Lebanon... with love ??

Samir Roger Makarem

J&R Business Consultancy

Mission to Empower