On Mon, Aug 3, 2020 at 05:45 PM, Van Lant, Robin wrote:

My philosophy is always help people understand the dilemma you are in and see if they can agree to a work around before raising a stink about something.

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On that we're in complete agreement.  The old adage (who's intent I understand, even if my reaction to the literal is, "Ewwwwwwww!"), "You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar," applies.

I have been put in the position where I had to raise a very big stink, and my reputation for being willing to work with anyone for a long while, but if you push me past those limits there will be hell to pay, has served me well in work and in life.  I was very glad I learned the lesson to insist, and not nicely, but absolutely firmly, when you are right because it has proven pivotal in advocating for the care of my Mom, who is now in the late stages of dementia.  The managers of her facility, with whom I have a cordial relationship, decided to push me too far, once.  After a call to the Vice President of the organization promptly afterward, that apology came, along with the action I required, in less than two hours.

If you "go thermonuclear" well before that would be necessary all you get is a bad reputation.  Always start out with cooperation and kindness, even going farther along that road than you might like, but if you don't get the result that you know is right, be prepared to fight, swiftly and ferociously if necessary.

No one can take advantage of you.  You allow it.  You teach people how to treat you.

      ~ Dawn Bugni

No one can take advantage of you without your permission.

       ~ Ann Landers

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Brian - Windows 10 Pro, 64-Bit, Version 1909, Build 18363  

The purpose of education is not to validate ignorance but to overcome it.
       ~ Lawrence Krauss