I remember the first time someone spoke to me about “sorting through people”. I had to ask them to repeat what they had said. I was truly in shock that someone was suggesting I sort through people.
As a crocheter, I often sort through yarn at Walmart. My idea of sorting is looking for the right color. I’ll look and scan, and then reach deep into the barrel hoping to find just the right yarn for whatever project I am working on. Of course this means I’m tossing out those skeins I don’t believe are right for my project.
My daughter and I love to watch movies. Again at Walmart, my daughter and I can spend an hour sorting through the DVD sale bin. We toss aside those movies we already have or don’t wish to purchase and we put the ones we do want into our shopping cart.
This is my idea of “sorting”. So when I heard the word sort in reference to people I actually flinched a bit. I just could not imagine choosing only the “best” people and tossing aside the others.
As the years have passed, I’ve asked others exactly what they mean by “sorting through people”. Very few people even know what this means. They just know they’ve been taught this phrase and so they use it.
I’ve had a few folks that have told me they are indeed looking for “just the right person” to join their team.
Of course my next question is “what does the right person look like?” Again, I very seldom receive an answer. Is the right person tall? Is the right person short? How old is the right person? Is the right person single or married?
A few times I’ve been told “I’m looking for those who are serious about earning money”. Me, being a person of many questions, will then ask “how are you judging serious?” What word or phrase or answer must a person give to you to have you convinced they are “serious?”
Remember, my interpretation of “sorting” is looking for something specific and then tossing aside what I don’t want. The thought of doing this with people is a concept I just find to be horrible.
I really believe that almost everyone has something they can offer both to you and to your business. Instead of “sorting” through people the next time you’re looking for folks to work with, why not instead look inside and ask what you personally have to offer to the very person you’ve just met.
