Whine Til You Win!

While I was waiting to board my flight home from California last tues. night, I noticed a man come into the terminal looking all flustered and crazy... He was an older man about mid to late 60's I would say. He matter of factly marched up to the people at the counter and began telling a story about traffic and how long it took to get to the airport, the person driving him didn't understand, he was going to someplace in western Massachusetts... apparently he felt that the people at the airport needed to know that after the long flight he was looking at another 3 hour drive... I was watching this man work his game... I knew he was going to spring some sort of request at theses people... and just as I suspected.. he needed to change his seat.. He NEEDS to have the aisle seat! After his whole show... the airport guy just says, Nope, the flight is 100% full, you are out of luck! The old guy starts to explain that his bladder is weak and he really doesn't want to keep bothering the other poor people on the plane, it is for the general good of the team approach!! This did not work either. The man was tenacious, he started to then ask if he was 20 minutes earlier would he have been able to make the change then?? This really didn't matter unless the guy was looking to use this information to make somebody else feel bad and cave to his will at some later date!  

While sitting there watching this whole show, I was struck with the idea that everyone wants special treatment. This morning in line at Starbucks getting my coffee, some women wanted a big box to put all her stuff in, A box that they didn't have! She was holding up the line looking for the clerk to run out back and find a box for her stuff! Meanwhile, the other folks in line (Me) are thinking about taking a tire iron to the lady! 

This manipulation tactic is known as the "Whine till you win" approach! It helps to explain why you need special treatment, stress that you DO understand the rules and under normal circumstances you would never ask for this special treatment.... treatment that nobody is allowed to get but you... Then hold up the progress of other people, this adds to the pressure of the person by a factor of  at least 10. Keep insisting that it is not your fault, circumstances outside of your control are forcing you to ask for this thing... Also try to look as disheveled and unorganized as possible, try to look like you just combed your hair with an empty Vodka bottle! One last point, have bad breathe! This will increase your chances also...

What does this have to do with Kettlebell training? Nothing directly. But the thing I really like about the kettlebells and any weight training is, the weight doesn't care who you are or what you particular ass ache on any given day! It is always the same for everybody.. No special treatment and whining til you get your way! In a world full of corner cutters and selfish manipulators it refreshing to have an activity that demands that everyone has to do their own work!