The Yes Man

18 Oct 2006

I'm reading a rather good book at the moment. It's called Yes Man, and it's about the fourth or fifth book by Danny Wallace. He's the guy behind the "Are you Dave Gorman?" novel/fly poster phenomenon.

It's about a man who meets a man on a bus and he tells him to "Say yes more". So he does, and he gets into a fair few amusing situations. It makes me laugh anyway, which is rare these days. My over inflated ego hates to entertain the fact that there are other people out there more successful and funnier than me. I guess more people hate that than they would care to admit.
He finds that his old life is transformed because he says no a lot to his mates and opportunities. He says it because he's lazy and doesn't want to take any risks. So he misses out on a social life, and saying yes more changes that.

It's not a self-help book or anything, but it's given me a lot to think about. You should buy it. Or rent it out at the library. I joined the local one the other day and was surprised by how hi-tech it's all become. They have CDs and DVDs, and even the internet. Even the stuffiest of institutions have to catch up with modern times eventually.

Anyway. I'm similar to this bloke in some ways. I've been saying no a lot when it comes to my friends, a night out here, the odd barbeque there, and we're not as close as we used to be. I still think about them a lot, but I also really enjoy my new life, not quite in the country, but nearly. Sometimes I feel like I know people at work better than mates I've known for over ten years, because I spend so much time with them.

I say Yes a lot too - but to all the wrong things. I find it difficult to say no to favours. So much so that I end up pushing my own responsibilities at work and especially at home to one side in the name of helping other people.

Karma says, work hard and put people's feelings at ease. Break your back by trying to do everything, and you'll be rewarded with love and respect. Everything you do comes back to you in some form. Be good to people, and they'll be good to you.

The problem is - everyone one else has slopey shoulders. Or rather 'most people' have that boundary where they will just shrug and grunt after very little fuss.

Sometimes it seems that the more things you start, the more other people have to follow up and they can't be bothered. It's strange to think that every new project you begin, in the hope of bettering yourself, only leads to more stress as other people leave these loose ends open.
Not that I know why I'm telling you, dear reader. One of only two this week.

It's all relative though isn't it. I think I enjoy moaning a bit too much. The moral of this story is - I'm going to be more selfish, and I'm going to enjoy it...

I'll let you (and whoever the other person is) know how it goes...