Have
you heard the story of the woman who was assaulted in New York City
many years ago? According to the story, she was badly beaten in a
densely populated neighborhood. Many people claimed to have heard her
screams.
But nobody did anything.
Nobody tried to help her. Nobody intervened.
After the story had circulated, many
people believed it was proof that modern society is becoming an
uncaring, unfeeling, every-person-for-themselves nightmare.
How could so many people hear her suffering and not do anything to help?
Well,
as Robert Cialdini points out in his book Influence, it was not that
nobody cared or felt for her. That wasn't the problem.
The problem was that everyone thought SOMEONE ELSE would do something to help.
When an emergency happens in a crowded
environment, everyone assumes that "Surely, someone will call for help."
"Surely, someone will dial 9-1-1." "Surely, someone will intervene."
And because everyone is thinking "Surely, someone."
Nobody does.
Cialdini
says that if you ever find yourself in a situation like that, you need
to single out ONE individual. Point at them. Look them in the eye. Say
their name if you know it. Tell them to get help.
Then that person will stop thinking "Surely, someone." and begin thinking, "I'm the only one who can do this! I have to do it!"
And the same applies to reaching your financial goals.
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