Dave Jeffery: Author

Conflict Management - A Rant

A New Newsletter often brings with it new thoughts; new perspectives. I am finding that on occasion tolerance is a furtive creature. Once you thing you have it leashed and muzzled, it suddenly rebels and drags you off to its lair. An example of this is how I recently perceived the response to my request to a very famous personality. The request was simple enough, support for a cause that would only serve to help a group of people (children, no less). Support that would consist of nothing more than a few words - a few sentences - typed onto a computer screen.

The response was a few words - a few sentences - to suggest that the person was already far too committed, far too busy to add such a note of support. I thanked the person, thrown off kilter by the fact that they had responded to my email. My reply was gracious, forelock touchingly humble even. I allowed them to let needy people down, and thanked them for it! Shame on me!

Then the beast called tolerance morphed into something else. I applied a formula and didn’t much like the outcome. My formula for my work is crystal. I published with a company that uses the sale of each book to help others. That’s what Chipmunka Publishing does. It is an ethic to which I can easily subscribe. I get to do something that I love to do, and others benefit each time I sell a book. Clear to me. Clear to most.

That someone who earns six figure sums each year cannot make such a miniscule, token commitment of a few words that have potential to help so many is a concept that I simply cannot understand, let alone tolerate. And to think that I have been a fan for many years - contributing heartily to already bloated bank balances - is a final hew in the pedestal. Shame on you; shame on you! The climb to the top is hard, but the fall will always be harder.

Dave … all ranted out!