idiot medicine

NOVEMBER

*in the spirit of November becoming a “mix it up” month (men don’t shave, start any New Year’s resolutions now) etc. and with hints of Wormwood…

idiot medicine is going to mix it up by shifting to what I like to call “contrast learning” for the month.

therefore I now bring you one proverb a day for the entire month of November on…

“How to be Unlikeable” or “How to Destroy Relationships” or “How to be a Jerk”

#1 Be a bad listener!

Proverbs 18:13

He who gives an answer before he hears, is folly and shame to him.

Are you a bad listener? 

Here is some help in becoming a bad listener:

When someone is sharing something with you, let your mind and eyes wander.

Lean back, not forward, keep your arms crossed and yawn…a lot.

And, I almost forgot, keep glancing at your phone as people are talking to you.

If that doesn’t work, keep scanning the room for more interesting people and conversations you might be able to be having.

Treat any pause…especially tears…as your chance to finally deposit your brilliance.

Ignore all tone, timing or context.

Prioritize anyone else calling, texting ,X-ing or Snap-ing and always let that take precedence over who ever you are with presently.

Prove it…by ALWAYS having your phone, having it out and on and up.

Beware of becoming present, curious or engaged.

Keep your questions generic and basic.

Never ask questions like…

What is most heavy in your life right now?

Tell me about your relationship with your dad? How has that changed over the years?

What feels like highest priority for you going into the weekend?

If you could hear your heart clearly, what is it most trying to communicate to you?

Also, since “the body never lies” ignore all non-verbals such as body language.

Conventional wisdom tells us we have two ears and one mouth and it’s wise to use them proportionally…so screw that.

Dominate the word count.

Always win the conversation…and the next and the next…

Grindforth.

*When I was 21 years old I participated in a nine-month, four mornings a week, discipleship program with Tommy Nelson. I need to credit him with many of these ideas and this framework. He opened each of our morning sessions with a proverb and introduced me to “contrast learning” with his hilarious humor, snark and wit.