A long time ago, like in the late nineties, I used to work at the Subaru factory that’s in Indiana. The one that builds all of the Outbacks, and now builds the Ascent. That one. And I worked in the IT department. I was in the mainframe computer room at that time. I forget what brought this on, but I was angry, and I stormed into the computer room, and then my supervisor stormed in after me and we started having an argument. And she accused me of being negative and alw- — only ever hearing the bad stuff. And I said, “Well that’s — well, if you ever said anything good, then I’d notice it.” And she said, “Oh, yeah? Well, I do!” And I said “Oh yeah? Well, give me an example.”
And she says, “Well, yeah, I complimented you on this thing, a week ago.” And I’m like, “Okay, that’s one.” And she said, “Well, and then I complimented you on this other thing, said you did a good job on Tuesday.” “That’s two.” And she said, “And just yesterday, I said you did a good job on this third thing.” I said, “Well, that’s three. Damn it. You’re right.” She’s like, “Well no, don’t just tell me I’m right, I don’t want to hear that.”
I’m like, “No, you gave me three examples. You’re right. You do tell me good things and compliment me.” And since that day, in like 1997 or 8, I try to remember to listen when I get actual good feedback on something. Took coming down to a simple “One, two, three, nope, you’re right” situation. Which in retrospect is funny, but at the time was really stressful.