You should never pass up a teaching opportunity. If you are knowingly doing this - shame on you. If you are someone in need of learning more (that's all of us) and do nothing to attain that knowledge - shame on you as well.
Education needs to be both shared and sought.
In my life, every minute of every day is tied to some sort of sales pitch. From my wife trying to sell me on getting a new car- to record companies pushing new artists-to account executives trying to convince me to do more or something unique for a client-to a bunch of random "pitches" from various people throughout my day. It can, at times, be a bit over stimulating. Everyone is pushing or hustling something in life and at some point you have to tell them "no". That doesn't always go over so well.
Despite how bad this could come back to haunt me, I actually try to help these people sell me on their ideas. Sometimes these interactions get heated and these "pushers" are so emotionally attached to their idea or product, that they end up doing more damage to their cause than good. They lose their cool and get fixated on their needs. They get blinded and throw rationality and common sense out the window. Instead of debating with them, you should try to help. Not in a way that comes across as pretentious or condescending, but more in a way that shows them you want to help them get better at selling you. These actions go beyond the workplace and can certainly be used in all facets of life.
This week I had a discussion with someone who all but blamed ME for HIS lack of success. (Read that previous sentence again if you need to). His message was scathing, accusatory and riddled with assumptions. Would you buy an infrared cooker from Ron Popeil if he used those tactics rather than the catchy disarming phrase of "set it and forget it"? Nope! This tactic must have worked for him at some point, because all my previous interactions with him contained glimpses of these things. His intention, even though he reversed his message once I started to break things down for him, was to attack ME so that I would be blinded and less focused on the facts and his lack of overall research on the topic. Yet, despite how much fun it could have been to go all karate kid style and "sweep his leg" with my words, I took the opportunity to break down his message and demonstrated a way for him to be more effective in selling me. You have to resist the need to be right. It's a challenge for all of us, but the message comes into their brain clearer if it comes from a place of benefit to them.
If I am going to spend my time being hustled all day, it might as well be by the best pitches from the best people pitching them. If not, then it's just a waste of time for both of us.
If he is smart, he will take this knowledge, regroup and fine tune his pitch. I really hope he does. There is nothing more flattering than having someone embrace your words and use them against you.
