Caution: Pause, Look and Think!

The amazing thing about this discussion is that it is not just the word I will be asking you to look at, it is that I am asking you to “look” at all. 

Here is a good example of Viktor Frankl’s quote:

"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom."

Jeff Zwelling, the former CEO Convertro and current COO of ZipRecruiter, told Business Insider that he often turns to tricky questions during job interviews to get a better sense of who the candidate is.

For example, in the middle of the conversation, he often throws in this curveball math question:

"A hammer and a nail cost $1.10, and the hammer costs one dollar more than the nail. How much does the nail cost?"

"Some candidates will instantly blurt out 10 cents, which is obviously wrong," he said. "They don't have to get the exact right answer, which is a nickel, but I want to see them at least have a thought process behind it."

Zwelling said he understands that math isn't everyone's forte, but he wants them to realize that "10 cents is too easy of an answer, and that if it was that easy, I wouldn't be asking it."

Don’t react; pause and focus.

What is the word that stands out for you in the math question? For me it’s the word “more”.  What a difference a word makes!

Please share your “moments” when you caught yourself after a reaction. We can all learn from these experiences.