Option Solving Blog

 My other wonderful daughter (M), who is a psychology sophomore, had figured out how much extra spends she would have, if she could secure a part-time bar-tending job. She also cutely figured out how her studies could be enhanced working as a bar-tender by giving her a terrific “fishbowl” view of the many personalities that hang around bars. So, recently she completed a two-day bar-tender’s course in New Jersey and ended up with an appropriate certificate.

Next step: find a bar-tending agency in Manhattan, which she did. Recently she attended her first interview, by way of an agency, at a “hookah” (mid-east pipe smoking) bar on Manhattan’s West Side. Being such an attractive and “cool” young lady, she was quickly hired: although on the basis she would have to wait tables as well.

In due course her first outing at the “hookah” bar occurred: where we all wished her well. But, within the first 2 hours, her sister received a cell phone call from M asking for advice: “Should she come or hang-around?” She was informed she would receive no pay, only tips. She informed her sister that the bar was dead quiet and she was just hanging out reading. The manager was hardly communicating with her: probably anticipating like so managers that people should – by magic – know what to do; no orientation necessary!

What should she do? Her sister handed over the phone to Dad, who naturally suggested she consider her options. The question for such an exercise was quite straight forward: “What should I do, come home or stay?” Moving straight to her situation bookends (see the book), she quickly came up with at one end – Sit and hang out reading: and at the opposite end – Leave in a fit of rage. Neither of these two extreme options appealed to her, which really helped get her creative, intuitive juices flowing.

She eventually came up with seven alternative options for consideration (see Latest Example), which included: A?, B-Go home if things don’t change in the next 30-60 minutes, C?, D – Request bar-tending as opposed to waiting tables (as per her original expectation),  E?, F – Call agency and ask its advice, G? (Learn more about compiling these options from the book.)

Again, her final intuitive choice is not important, since she’s the only person who could make that judgment in light of her particular situation at the time. More valuable was her ability to figure out her best call for herself, not her parents. Figuring things out made her feel more secure within herself that she could handle these early job challenges. She would also be able to demonstrate to the agency that she handled the situation with some maturity, rather than “act out.” She is now better equipped to use Option Solving in the future based upon this practical experience. (Next week’s posting: Dealing with a veterinarian’s office issues.)

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