If you have been a reader here at Quixoting you know that this site is about encouraging you to take action on your ideas. My historical malady may be yours. I spent years creating ideas and logging them into my idea book. A book that only I read and only I reflected upon.
There are four words out there that, when used together, can inspire great things to happen. Or convince people that a solution is on the way. Now you may have four words of your own to inspire (but be careful, there are kids in the room).
There's a stretch of freeway that slices through Berkeley, California that I always looked forward to driving when I was a kid. I say "driving" even though I spent 100% of the drive in the back of the station wagon. Facing backwards. Part waving and part making faces at the following traffic.
On a full Southwest flight this morning.
Remember, Southwest is the airline that forces members of the human population to engage in a battle unlike no other in life. This battle does not involve swords, knives or even harsh words (most of the time). No, it is a battle of sheer will. Of patience and of reluctance.
The cool thing is that getting on a Southwest flight, especially a full one, allows you to participate on both sides of the battle. First as a "seeker" than as a "defender". Of course I am talking about the battle over middle seats. Now don't get me wrong. I like elbow room just like the next guy. But I'd sure like a world where fewer battles are waged.
Also, Southwest deserves some credit for easing the "getting on the plane" battles. While it feels a bit "grammar school" to line up based on a number, it seems to work (don't even get me started on the people who feel a need to get everyone in exact numerical order).
But back to our topic.
The mid-seat battle begins on the ramp as you begin to plan your strategy. What? Plan your strategy? Yes, if you wait until hitting the plane, everyone will see your deer in the headlights look as you fill the aisle in the front of the plane. In my view, the "seeker" has a number of reasonable tactical options. The decision on which to use is dictated by factors such as fullness of flight, time of day, how tired you are and your extrovert quotient (OK, I made that last one up but basically, "Are you feeling social?").
Here are the seeker tactics:
- Quick Scan and Pounce. Don't think, just sit. Let's face it, the longer you wait, the longer you give for defenders to assess your battle readiness.
- Wander and Waffle. This is what most people seem to do. Hesitate, look deep into the plane, then again behind you. Confusing for all, to be sure.
- Friendly Joe or Jill. Position yourself as the best option. A full plane means someone will sit in that middle seat. Friendly may invite a return glance from a defender signaling their interest.
- Back of the Bus. The easiest and least mentally taxing. Kind of a "give up" but makes defenders happy.
Now, I am sure there are many more seeker tactics. Perhaps you'd like to share one of your own?
In terms of defenders, you become one as soon as you find your seat (aisle or window). And your initial seat selection frames your mind set in the battle. Window seat? Let's face it, you don't have to get up for a seeker and you don't look down on a middle seat seeker the way a aisle person does. Aisle seekers look down on middle seat seekers? Yes, because aisle folks planned well in advance, having checked in days ago to get an "A" on their boarding pass. An open middle seat is an expectation.
So, what are the tactics for defenders?
- The Block. Anything here will do. Your bag on the middle seat. Crossed legs. Leaning forward looking in your bag. The message? This row is temporarily unavailable.
- The Snooze. No one wants to wake up a sleeper, right?
- No Eye Contact. If seekers are looking for a connection, this tactic will remove you from contention.
- Look Mean. Boy does this one work! Who wants to sit next to a grump? Not me. Not a great way to go through life, but an effective tactic. To really play this out? Follow the mean tactic with no greeting and a quick groan after the middle seat seeker gets settled.
- Hand Select. The right smile at the right person at the right time can invite good karma and help you fill the inevitable seat with someone who might be OK as a seat partner.
My advice? Expect a full plane and let your extrovert quotient that day (!) dictate your tactical decision making. Don't be mean or rude. You never know who you might be pushing out of your life. If you really need space, fly at less busy times or pick an airline where you can get a confirmed seat.
But once you choose Southwest's busiest flight, expect a battle.
A while back I told you about one of my "younger in life" fantasies. You can read that post here. It was to sing, play guitar and write music. Whether I was good at it didn't matter much because it was solely a creative outlet for me.
The title of this post is an often used quote by Henri Matisse. A self portrait of him is featured on the right. I usually don't like to use common quotes because the internet is full of overlapping ideas and images. In this case, however, it is such a nice fit with the Quixoting tag-line (see banner above) that I thought it would make an acceptable exception.
Packaged Goods Marketing Executive and Blogger (ideas and job search strategy)
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