Barking

Barking(bärk)

By Derek Sivers

I’m in New York City. Across the street is a man pacing(pās,ˈpäˌCHā,ˈpāˌsē) on the sidewalk. He’s insanely(inˈsānlē) barking something at the top of his lungs(ləNG). Everyone is avoiding going anywhere near him.

I get closer. I try to figure out what he’s screaming about. Finally I hear it. “20% coupons(ˈk(y)o͞oˌpän) for window shades(SHād)! 20% off! Window shades! Get your coupons here!”

Yeah… uh… that’s not working.

A week later, I’m hanging(ˈhaNGiNG) with a friend in Union(ˈyo͞onyən) Square(skwe(ə)r). The whole time we’re talking, there’s some man yelling(yel) in the background. It’s almost like he’s singing a repetitive(riˈpetətiv) phrase(frāz) — always an F falling to a D. Again I’m curious(ˈkyo͝orēəs), so I get closer to hear what he’s yelling. “Help feed the homeless! Help feed the homeless!”

Ah! So he’s trying to help! But again, everyone is avoiding him.

Then it made me think: How many of us do this?

Maybe we weren’t getting the results we wanted, so we thought if we shouted(SHout) louder, more people would hear.

But people avoid those types. If someone always pitches(piCH) his business to friends at parties, he won’t get invited(inˈvīt) to parties anymore.

In England, I heard the word “barking” used as slang(slaNG) for “insane(inˈsān)”. (It’s short for “barking mad”, get it?)

When promoting, make sure you’re not barking.

When things aren’t working, be smarter, not louder.

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/219/219-h/219-h.htm