I’ve found myself picking up more and more checks in recent years. Not because there’s a mountain of cash i’m plowing my way through, but because I like the company. And maybe something else.
I wouldn’t call it a show of force, but it’s politics. People will be nicer to you if you pay for things, whether they want you to or not.
Donate to someone’s cause. Pay for dinner. Buy an unnecessary gift. Suddenly whatever conflicts you had recently become a little more buried, a little less important. You move on. And you probably got yourself another mulligan.
Because, really, goodwill is worth its weight in gold.
