I was talking with someone last night about my all day business meeting today and explaining how I don’t feel comfortable in a room with fellow business owners. The person I was talking with has been coming to an improv class with me for the last several months and asked which room I felt more comfortable in, and I explained I feel like the people in the improv group are real people whereas the people in the business group are trying to be as unreal as possible.
My example was trying to make small talk by saying something like, “What do you think about the OKC Thunder being undefeated so far in the NBA playoffs,” and the response being something like, “I’m too busy to watch any of that. What’s the NBA?” That is not how a normal person would respond. I haven’t watched a minute of the NBA playoffs and can’t name a current member of the OKC Thunder roster, but somehow I am aware they are 8-0 in the NBA playoffs.
Business owners have a weird way of pretending the regular world is beneath them. Years ago I mentioned to someone that I was disappointed with how busy the business was becoming because I wouldn’t be able to watch both the TV shows I wanted, and they kept telling me how they didn’t have time for TV. They were too busy hustling and grinding. If you mentioned to a fellow business owner that you’ve been having trouble sleeping they’d start talking about their supplement routine in order to run on less sleep.
When I walk into these business meetings it sometimes feels like I am entering a world of aliens. I was talking with another one last week. Seemed like a normal guy. I mentioned how I am leaving no stone unturned in my 1031 search for replacement properties and looked at turnkey real estate and that one market they found that interested me was Memphis.
Their response was that was the first time they’ve heard anyone interested in Memphis. I was shocked and quickly mentioned Graceland, Beale Street, and BBQ. That doesn’t even get into half the pluses of Memphis. I was at a complete loss as to how the city mentioned in more songs than either New York or LA is somehow not a destination they have ever heard anyone want to go to. I guess that person isn’t a big Jim Cornette or Jerry “The King” Lawler fan.
One way or another I am certain I am going to hear some wacky things today, and perhaps the best response is to agree with it. Heighten it and see what happens with the conversation.
David Huzzard Writes 