Do you know when I heard "Don't take it personal?" That was the day that I went to a major computer convention and came back to my office in tears. Seeing my misery, my boyfriend, decided to take me to lunch. As I was relating the incident about how I approached a salesman at the convention concerning technical product information, and without looking up, he told me to come back tomorrow - with my husband. My boyfriend calmly said those words, "Ah, don't take it personal!"

How could I not take it personal, after all, I'm an expert in my field and I'm told to bring my husband. I wasn't even married. Now as my boyfriend was about to wear his lunch, he asked me a question.

"What can this guy do for your business?"

"I needed some information," I replied.

"Can you get that information from another source?" he inquired.

"Yes, but he didn't have to be rude to me." I complained.

"Well you see," he slowly explained, "there was nothing in it for him. He's been at that little booth all week and was probably rude to everyone - soooooo don't take it personal."

That little business secret was hard for me to learn. The trick is to think of excuses for people. When the computer salesman rolls his eyes as you ask an excellent computer question, just think to yourself - he just doesn't know the answer, poor guy. When you're trying to get that point across to your co-worker and they have a glazed look, just think, maybe the baby kept them up all night. Get creative and make up a list of excuses you can laugh at, and then use them.

Sometimes it's fun to just go along. Once, I was working on a computer at a real estate office. The computer was in the front office just inside the door at the receptionist's desk. The receptionist went down the hall and left me alone in the office. As I was working at the computer, a guy came in followed by a group of people. As he past the desk, he snapped his fingers and ordered coffee to be brought to the boardroom. I started to tell him that I was the computer consultant, but didn't get two words out of my mouth when he barked "Just do as you're told." I could have gotten upset, but that day I said to myself "What the heck? They are paying $55.00 an hour."

Therefore, I got up went down the hall and found the coffee room. I proceeded to locate a tray and cups, filled about six cups, found cream and sugar, and started back down the hall. Since I didn't know where the boardroom was, I had to ask the nearest person and without question, she pointed the way.

I calmly walked into the room, went to the head of the table where the guy was sitting and served him the first cup of coffee. Without looking up, he muttered.

"Thank you."

"Well that's probably the most expensive cup of coffee you've ever been served." I replied.

Then he looked up and questioned me. "You must be new?"

I smiled and continued. "No, I'm the computer consultant and on the clock at $55.00 an hour."

I promptly left the room while the laughter roared on. He didn't apologize to me until two weeks later, quietly outside in the parking lot.

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Gina Novelle (copyright 12-2004)