Once upon a time I asked my boss for the raise he’d promised and we both knew I’d earned. Now he wasn’t sure. I was stunned, and told him so.
At which point he said: “You push too hard sometimes.”
He wasn’t used to being held to his word, from what I could tell, and managed mostly by intimidation. So I was delighted, and okay, relieved, when he laughed at my response: “When (insert his name here, in italics) tells you that you push too hard, it’s time to take a good long look at yourself.”
I used to be afraid of bullies. Then I heard how the wife of a friend looked at them: “Oh well, they get the life that goes with it.” Now I’m more playful with people who intimidate me.
Or I pretend I’m watching a movie. It makes it easier to stay detached.
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