Sometimes we do things that turn out to be a bit odd and not what we’d intended.

An idea seems absolutely terrific in our own head but then when we work to give it a shape in the outside world, we get quite defensive when people suggest the idea needs tweaking.

Government is an easy target for examples of odd implementation. Nevertheless, one example I came across today deserves a mention.

Dubai launched its first Metro a couple of months ago to tackle the enormous problem of traffic congestion in the city.

It’s not fully built yet but there are a number of stations in full operation around the city, including one at the new Emirates airport terminal. So it seems logical to assume that people will use the Metro to transport themselves and their luggage to and from the airport (as is normal practice in other cities around the world).

However, the Dubai metro allows each passenger just one item of hand-luggage of a certain size. This means that a lot of people who are flying in or out from the airport will not be allowed to use the Metro for the land part of their travel requirements.

Peyman Parham, director of marketing and corporate communication, RTA, told Emirates Business:

“If just a few people come and ask us for more baggage allowance, we will not consider it. But if tens of thousands said they would use the Metro if they are allowed to carry heavy luggage we would consider it.”

Quite bizarre.

But is it bizarre when we think about how precious our own ideas are to us? It can become easy to become so immersed in what we are doing that we forget to consider who we are doing it for and what impact it is having on them. We end up cutting off our nose to spite our face.

The next time someone challenges something you have done, what a great opportunity to use this information you are being given to further sculpt and refine what you are doing. Even if you don’t change a thing, you’ll be richer for having considered not only the suggestion but also what’s really driving you.

People make suggestions because they care. It lets you know they are not indifferent.

What do you think?

John Gray is coming to London!

John Gray PhD, author of more than 16 best-selling books with over 40 million copies sold worldwide, including the relationship classic, ‘Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus’, is coming to the UK on November 17th 2009 to introduce his latest work ‘Why Mars & Venus Collide’ .

The one off event, “An Evening with John Gray”, will be hosted by Great Expectations at the Hotel Ibis in Earls Court, London.

To book your tickets with a special 10% discount for readers of Paradox of Reality, click here.

An Evening With John Gray: Why Mars & Venus Collide is a definitive manual to help men and women thrive together in the 21st century and will show you how you can use everyday pressures to build greater intimacy with your loved ones and strengthen your relationships to make them last.

Stress & Relationships

The evening, which starts at 6.30 pm will begin by looking at how the pressures of our modern lifestyles are putting added stress on our relationships and making it harder and harder for them to work out long term.

John will go on to discuss how men and women deal with stress in different ways and how their different needs often lead to misunderstandings, miscommunication and resentment — in short, why Mars and Venus collide.  Bringing Mars and Venus into the 21st century, John Gray explores the different ways men and women approach their problems and offers a clear, easy-to-understand programme to bridge the gap.

Says John, “We need to challenge our assumptions about how men & women should be and begin to appreciate in practical terms who we are, what we can offer each other, and how we can team up to solve the new problems we face today.”  Working together, “We can create a new blueprint for male and female roles that can bring us closer together harmoniously.”

At this special event you will learn…

• How the pressures of our modern lifestyles are putting added stress on our relationships
• Why it is getting harder and harder to make relationships work long term
• How men and women deal with stress in different ways
• How our different needs often lead to misunderstandings, miscommunication and resentment — in short, why Mars and Venus collide
• How men and women approach their problems and what to do to avoid and solve relationship problems

Bringing Mars and Venus into the 21st century, John Gray will explore the different ways men and women approach their problems and offer a clear, easy-to-understand programme to bridge the gap.

Meet John Gray
VIP ticket holders will join John Gray at a champagne reception after the seminar and receive an autographed copy of John’s latest book.

Get a special 10% discount
By using the link below you can get a special 10% discount on ticket prices.
This is a time limited offer. Book your tickets now.

For more information and to book your tickets with the special 10% discount available to readers of Paradox of Reality, visit http://www.greatexpectations.info/gray/specialdiscount.php?param2= 1368_Reeta_Pindoria