You Don't Want Any Apricots, Do You?

You don't want any apricots, do you?

Ask the person next to you right now.

Then, ask them: Would you like some apricots?

What a different feeling those two questions elicit!  It's a very simple change in phrasing, but one discourages, and the other encourages.

For Christmas, my sons got me Joyce Meyer's new book Power Thoughts, and in Chapter 2, which is all about the power of positive thinking, she asks these two questions. It really made me think how simple it can be to rephrase everything in an uplifting manner.

In life and in business, the implications are huge. There are thousands of books about positive thinking, and no matter how many times I re-read them, a refresher course always helps. So whether you're dealing with clients, family and friends, or just life in general, taking an extra second to pre-think what might be the best way to phrase something can really have a big impact. Sometimes using both a positive and a negative can help people more clearly understand the different choices available, and the likely consequences.

I've been able to help buyers really think out their best options by asking:

You don't want to write an offer that they won't accept or even review, do you?

Would you like to write the winning offer on your favorite house?

And for sellers:

Would you like to price your home to sell quickly?

You don't want to have to endure month after month of showings-- and keeping your home always perfectly tidy, do you?

And of course, one of my favorites at home:

Did you want to clean your room before dinner or before you watch the movie? Or conversely, You don't want to miss the movie tonight, do you?

Positivity really matters!