> they start trying to "game" me.
Can you elaborate on it? I don't have much experience interacting with people.
Can you elaborate on it? I don't have much experience interacting with people.
Folks each have their own "schtick," but it's what they are after that matters.
1) Money
2) Property
They want me to give them money or goods.
3) Prestige
They want me to feed a need for prestige. This can be as simple as agreeing with them in public, an endorsement or referral, or a requirement for some kind of submissive fawning.
I started to write up a detailed description of how this can happen, but realized that this is probably not the best venue for that. Suffice it to say that I have spent my entire adult life amongst some very aggressive and manipulative people, and keeping a good relationship with them, while gently enforcing personal boundaries, has always been a challenge.
For me, I have a personal ethical code that revolves around rigorous personal and "cash register" Honesty, as well as Integrity.
Okay, I’ll bite, why would you keep people like this around you? It sounds unpleasant.
Then even after gathering evidence of their poor performing, they will just keep arguing their case, and would protest to everyone who will listen, and pit people against each other. They will claim they never knew those things were their responsibilities, that they were working hard on it, and that they were just about to address the performance issues, etc.
Most folks that need help aren’t “pinkie-extended Earl Grey drinkers.” Can be a rough lot.
But I have an amazing bevy of really deep friendships and relationships with folks that I would never had met, otherwise.
Totally worth it.