Favorite Inspirational Quotes

Hay is more acceptable to an ass than gold.

Latin Proverb

When we consider what someone wants in return for an effort, whatever it might be, that return depends upon who they are. Whether you are showing appreciation in some form or you’re trying to figure out how to market a product, you have to be sure that the person or market receiving it wants it the way you intend to give it.

An ass, or donkey, has no use for gold in return for the work they have given you. You want to make one happy, give it the best hay you can.

You want to make someone around you happy for whatever reason, give them appreciation in the form they prefer. You want to sell to someone, sell them something they want, not what you want to sell.

And to know all this you are going to need to know the person or market. Does your husband prefer a good home-cooked meal or a good back rub as his favorite form of appreciation? Does your girlfriend like to receive two dozen red roses or does she prefer a night on the town? Does the person who worked half the night to meet a tight deadline just want their pay? Or would acknowledgement of their effort in front of the whole team go further?

To be able to truly understand someone else, to know what is more acceptable to them, will require getting to know them.

However, all of us really want signs of appreciation that show our value to whoever, be it a boss or co-worker or family member. To many, that is far more valuable than even the gold.

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