Kids go through phases. Thanks God they are “phases” since that word implies there will be an end eventually. We are currently in Round Two of my six year old son in Melt Down Phase. He’s a little guy but he has some big feelings and when he feels they are stepped on, we hear about it. Right now, if you look at that kid the wrong way, we hear a lot of phrases like, “You don’t understand! I wanted that spoon! It’s my favorite spoon and I never get to use it because Ruby always has it (sob sob) and it’s just what I wanted and (sob sob) now my cereal won’t be right without it and the world might possibly end and I predict global thermonuclear war because that one spoon that looks like the 12 others in the drawer is the very one I wanted and it makes all the difference in the world to meeeeeee.

“Dude, seriously. Chill out on the spoon thing.

So, lately I have approached this with a simple concept I like to call “What Are You Gonna Do About it?” As the name implies, Mama’s not so down with whining or bratty brats. We all encounter things we don’t like. Either fix it yourself or get over it or talk to me about it so I can help you figure it out. But complaining for the sake of complaining gets us nowhere.

I would say the same thing to my clients (only in a more diplomatic way, obviously). If you take a look at a candidate I send to you and something doesn’t work, you need to tell me specifically what you need more of or less of. You need to tell me what you want because I’m not a mind reader and it’s the only way to get what you want. It doesn’t mean you will always get your favorite spoon but having the conversation about it might mean that after it’s all said and done, you’d like a fork instead.