Author Archive: Geoffrey Schmitt

There was a time when it was critical to be a good hunter and warrior. The most important skills were those used to throw spears and shoot bow and arrows. There was a time being the best farmer was at…
Read more

There are almost no jobs or careers that don’t involve communication in some way. Even the most isolated of jobs there comes a time when a person must communicate with others. The better able you are to give and receive…
Read more

Stanley and Markman of PREPinc.com discovered through research, testing, and experience that escalation is one of just a few serious behavioral patterns that can ruin a relationship. You start out commenting on the toothpaste and before you know it there…
Read more

Those who want to convince us of things by appealing to our emotions prefer us not to use our minds to analyze the logic behind their arguments. This is true of car and insurance salesmen, politicians, and even our friends…
Read more

Years ago I asked my counselor, “Why are all these people always giving me such a hard time?” He replied, “If you lay down and open your mouth they will shovel in the sh….” It seemed a very blunt answer…
Read more

There is an old feminist joke that says, “How can you tell if a man is lying to you?”  The answer, “His lips are moving.”  You could exchange man, for your favorite suspicion, “politician, lawyer, etc.” Hopefully that is an…
Read more

It can be frustrating when you have important information to communicate and it seems that the people whose attention you need aren’t listening. There are many ways to approach the problem. Let’s look at them in an escalating order of…
Read more

There are neighbors and there are neighbors! Those who are nice to you already were probably friendly people before you entered their lives. Those who are not may be not for any number of reasons. You can’t “make” anyone change…
Read more

For years I had a poster in my office with the picture of a tired, sleepy Orangutan.  The poster said, “I know you understand what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard…
Read more

We Americans are so afraid of death we are reluctant to use the real words. Hardly anyone dies anymore. They “pass over,” “cross over,” “kick the bucket,” and “buy the farm.”   Just yesterday I heard a new one. “She got…
Read more

We live in the age of information. If you want to be successful you need to be a good communicator. Here are a few tips to keep in mind regardless of the audience you want to reach or the medium…
Read more

Many people have difficulty expressing their feelings with words. They may pout or shout. They may slam a door or kick the dog. They may drive too fast or retreat into a nap. Yet, when it comes to sharing feelings…
Read more

Yes, less is more; more effective that is. In these days when IM (Instant Messaging) is all the “Twitter” people are learning how to say more with less. Hardly anyone has the time or patience to put up with long…
Read more

Then people at PREPinc.com have this one down pat. They have done the research and discovered four negative behaviors that are going to set your relationship into a negative spiral full of all kinds of difficult confrontations. These four behaviors…
Read more

There is no guarantee that being a positive person will make your life easier. However, it costs you nothing and the dividends can be priceless. Yes, some people respond better to the proverbial stick. On the other hand, many respond…
Read more

It seems you can’t be too careful these days. You don’t know what people might hurt you. You don’t know who to trust. It can be a fearful world out there. However, if we give in to fear, we shut…
Read more

Many of us do our best to be agreeable, and pleasant. When disagreements occur or awkward situations arise we tend to suck it up and hope it will pass. However, feelings are not like faucets you can turn off and…
Read more

Of all the negative communication forms one of the most understandable yet destructive is the rumor. They are understandable because they usually arise when a high level of interest meets a low level of information. They increase when a high…
Read more

When it comes to relationships communication is the most important factor. When it comes to marriages this is even more true. If you want a happy and long lasting marriage you need to be able to talk with your spouse…
Read more

I hate to wait and so does everyone else! Let’s face it, when it comes to waiting we are spoiled. For a brief time our local post office had a sign that said something like “No waiting longer than 5…
Read more

There are cultural stereo types. Years of Hollywood heroes riding off alone into the sunset have their effect. Such expectations loom large. However, the reality is only a partial truth. Perhaps big boys don’t cry over spilt milk, but just…
Read more

Every relationship has its ups and downs: every friendship, and marriage; every parent and child; every boss and employee; every teacher and student. So what are we to do when it happens? There are several things that might cause relationship…
Read more

Each one of us is unique. There are no two people alike. No matter how much you and your spouse have in common there are and will be differences. One key to a happy and successful marriage is the ability…
Read more