Emotional Bank Account
“If you don't like someone, the way he holds his spoon will make you furious; if you do like him, he can turn his plate over in your lap and you won't mind.”
Something I read somewhere, was the concept of an emotional bank account. It is meant to be an account that we all have with each and every individual we meet. Some call it influence, others faith or loyalty, but the underlying principle is the same as a regular bank account - if you do not deposit into it, you won't have anything to withdraw.
If you request something of someone and your emotional bank account with them is low or in the negative, then the account is going to get further into the red. To get back into the black means making genuine deposits and by genuine I mean for the sake of the relationship with that person. I see far too many cases where people try to make these deposits, trying to improve that person's opinion of them, but ultimately, it's for their own gain. In those cases, what may at first seem like a deposit may be a withdrawal.
Emotional bank accounts have interest and fees too. When you have enough in the account, it doesn't matter how long you let it sit, the interest pays off the fees. Let a poor account sit for too long, however, and it gets eaten away by fees. Interest rates and fees vary from account to account - check your statement before withdrawing =P
I've got a few accounts with people that have very little in them. In some cases, I've decided to close them. A few accounts that people have with me are severely neglected, but the thing with emotional bank accounts is that many people don't realise what's left in them. For a couple, it doesn't matter how long they let it sit, the interest has compounded over the years that it won't matter if they make a withdrawal at any time. For some others, their balance is a lot lower than they think... and there are a few that aren't even aware that their account was closed years ago. I suppose there's always time to come in an open a new account, though... unless your credit rating is really bad.
Something I read somewhere, was the concept of an emotional bank account. It is meant to be an account that we all have with each and every individual we meet. Some call it influence, others faith or loyalty, but the underlying principle is the same as a regular bank account - if you do not deposit into it, you won't have anything to withdraw.
If you request something of someone and your emotional bank account with them is low or in the negative, then the account is going to get further into the red. To get back into the black means making genuine deposits and by genuine I mean for the sake of the relationship with that person. I see far too many cases where people try to make these deposits, trying to improve that person's opinion of them, but ultimately, it's for their own gain. In those cases, what may at first seem like a deposit may be a withdrawal.
Emotional bank accounts have interest and fees too. When you have enough in the account, it doesn't matter how long you let it sit, the interest pays off the fees. Let a poor account sit for too long, however, and it gets eaten away by fees. Interest rates and fees vary from account to account - check your statement before withdrawing =P
I've got a few accounts with people that have very little in them. In some cases, I've decided to close them. A few accounts that people have with me are severely neglected, but the thing with emotional bank accounts is that many people don't realise what's left in them. For a couple, it doesn't matter how long they let it sit, the interest has compounded over the years that it won't matter if they make a withdrawal at any time. For some others, their balance is a lot lower than they think... and there are a few that aren't even aware that their account was closed years ago. I suppose there's always time to come in an open a new account, though... unless your credit rating is really bad.