You feel that his objection is unsound; that he
is exaggerating caution. But it would certainly be a mistake for you to
say, "Nonsense!" That would make him bristle.
Of course you want to show him that you do not take his objections
seriously. You can make the right impression by smiling at his
statement. You can reinforce the effect of your smile by making a
horizontal gesture with your hand. If you shake your head slightly,
force will be added to your denial of incapacity or rashness. It may not
be necessary for you to _say_ anything. Possibly your suggestion will be
stronger if you simply ignore the point he has raised against you.
Usually, however, in such a case it is best to employ a few quiet words
in disposing of the objection; _though chief reliance should be placed
on the suggested meaning behind the statement_.
[Sidenote: Your Stake In Your Opportunities]
I recall the case of a man who handled an objection of that sort by
first smiling while shaking his head and making a gesture of negation,
and then said, "I could not lose much for _you_, but if I were reckless
or irresponsible I certainly would lose for _myself_ this opportunity
that you see I want very much.
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