Early this morning I had a random conversation with a stranger on the beach while walking the dog. He shared that he only gets to visit this incredibly stunning place with his dog Luna every eight weeks or so because he lives and works in a ‘concrete jungle’ he doesn’t particularly enjoy being in.
Recently made redundant, he’s now rethinking his life and considering where he truly wants to be, feeling a bit lost.
I told him about one of the most powerful questions that came to me when my dad unexpectedly passed away at the young age of 58.
“Would I be happy with my life if I died right now?” Becoming hyper aware of the fragility of life, I wanted to make sure to live life to the fullest. So if the answer was no, what would I need to change for the answer to be closer to a yes.
“I’d change a lot if I knew I only had a few years left to live, starting with moving out of the city. But my partner doesn’t like change”, the stranger with the dog responded.
Compromise. It takes courage to make the difficult decisions.
As I walked back along the beach, feeling the sun warm my face, I reflected on the word compromise. For the first time ever, I realized that the word “promise” is within “compromise.” Have you ever noticed it? You probably have and I’m late to the party!
Curious about its origin, I asked my buddy ChatGPT where the word comes from. “Compromise” originates from the Latin word “compromittere,” meaning “to make a mutual promise.” It involves making mutual concessions or adjustments to reach an agreement. Something we sadly don’t see much on the public stage right now. Given that public figures aren’t demonstrating the skill of “compromittere,” it’s even more important for us to practice and teach our kids how to compromise gracefully.
How does this look like practically?
She wants a cat, he wants a dog. Compromise? They get a parrot that knows how to bark and meow!
Joking aside!
One person might love well-organized resort holidays with big wasteful buffets, while the other prefers unplanned trips that allow for spontaneous adventures. As a compromise, they agree to do a week of each.
Or there’s the classic child-naming compromise—one parent names the child, the other names the dog. I may have benefitted more from this one!
In business, we might extend payment terms for a loyal customer as a compromise to keep them on. Or when a co-founder might push for a more conservative marketing approach than you’d like, so you meet somewhere in the middle with the promise to measure the results.
Compromises happen all day long, whether we notice them or not. Those who struggle with compromise often struggle with some of the most crucial skills for a brighter future and successful business – negotiation, collaboration, adaptability, and emotional intelligence.
Toddlers are excused from this and invited to keep throwing tantrums instead of offering a compromise!
*Com-promise: A promise to make concessions for a better mutual solution.