If you always need to be right – you’ll be lonely

The exhausting art of always being right

There’s a certain kind of person who will die on every hill.
Not because that particular hill is important in itself.
But because they’re up there now, looking down at us … and climbing down again would mean admitting something horrible:

“Maybe I was wrong.”

Well, maybe.

These people have a certain way of arguing.

They quote articles no one asked for and no one really can find again.
They correct someone’s choice of words mid-conversation.
They say things like “technically…” in social settings.
They don’t listen to understand – they listen to reload and then drown us with more of the same.

And they often win.
Arguments, that is. Because sometimes they’re right.
What they lose is less obvious: connection. And the relationship.

Because here’s the thing — being right isn’t that hard.

Being likable while being right? Now, that’s the tricky part.

Quick tip:

People don’t remember your facts.
They remember how you made them feel when you “pull their pants down”.
And nobody feels good losing an argument you didn’t need to start.

A colourful moment:

After a talk, a man told me his friend fact-checked their restaurant conversation — mid-meal.
He said, “I was right!”
His date said, “Check please.”

Very correct.
Very alone.
Very avoidable.

See you next Wednesday.
//Thomas