Wednesday 27 August 2008

Make up your mind!

When Andrew and I are trying to decide on something, we use The Number System. It has saved us from many misunderstandings, disappointments and wasted efforts to please one another.

Quite simply, if we are trying to determine how much the other person wants, or wants to do, something, we ask “What’s your number?” In the case of me asking Andrew, the response is typically “Huh? What are you talking about?”, but then he catches on when I say “Between one and ten—what’s your number?”

By asking this objective question, it forces us to be honest about how much we want to do something.

For example:
Me: “Hey, Hun. We were invited to go to dinner at Brad and Angelina’s this Saturday. What’s your number?”

Andrew: “Uh… I’d say a seven.”

Me: “Okay, well I’m a two. So we’re not going.”
Or maybe:
Andrew: “Hey, Sweetie. A guy at work said he’s into swapping. What’s your number?”

Me: “Get lost.”

Andrew: “Alrighty then.”
Okay, that never really happened. But you get the picture.

Try The Number System with your spouse, kids, friends. It’s easy, fair and gosh darn it, kinda fun. The key is honesty. Quit saying what you think the other person wants to hear.

You just might be pleasantly surprised.

3 comments:

  1. If I say to my dad or The Boy "What's your number?" They'll reply "cucumber." Because that is just the correct answer to that question.

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  2. What a great idea!!! I'm totally going to try that. We've been really stressed lately with lots going on in our lives, and I totally think this could ease us into some compromise.

    Thanks for the tip :-)

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  3. This is great but I think my husband would exaggerate the numbers! He can be extreme about things at times. lol

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