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The Surprisingly Large Cost of Telling Small Lies

boss.blogs.nytimes.com

41–50 of 89 posts

Re: The Surprisingly Large Cost of Telling Small Lies

#41
You also have to look at the motivations. As an investor his primary goal is determining what is a lie and what isn't so that he can correctly value a prospect. As an entrepreneur it's not necessarily the main key to success, at least not higher than keep trying. This doesn't mean I'm saying lie by any means, just that you should always look at the source of motivation from the one giving the advice and how it applies to you.

Re: The Surprisingly Large Cost of Telling Small Lies

#42
Wow - I read the article this morning, shortly before I had to present to managers on the current status of a project. Thought I'd try putting it into practice. The results: (a) I'm quite shocked at the number of (to be fair, very little) lies I would normally tell in such a situation, (b) It was weirdly relaxing being able to just sit there and tell the truth, (c) I've never received such good feedback from a presentation!

A lesson learnt...

Re: The Surprisingly Large Cost of Telling Small Lies

#43
This theory depends entirely on how you define success.

We often define success as prosperity; by the means of increasing our wealth we gain more security in a lot of parts in our lives. If you then think of wealth as success, we can see why a lot of stammers could be called successful.

Re: The Surprisingly Large Cost of Telling Small Lies

#46
post #38
post #34

"The webs we weave when we learn to deceive"

I've heard a few versions of that chestnut, but the only one which both rhymes and scans is this: 'Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.'

...

"But when we've practiced quite a while How vastly we improve our style!"

( - J. R. Pope, A Word of Encouragement. Collected in The New Oxford Book of English Light Verse, 1978.)

Re: The Surprisingly Large Cost of Telling Small Lies

#47
post #16

I always thought that lies seem so "costly" (as in brainpower sucking, stress etc.) because I never learned to lie well. And I always thought that instead of teaching my children to be honest I will teach them to lie well from very young age, so that when they have to lie as adults it will take them very little energy and they will do it very well. Training your "lying" muscles just like a professional athlete trains…

Apparently, lying at a young age is a predictor of success, so you might be onto something there :) :

http://www.mamiverse.com/children-who-lie-more-likely-to-be-...

Re: The Surprisingly Large Cost of Telling Small Lies

#48
post #42

Wow - I read the article this morning, shortly before I had to present to managers on the current status of a project. Thought I'd try putting it into practice. The results: (a) I'm quite shocked at the number of (to be fair, very little) lies I would normally tell in such a situation, (b) It was weirdly relaxing being able to just sit there and tell the truth, (c) I've never received such good feedback from a presen…

That's very interesting, can you elaborate on the "small lies" you found yourself telling? (obviously without disclosing anything personal or confidential).

Re: The Surprisingly Large Cost of Telling Small Lies

#50
post #6

This article reminded me of the "four agreements": "Be impeccable with your word. Don't take anything personally. Don't make assumptions. Always do your best." Not lying falling under the first.

I'm not sure what's included in "be impeccable with your word" that isn't also included in the more mellifluous "don't lie".
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