THE OFFICIAL BLOG OF THE SBS "DIVA"

So when do you give a vendor or a person a clean slate to start over.

A new page?  Start from square one.

I was thinking about this tonight in regards to a couple of conversations and sometimes I wonder if sometimes...just sometimes...we let the word of mouth... the Church of the Customer not let us make up our own minds.  Now don't get me wrong.  Word of mouth ...the been there and done that can be the greatest piece of information and knowledge sharing you can get, but isn't there sometimes when evaluating something it might be better coming into it with an open mind from the beginning and then letting the facts let you come to your own conclusion?

A fresh start; another chance after wiping out old offenses or debts. This idiom often appears as wipe the slate clean. For example, Henry's boss assured him that the matter was finished and he could start with a clean slate, or He wished he could wipe the slate clean, but it was too late to salvage the relationship. This expression alludes to the slate boards on which school work or tavern bills were recorded in easily wiped-off chalk. Since 1850 or so the term has been used figuratively, and it has long outlived the practice of writing on slate.

I still remember going to a movie that the critics loved.  Their 'word of mouth' regarding that movie meant that I had certain expectations in mind.  I sat in the movie theater ...waiting for the movie to get to that part that the critics said was wonderful.  And I sat.  And sat.   And sat.  And soon the end credits rolled.  And their word of mouth, set my expectations so badly that ...to this day... I can tell you exactly the movie that I sat through thinking.... did I see the same movie they did?  Did I wander into the wrong theater? 

Don't get me wrong... I think the “been there and done that” and “word of mouth” is valuable, but sometimes...just sometimes... you might want to do something I call the “To kill a mockingbird” effect.  Walk across the street.  Turn around.  Now look at the view from the other angle.  That word of mouth you are getting is just that... a view.  And maybe...just maybe..... making up your own mind ...without expectations might also be of use.  Maybe the view is just what happened to them.  A one-off.  Maybe the view is that from a long time ago [like me and that movie]

I will never forget a movie that horribly set my expectations. 

So tomorrow in my part of the world in the end of the week and Sunday to me, is the beginning of the new week.  It's the day we get to 'start over'.  Now I'm not saying I'll be watching that movie next week.... but just maybe I'll start Sunday morning with a clean slate and pick a new movie to watch and decide what I think about it.

How about you?  How about you pick something or someone and start off next week with a clean slate?  A new view.  Another chance. 

And this time... make up your own mind from what you expect...not from what others have set for you.