It’s December 1st and whether you like it or not the holiday season is here. For some of us, this time of year is a joyous social occasion and we can’t wait to hear Little Drummer Boy on the radio and non-stop jingle bells in every grocery store.
For the other half *cough* *Scrooges!*
It’s a stressful time of year and for one reason or another, Christmas cheer seems to make you even grumpier.
Well in the words of a gleeful oversized elf “the only way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for all to hear!”. So without any further ado, here is my Christmas song. Listen up because it pertains to everyone regardless of if you’re a Christmas elf or a grumpy scrooge.
The Pains of Gift-Giving
I think it’s safe to say that whether you’re a scrooge or even a jubilant little elf, finding the right gift for someone on your list is a challenging and intricate task. Many women have attempted with a graceful intent to find the gift that best suits a special man in their life. But evidently, sometimes the “Top 10 Gift List by GQ” isn’t exactly a one size fits all database for men’s wants and desires.
Likewise, at some point, nearly every man has fallen folly to associating common household tasks with a woman’s actual desires or quite simply buying “thoughtless gifts”. If you don’t know exactly what I’m talking about and you need a visual reference; check out this little ad from JCPenny from a few years back. Beware of the Doghouse
What’s The Best Gift?
No matter how many commercials you watch or articles you read, it’s simply impossible to decipherer exactly what gift is the best for someone else.
Becoming a good gift giver takes time and a special touch. There is only one type of person in the world who knows how to get the perfect gift. They are the Santa’s of the world, and for some unexplainable reason, they always have something up their sleeve so that when a gift giving moments arises, they show up with the world’s perfect gift — outshining everyone else.
It’s frustrating to be outdone by this individual, but at the same time, you have to appreciate their unique Kris Kringle-like abilities.
But what if I told you they aren’t that special, and this unattainable quality can easily be possessed by anyone who wants it.
Well, today is your lucky day because I’m going to spill the beans and tell you exactly what they do in order to ensure they always get people the best gifts possible.
The Answer
They LISTEN. Yes. It’s that simple.
Okay, now that’s easy to say but what does that look like?
Well for starters, when they are with someone they don’t just sit there waiting impatiently until it’s their turn to talk. No, they actually hear what the person is saying and ask questions that they can learn from. They listen to the words and thoughts being shared. They take in the information and construct a sentence that benefits the conversation, instead of reverting back to their own personal desires.
I know it sounds trivial, but simply listening and communicating is a lost art that many people lack.
Along with poor listening skills, we simply don’t have the patience for listening to someone else. We are so accustomed to the world in which information is a mouse click or soundbite away. So much so that we never stick around long enough to actually read something, understand it, and form an opinion on it. Instead, we just move onto the next tidbit of information and try to absorb as much as we can, as quickly as we can.
Back To Gift-Giving
Sorry, I got a little sidetracked there. But my point is still relevant to gift giving. And I promise I’m going somewhere with all of this.
I promise my point is still relevant to gift giving. And I swear I’m going somewhere with all of this.
If we truly want to all become Santas this holiday season, we need to activate the listening portion of our brain.
We need to listen to what people talk about when it comes to their interests and daily activities. What do they do in their spare time or on the weekends?
If they start telling you how they went mountain biking last weekend, this isn’t just a chance to hear a cool story. They are telling you what they love to do.
So when your outdoorsy friend’s birthday is coming up, you can get them something really useful like a goTenna which essentially allows them to go off the grid without actually losing a cellphone signal.
Once you start listening, you’ll be surprised at what you actually hear. From there, when a gift giving moment presents its self, you will already know (1) what the person likes (2) What kind of gifts would be suitable for that person. Mission Accomplished.
Santa’s Other Tool
Despite Santa’s amazing listening skills, he actually has one other thing helps him get the best gifts.
Our wishlists!
Growing up, every Christmas we would all make wishlists with the high hopes that Santa would take note. Sometimes he did, sometimes he didn’t. C’mon, give him a break, we’re not all perfect, even Santa forgets sometimes.
So what’s the modern day solution?
Well, I’m happy you asked because the answer is very simple.
Thanks to the wonderful virtual world we call the internet (a magical thing, much like Santa’s sleigh) we have instant access to thousands upon thousands of online stores.
The only problem is that when we want to find something that we’d like, we have to search those thousands of stores one at a time.
Well…
What if we could search for something on one website and get results comparing options and prices from multiple retailers?
What if we could then add those items to “wishlists” and that list would be public for our friends to see?
What if when we’re searching other websites and we see something we like, we could click one button and it gets added to that same wishlist from before?
And what if your friends and family could use those lists as a means of knowing exactly what to get you for this coming holiday season?
Sounds like a Christmas miracle, doesn’t it?
…
Well, this little miracle has a name…
All I Wish Is!
Also known as Santa’s little secret.
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Want to see what I’m talking about? Click below to visit the site or learn about our new Google Chrome Extension:
See All I Wish Is Learn About Our Chrome Extension
