8 minute read
Harvey Mackay
Website: www.hometownnews.biz www.facebook.com/hometownnews Published By John and Lori Young The Hometown News is a weekly publication, which is published and distributed every Thursday. Advertising & News Deadline
Advertisement
MONDAYS • 5 PM Sales: Lori Young
Office: 320-285-2323 Cell: 612-597-2998 Email: htnews@icloud.com Website Hosting - John Young Office: 320-285-2323 Cell: 612-597-4499 Classified Ads
Email: htnews@icloud.com Personal Classifieds: Garage Sales, For Sale Items, Wanted (Personal) FREE up to 20 words; 25¢ for each additional word. Classifieds over the word limit must be prepaid. Business Related Classifieds: Wanted (Items for Profit), Help Wanted, For Rent $5.00 for the first 20 words, 25¢ per each additional word. Mail to: Hometown News, 29442 120th St., Grey Eagle, MN 56336.
Email: htnews@icloud.com Photos • Press Releases Photos & press releases are welcome.
Email: htnews@icloud.com Letter to the Editor
Letters and articles of opinion are welcomed. Letters should be short and to the point. We reserve the right to edit lengthy letters. Email: htnews@icloud.com Obituaries Publish one time free of charge.
Email: htnews@icloud.com Card of Thanks
Cards of Thanks is $3.00 for the first 50 words, 10¢ per each additional word. Must be prepaid. To be billed: a $5 minimum applies. Email: htnews@icloud.com Announcements
Birth Announcements, Anniversaries, Birthday Open House, Engagements, Weddings are free of charge for one publication. For additional weeks $10/week.
Email: htnews@icloud.com A prestamped, self addressed envelope is required to return photos. Subscriptions
The subscription rates for 13 weeks is $19.00 26 weeks is $35.00 52 weeks is $70.00 Mail to: Hometown News, 29442 120th St., Grey Eagle, MN 56336
An office supervisor called an assistant in to give her the bad news that she was being fired. He started the conversation with: “Miss Jones, I really don’t know how we’re going to get along without you, but starting Monday, we’re going to try.” Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy. The best advice is to say the right thing or say nothing. Choose your words carefully. As Abraham Lincoln put it, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.”
Another U.S. President, Harry Truman, said, “Tact is the ability to step on a man's toes without messing up the shine on his shoes.”
Tactis especiallyimportantindeliveringbad news. Handled correctly tact can build credibility and strengthen your reputation, while preserving existing relationships. A tactful approach demonstrates professionalism and good manners, which can lead to career opportunities. Tact is critical for business and life success in handling interactions. Without tact we lose friends and other relationships, respect, work and money.
Tact, as defined by Merriam Webster's dictionary is, “A keen sense of what to do or say in order to maintain good relations with others or avoid offense.”
How many times have you said something without thinking it through and then regretted it? I would venture to say we’ve all been guilty. Tact comprises many things including compassion, courtesy discretion, diplomacy, respect and thoughtfulness.
Often we are so focused on achieving results that we forget how we come across to other people. Seek out a group of people you trust who can give you valuable feedback on your communication skills. Be open to their suggestions and work on improving.
It’s important to note that tact is more than language. Tact encompasses how people react to situations and includes body language such as pacing or facial expressions – frowns, sighs or a rolling of eyes.
Tact wins friends; the lack of it often loses them. Tactful people make friends because they have a way of drawing people out and inducing them to express the best within them.
What tact does not include is dishonesty. Sometimes it involves sugar-coating the words so they are easier to hear. Even then, you must be careful not to overdo the syrup or the message may get lost.
Once two rival hatters visited President Abraham Lincoln, each of whom presented him with a hat he had made. After the presentation, both hatters stood back expectantly awaiting Lincoln’s comments.
Lincoln looked over the two hats very carefully and then remarked solemnly, “Gentlemen, they mutually excel each other.” Now that is tactful!
One of the worst things you can do is to let your emotions get the best of you. Calm yourself down in stressful situations by taking a break, going for a walk or whatever technique will help you maintain your composure. Learn to control your emotions. As the saying goes, you can’t “unring the bell.” Stop and think before you speak.
Our society has become increasingly accustomed to spouting the first sentiment that comes to mind – just look at the comments sections online to see how people respond to situations. I would hope that those folks would be less inclined to be so uncivil if they were
Wild Tickets Giveaway
Chance to win 4 tickets. See store for details! NEVILLE HARDWARE
Grey Eagle • 320-285-2000 Mon.-Fri.: 8 am-4:30 pm UPS & SPEE-DEE
Sat.: 8 am-3 pm Drop Off Site interacting face-to-face.
Tact is probably the hardest when disagreements pop up, creating tension. Be open minded and listen to the other side, and perhaps that will encourage them to listen to your point of view too. It’s ok to respectfully disagree but keep it civil.
Benjamin Franklin said, “If you must speak your mind, then mind how you speak.”
Tact is the ability to think of things far enough in advance not to say them. And for the times when you’re not as diplomatic as you should be, you need to be quick on your feet.
A loud Army sergeant is drilling some recruits when he gets a message that the grandmother of one of them has died, so he shouts, “Jones, your grandmother died!” And Jones promptly faints.
The sergeant’s superior officer takes him to the side afterwards and tells him he should be a bit more tactful about such things.
A week later the sergeant gets word that Smith’s grandfather has passed away. The sergeant enters the barracks and calls everyone to attention announcing, “All those with living grandfathers step forward. Not so fast, Smith.”
Mackay’s Moral: People with tact have less to retract.
Reprinted with permission from nationally syndicated columnist Harvey Mackay, author of the New York Times #1 bestseller “Swim With The Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive,” “We Got Fired!...And It’s the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Us,” “The Mackay MBA of Selling in the Real World,” and “Use Your Head To Get Your Foot In The Door.”
Get Rid of Mice
With Mouse Magic & d-CON Products!
Bug Max 365 Bug Control
by Enforcer®
Central McGowan
Plumbing Supplies
Upsala Farm Store Inc.
320-573-2216 211 S. Main St., Upsala
Upcoming Events
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29 • Long Prairie Orchestra Fall Classical Favorites at 7:30 p.m. at LP-GE Secondary School, Long Prairie.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2 • Folk & Old-Time Music & Potluck from 1-3 p.m. at the Village View Apartments, Grey Eagle. See ad on page 5.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5 • Our Savior’s Women’s Group Craft Sale from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Albany. See ad on page 7. • Mary Mack & Tim Harmston Stand Up Comedy Duo at 7 p.m. at Blattner Energy Arts Theatre, Albany. See ad on page 5. THURS.-SUN., NOV. 10-13 • Melrose High School Fall Musical "Anything Goes." Thurs.-Sat. at 7:30 p.m. Sun. at 2 p.m. at Marit Elliott Performing Arts Center, Melrose. ALBANY TOWNSHIP •MeetsthefourthMondayofthemonth at 7:30 p.m. at the Albany City Hall. • Planning Commission meets the second Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Albany City Hall.
BURNHAMVILLE TOWNSHIP • Meets the last Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Burtrum City Hall.
FEET FIRST CLINIC • Meets the 1st Tuesday of the month from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at Holdingford City Hall. FOOD DISTRIBUTION • Ruby’s Pantry Food Distribution first Saturday of the Month from 10-11 a.m. at River of Live Church, Sauk Centre.
FREEPORT SENIOR MEETING • Meets the 3rdThursday of the month at 1:30 p.m. with cards/Bingo/coffee/dessert.
GREY EAGLE CITY COUNCIL • Meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. GREY EAGLE TOWNSHIP • Meets the first Monday of the month at 8 p.m.
MELROSE TOWNSHIP • Meets the first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at the town hall.
MELROSE VFW #7050 POST/AUX. • Meets the first Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Melrose American Legion Clubrooms. MELROSE LEGION #101 POST/AUX. • Meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Melrose American Legion. (Aux. Sept.-May.) STEARNS CO. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY • Meets at 7 p.m. on the 2nd Monday of the month at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Albany. SUNSHINE CLUB •MeetseveryMonday,weighinstartsat 8; meeting at 8:30 a.m. at the Village View Apartments, Grey Eagle. ST. ROSA CITY COUNCIL • Meets the 3rd Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Community Park building.
SWANVILLE CITY COUNCIL • First Tuesday after the first Monday of the month at 7 p.m. SWANVILLE TOWNSHIP • Meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 8:30 p.m. at the Swanville Fire Hall. UPSALA CITY COUNCIL • Meets the first Monday of the month at 7 p.m.
If you have an upcoming event or meeting, please let us know by email: htnews@icloud.com or call 320-285-2323.
Temperatures
Date High Low 10/19 52 19 10/20 59 32 10/21 63 41 10/22 70 36 10/23 72 50 10/24 63 36 10/25 46 32
