Framing

 


I caught Victor in the office kitchen yesterday, as he was going into a meeting.

"Hey, can I just get a quick answer to a question?" I asked
"The answer is no" he quipped.
"Well then I'd better frame the question so that I get the answer I want" I said.
He looked confused.
"I was originally going to ask, can I pinch some of your project's equipment for a couple of days. Now I'm going to ask, do you mind if I pinch your project's equipment. Since you've said you don't mind, I guess I'd better go load it up on the trolley."

Ten seconds of silence.

"Alex, if your brain ever switches off, I reckon the earth's magnetic poles will swap over and all the birds will crash into the sea or something."

"Does that mean I can pinch the equipment?"
"Yeah alright. You've got a week and then I need it back."
"Excellent, thanks Victor, have fun in the meeting."


see. it's all in the framing.