What a scary, negative word – “ultimatum!”
I don’t mean it’s scary to hear one. For most people, it’s far scarier to give one. No one wants to be the big meanie that breaks the final relationship by giving an unreasonable ultimatum.
But look at that sneaky word – “unreasonable.”
It’s not unreasonable to explain your circumstances. If I say, “hey, I can’t make the meeting on Friday because my kid has surgery, so we either have to reschedule the meeting or I’ll have to sit out,” that’s not an ultimatum. That’s just me telling you what’s up. You can change the meeting or not.
Sometimes you have to bend around another person, and sometimes another person has to bend around you. That’s just life, not a series of ultimatums. So don’t be afraid to tell someone what’s what.
The Opportunity Machine 