100 Times Before

Do you ever find yourself thinking:

1. “I've heard this 100 times before, why are you repeating the same thing?"

OR

2. "That's exactly what I said ages ago!"

These thoughts are frustrating. But they're also telling you something worth hearing.

The first one? That's actually a compliment to yourself. For that subject, you got it the first time – possibly because you already had a feel for it before anyone explained it. Nothing wrong with that. Quick comprehension is a gift, not a burden.

The second one is a little more humbling. It confirms exactly why the person needed to say it 100 times. Not everyone arrives at the same understanding on the same schedule. Some people need a different angle. Some need the concept to bump into something in their own experience before it clicks. Some just need time.

So the next time one of those thoughts shows up – let it land for a second before you react. The speaker is teaching in the best way they know how. And the people still working through it aren't behind. They're just on their own timeline.

I have absolutely no doubt they've had the same thought about me at some point.

What do you do when your patience is wearing thin in a meeting?