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Back-Scratching and Japanese Nail Clippers

Back-Scratching and Japanese Nail Clippers

Reciprocity + Cheap or Expensive Tools? + Nail Clipper recommendations

July 20, 2023

Did I catch your attention with the subject line 😄 ?

In this 2nd edition of Idle Impact, we're excited to dive into another set of impactful insights that can make a positive difference in your life. Let’s get right in!

Like monkeys, we’re built to help each other!

NEGOTIATION | PSYCHOLOGY | RELATIONSHIPS

Reciprocity: You scratch my back, I scratch yours

Have you ever taken a free sample from a representative at a supermarket, mall, or elsewhere and felt bad for just ‘walking away’? At the very least, you might feel obligated to speak with this person or even buy something!

If so, you were tricked with reciprocity!

One of the books that I’ve often heard recommended - and I think rightly so - is Robert Cialdini’s “Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion” where he mentions ‘Reciprocity’ as one of the 6 principles of persuasion.

This essentially explains that when someone treats us well or does something good for us, we feel a need to return the favor.

There are a bunch of psychological and evolutionary reasons for this which I don’t have room to explain here, but here are some ways this might show up in your life:

Supermarkets or salespeople offer free samples to increase your chances of buying
A charity sends you a “gift” which makes you more willing to donate
When a coworker helps you with a task or project, you feel inclined to assist them the next time they are in need
When someone, including a stranger, does you a favor, you might feel like you “owe them”

Not everyone has ulterior motives for being nice to you, but you can use this knowledge to be more persuasive, or just be aware if someone is trying to manipulate you with reciprocity (e.g. complimenting you or giving you a gift before asking for a favor).

FINANCES | CONSUMER ADVICE

New Tools: Go Cheap or Expensive?

If you’re learning a new hobby that requires buying tools or equipment, or you’re not sure if you’re going to be using a product or tool for the long run, here’s some practical advice:

Consider buying the cheaper option first. If you use it until it breaks or wears out, then buy the more expensive, higher-quality option.

Of course, there are exceptions - for example, power or safety tools - but you get the idea. You’ll save money on buying quality on things you actually need and use.

PRODUCT RECOMMENDATION | PERSONAL CARE

Japanese Nail Clippers - Like Cutting Butter with a Hot Knife

Speaking about tools, I’d like to recommend a “tool” that I think is worth investing in. Indeed, I never knew the true joy of clipping my nails until I bought a Japanese nail clipper.

Two well-known brands I’d recommend are Green Bell and Seki Edge (full disclosure: I don’t receive any commissions from these or any other links). They’re relatively more expensive than normal clippers but I think they’re worth it 😉.

BONUS TIP: If you need to sharpen your existing nail clippers, try this easy fix - fold a piece of foil a few times and cut through with your clippers.

I’d love to hear any comments or feedback OR let me know if you have any great insights or tips I can feature in a future edition at [email protected]!

Also, if you enjoyed this newsletter and found it helpful, why not share it with someone you care about?

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See you tomorrow!

- Kevin and the Idle Impact Team

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