Comments on: Just Tell The Friggin’ Truth http://www.john-carlton.com/2007/05/14/just-tell-the-friggin-truth/ insight, tactics, advice and mutterings on copywriting, marketing and living life deep... from the most ripped-off world-class ad writer alive... Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:06:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Computer Support Melbourne http://www.john-carlton.com/2007/05/14/just-tell-the-friggin-truth/#comment-115131 Computer Support Melbourne Sun, 14 Oct 2007 01:55:59 +0000 http://www.john-carlton.com/2007/05/14/just-tell-the-friggin-truth/#comment-115131 Telling the truth is usually the easy way out these days, thats because people expect you to lie and all of a sudden you dont. They feel like they have to go easy on you as you're atleast being honest. Theres nothing worse than making a mistake and then lying about it when it clearly is your mistake. Thats when people get offended as they think you think they're ignorant and stupid. Telling the truth is usually the easy way out these days, thats because people expect you to lie and all of a sudden you dont. They feel like they have to go easy on you as you’re atleast being honest. Theres nothing worse than making a mistake and then lying about it when it clearly is your mistake.

Thats when people get offended as they think you think they’re ignorant and stupid.

]]> By: Jason Moffatt http://www.john-carlton.com/2007/05/14/just-tell-the-friggin-truth/#comment-64150 Jason Moffatt Thu, 17 May 2007 15:49:07 +0000 http://www.john-carlton.com/2007/05/14/just-tell-the-friggin-truth/#comment-64150 As a self admitted, reformed liar, I can attest to the fact that it is a million times easier to just tell the truth. It's liberating, and refreshing to know that you don't have to ad lib your way through an answer. When operating from a place of truth, things are simple. The truth may not make everyone happy, but they will respect you for it most of the time. Sadly, lying becomes so habitual that most people can't stop. Even decent men who you'd assume were the nicest guys on the block can't stop their fibs. It's buried deep within and many don't even realize they are doing it. They pass on the blame to others, so they don't have to deal with their own shortcomings. I'm so thrilled to live in truth. And on the occasions when a subconscious lie tries to creep into my thoughts, I quickly squash that and check myself on my own B.S. Living a lie is pretty much death. It eats at you core, and impedes any ability to grow. It's sad because in this marketing game I've come across so many men who I thought were the real deal. Turns out, they are a wee bit better then some street cons. I love this post John. Lying is something that I had to confront hard core about a decade ago and it made me feel like shit at the time. I did not like who I had become. However, after a few years of intensely trying to live in the realm of truth, there is no way I could ever go back. The Truth Shall Set You Free! As a self admitted, reformed liar, I can attest to the fact that it is
a million times easier to just tell the truth. It’s liberating, and refreshing
to know that you don’t have to ad lib your way through an answer.

When operating from a place of truth, things are simple. The truth
may not make everyone happy, but they will respect you for it most
of the time.

Sadly, lying becomes so habitual that most people can’t stop. Even decent
men who you’d assume were the nicest guys on the block can’t stop their
fibs. It’s buried deep within and many don’t even realize they are doing
it. They pass on the blame to others, so they don’t have to deal with their
own shortcomings.

I’m so thrilled to live in truth. And on the occasions when a subconscious
lie tries to creep into my thoughts, I quickly squash that and check myself
on my own B.S.

Living a lie is pretty much death. It eats at you core, and impedes any
ability to grow. It’s sad because in this marketing game I’ve come across
so many men who I thought were the real deal. Turns out, they are a wee
bit better then some street cons.

I love this post John. Lying is something that I had to confront hard core
about a decade ago and it made me feel like shit at the time. I did not like
who I had become.

However, after a few years of intensely trying to live in the realm of truth,
there is no way I could ever go back.

The Truth Shall Set You Free!

]]> By: Will Hamilton http://www.john-carlton.com/2007/05/14/just-tell-the-friggin-truth/#comment-64031 Will Hamilton Wed, 16 May 2007 15:45:05 +0000 http://www.john-carlton.com/2007/05/14/just-tell-the-friggin-truth/#comment-64031 John, Great message. Especially "Denial is stubborness that gives the finger to reality." Now that's the truth. It reminds me of a quote I wrote in '85. "Facts keep the confusion out. Confusion keeps the facts out." You find the facts in what you experience, not your theories, ideas, plans, etc. Confusion won't let some people see the truth of their situation. They were not only giving the finger to reality, but to their customers as well. Hopefully the facts (lost business) will help them clear out their confused beliefs to see the error of their way. But I'm not putting any money on that one! Will Hamilton John,

Great message. Especially “Denial is stubborness that gives the finger to reality.” Now that’s the truth.

It reminds me of a quote I wrote in ‘85. “Facts keep the confusion out. Confusion keeps the facts out.” You find the facts in what you experience, not your theories, ideas, plans, etc. Confusion won’t let some people see the truth of their situation. They were not only giving the finger to reality, but to their customers as well. Hopefully the facts (lost business) will help them clear out their confused beliefs to see the error of their way. But I’m not putting any money on that one!
Will Hamilton

]]> By: Tim King http://www.john-carlton.com/2007/05/14/just-tell-the-friggin-truth/#comment-64015 Tim King Wed, 16 May 2007 13:20:56 +0000 http://www.john-carlton.com/2007/05/14/just-tell-the-friggin-truth/#comment-64015 "People will tolerate exaggeration and bloviation, but get very, very nasty when lied to." Yes, the converse is also true: People are surpisingly tolerant of bad news, as long as they feel informed and in control. The best manager I ever had taught me this lesson in a powerful way. I was a software engineer in a development shop. I had told our customer we could probably deliver a certain feature, which he was really looking forward to. I was putting it together when my manager intervened. She decided, for corporate reasons, not to deliver that feature after all. So she picked up the phone and dialed the customer, got his voice mail. She didn't make a big deal out of it. It was just, "I've called to tell you we will not be delivering such-and-such a feature after all. Please call me if you have any questions." When I commented on how gracefully she did that, she simply remarked, "Well, he had to be told." Yeah. Why didn't I think of that. The customer was of course disappointed that we couldn't do what he wanted when he wanted it. But it was better for both of us for him to find out earlier rather than later. If we had tried to keep it secret in order not to look bad, he would have found out eventually. And we would have looked even worse. -TimK “People will tolerate exaggeration and bloviation, but get very, very nasty when lied to.” Yes, the converse is also true: People are surpisingly tolerant of bad news, as long as they feel informed and in control.

The best manager I ever had taught me this lesson in a powerful way. I was a software engineer in a development shop. I had told our customer we could probably deliver a certain feature, which he was really looking forward to. I was putting it together when my manager intervened. She decided, for corporate reasons, not to deliver that feature after all.

So she picked up the phone and dialed the customer, got his voice mail. She didn’t make a big deal out of it. It was just, “I’ve called to tell you we will not be delivering such-and-such a feature after all. Please call me if you have any questions.”

When I commented on how gracefully she did that, she simply remarked, “Well, he had to be told.”

Yeah. Why didn’t I think of that.

The customer was of course disappointed that we couldn’t do what he wanted when he wanted it. But it was better for both of us for him to find out earlier rather than later. If we had tried to keep it secret in order not to look bad, he would have found out eventually. And we would have looked even worse.

-TimK

]]> By: Paul the Perth Computer Repair guy http://www.john-carlton.com/2007/05/14/just-tell-the-friggin-truth/#comment-63902 Paul the Perth Computer Repair guy Tue, 15 May 2007 07:30:53 +0000 http://www.john-carlton.com/2007/05/14/just-tell-the-friggin-truth/#comment-63902 John, Sorry to hear about your sketchy DSL experiences.. whish I could have been there to help! I like what you have to say here. I think if I'm open and up-front with my limitations, people see that I am real honest and the bridge of trust is built. This is very important to me. I remember working for a company once where a co-worker advised me "never admit it was our fault" in order to avoid additional expenses and looking unprofessional in front of the client. I think telling the truth simplifies your life, you have nothing to hide behind and dont need to remember any special 'story'. Cheers Paul John,

Sorry to hear about your sketchy DSL experiences.. whish I could have been there to help!

I like what you have to say here. I think if I’m open and up-front with my limitations, people see that I am real honest and the bridge of trust is built. This is very important to me.

I remember working for a company once where a co-worker advised me “never admit it was our fault” in order to avoid additional expenses and looking unprofessional in front of the client.

I think telling the truth simplifies your life, you have nothing to hide behind and dont need to remember any special ’story’.

Cheers

Paul

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