The Interviewee Who Hated Me

This short piece broke the internet a few days ago

I am reproducing it here for those who missed it or who read it in a hurry

Here:

"THE INTERVIEWEE WHO HATED ME

Six years ago a guy looked at me face-to-face and boldly told me, "I don't like you!"

I immediately fired a response. I asked him, "Thank you for the honest feedback, but those whom you like, how has it made their life better? How does your liking people pay their bills or secure them a bank loan? My brother keep your like, I need God's like and that's what guarantees my future."

Today I joined a CEO friend of mine in on interview panel to recruit some new staff. It was a long session. As we returned from a coffee break to continue the hectic interview session, that same guy walked in with his grey jacket and CV, coming for the interview.

Our eyes kissed by fluke. We immediately recognized each other. "The world is indeed spherical," I said to myself.

He felt very uncomfortable throughout the interview. One could clearly see the volcanic eruption playing out in his whole nervous system. He even mistook his date of birth for his last date of employment. It wasn't yet my turn to ask him questions so I allowed everyone to take their turns with him and deliberately opted to interview him last.

When it got to my turn, the first thing I said was, "I LIKE YOU so much, you look to me like a brilliant and intelligent person, but it seems you are not doing well now because something bothers you, true?"

"That's very correct, Sir!" he responded.

"OK, look at me straight in the eye, I was never offended that day. It is very normal that sometimes as humans you just don't like certain people, but I wasn't bothered either, because whether you liked me or not, it was inconsequential to my life and my success path. As you can see, fate has brought you to my lair."

I stood up and beckoned him to come and embrace me. Everyone on the panel at this point were at sea - wondering if we had expeditiously recast an interview session to a Hollywood movie scene.

He hugged me so long and deeply that I felt it. Then I told him, "Now get your confidence back brother and answer the questions like a Pro Shark that you are!"

We all burst into laughter. Everyone suddenly liked him and the room became livelier. The interview became more like a discussion. Well, to cut the long story short, he got the job!

Lessons:

1. Be careful how you treat people when they appear to be in their vulnerable state. Your next level may be hanging in their balance, somewhere in the future.

2. If you dislike someone, it is not their fault, it is YOUR FAULT; work on yourself to find good in people and reinvent your mind to see everyone as likeable.

3. Don't spew hatred vocally just because it came into your heart. You may say it to someone who will keep it forever and use it against you when you find yourself in your own low moments and need them.

4. Learn to forgive, overlook people's dislike and hatred for you. Don't punish people just because you have the position and privilege to do so, bless them instead. That's how you court God's blessings, favour and protection."

The Great Dictator’s Speech-Charlie Chaplin’s Profound Message to Humanity

“I’m sorry, but I don’t want to be an emperor. That’s not my business. I don’t want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone – if possible – Jew, Gentile – black man – white. We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each other’s happiness – not by each other’s misery. We don’t want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone. And the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone.

The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way.

Greed has poisoned men’s souls, has barricaded the world with hate, has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed.

We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in.

Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want.

Our knowledge has made us cynical.

Our cleverness, hard and unkind.

We think too much and feel too little.

More than machinery we need humanity.

More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness.

Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost….

The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men – cries out for universal brotherhood – for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world – millions of despairing men, women, and little children – victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people.

To those who can hear me, I say – do not despair. The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed – the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish. …..

Soldiers! don’t give yourselves to brutes – men who despise you – enslave you – who regiment your lives – tell you what to do – what to think and what to feel! Who drill you – diet you – treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder. Don’t give yourselves to these unnatural men – machine men with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! You have the love of humanity in your hearts! You don’t hate! Only the unloved hate – the unloved and the unnatural! Soldiers! Don’t fight for slavery! Fight for liberty!

In the 17th Chapter of St Luke it is written: “the Kingdom of God is within man” – not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In you!

You, the people have the power – the power to create machines. The power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure.

Then – in the name of democracy – let us use that power – let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world – a decent world that will give men a chance to work – that will give youth a future and old age a security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfill that promise. They never will!

Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people! Now let us fight to fulfill that promise! Let us fight to free the world – to do away with national barriers – to do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. 

Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men’s happiness. Soldiers! in the name of democracy, let us all unite!” ~ Charlie Chaplin