Many of you remember the childhood story of "Little Red Riding Hood", well if not Wikipedia gives a nice little rendition. "Little Red Riding Hood" is a famous fairy tale about a young girl's encounter with a wolf. The story has been changed considerably in its history and subject to numerous modern adaptations and readings. It is about a girl called Little Red Riding Hood, after the red hooded cape or cloak she wears. The girl walks through the woods to deliver food to her sick grandmother.
A wolf wants to eat the girl but is afraid to do so in public. He approaches the girl, and she naïvely tells him where she is going. He suggests the girl pick some flowers, which she does. In the meantime, he goes to the grandmother's house and gains entry by pretending to be the girl. He swallows the grandmother whole, and waits for the girl, disguised as the grandmother.
When the girl arrives, she notices he looks very strange to be her grandma. In most retellings, this eventually culminates with Little Red Riding Hood saying, "My, what big teeth you have!" To which the wolf replies, "The better to eat you with," and swallows her whole, too.
A hunter, however, comes to the rescue and cuts the wolf open. Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother emerge unharmed. They fill the wolf's body with heavy stones, which drown him when he falls into a well. Other versions of the story have had the grandmother shut in the closet instead of eaten, and some have Little Red Riding Hood saved by the hunter as the wolf advances on her rather than after she is eaten.
The tale makes the clearest contrast between the safe world of the village and the dangers of the forest, conventional antitheses that are essentially medieval, though no written versions are as old as that.
CHARACTERISTICS
With that said, in this wonderful world, we often meet people who exhibit characteristics just like the BIG BAD WOLF and those like Little Red Riding Hood. In most recent experiences, I seek to outline "tell-tell" signs to be aware.
KINDNESS. Let's take Little Red Riding Hood, who seeks to deliver food to her sick grandmother. This is a individual who has a heart and seeks to do good deeds and enjoys helping others. Believe it or not, there are still a lot of people who are like this, but they are far, few and in between. These people do not look for or expect anything in return. These are people you should gravitate toward and make part of your inner circle, because they will be there during the bad times and the good times.
FAKE KINDNESS. Then there are the "others" who pretend to be your friend, family, or someone who genuinely cares about your well-being. You will often see these types of people who have a vested interest, in something you possess.
Some include shady pastor's because they are looking for your tithes, offerings and special offerings;
Someone who is looking to further their initiatives with the use of your talents; or
Those who seek to control your destiny for their purpose and selfish gain.
USERS. Let's face it, we or the talents we have are tools utilized to satisfy some need, some where. However, there is a difference...Corporate America hires you to fulfill a need by providing a service in their infrastructure. They PIMP you to increase their revenue. Now, you may say that pimping is such a harsh word, but in the grand scheme of things whether you are talking "street" or "corporate" it is the same result. The difference here is that you are being paid a fee for your services. There is an exchange of value that is being offered and you are being compensated or receiving something of value for your time and talent.
However, the users I am talking about are those who consistently take from you and use trickery, like the BIG BAD WOLF, into believing you are doing some great cause, you are a part of a team or they are giving you some type of guidance, education, experience or access to some type of connections that you would not otherwise receive. Think about it, the Big Bad Wolf, told Little Red Riding Hood to pick some flowers only to distract her from reaching her destination and to allow him an opportunity to implement his scheme of getting there before her. Users acquire information about you and manipulate that information in order to implement a distraction tactic to get you off course. How do you know?
1. They typically do things "behind closed doors". I was always taught that if you cannot do things in the open, then you probably shouldn't be doing it. Your character is tested and you either fail or pass the test.
2. Users will require you to do something for them that is necessarily not on the up and up. Remain true to your character and never waiver to fit in, impress, or in attempt to gain an illusory prize. People who have perfected their gift to use people prey on people who are naive or unwise to the "game".
SIGNS. We are often given signs to those things that do not seem right. How we choose to deal with those signs remains our responsibility and choice. When Little Red Riding Hood arrived to her grandmother's house, she knew something didn't seem right. "My, what big teeth you have!" Now the story does not say that this was Little Red Riding Hood's first time seeing her grandmother, but let's just face it...come on if it doesn't look right, doesn't smell right, it probably isn't right.
1. When people do not want to document transactions, THIS IS A SIGN as to their integrity of being a person of their word.
2. When they constantly stall to solidify a meeting or transaction, this is way of saying I am not prepared to commit to anything that places me into a position to have to provide anything but only to continue to take from you. Actions speak louder than words.
3. When they apply pressure to you with statements that require you to put up funds, or "skin into the game", this is a form of manipulation and deception to achieve their ultimate goal of taking you for a ride in your car, with your gas money at your expense.
4. If you always find yourself giving, never receiving anything of significance for your efforts time and talent that will enable you to grow or they fail to show an interest in your dreams or vision, 9 times out of 10, this is a sign, "THEY ARE NOT THAT INTO YOU", but seeing more of what you can do for them (WIIFM).
5. The most obvious sign is the ability to hone in on your listening skills. The Big Bad Wolf conveys his intent with Little Red Riding Hood when he says, "The better to eat you with". Often, a person will convey their intent towards you and place a value on you with their words, but listening is the key.
Closing Thoughts.
1. Never let anyone place a value on you.
2. You know what you're worth, so you determine your value and set a standard and never waiver!
3. Stay true to who you are and be wary of those "shady" characters who pretend to be more than what they are and talk a fast game.
4. Hold people accountable by maintaining your standards and ethics.
5. Last but not least, unless you are a husband and wife team or family owned business, never mix business with personal. Don't allow others from the outside to infiltrate your camp.
Tanisha L. Roebuck ("Treasure")
