When my fellow co-worker Sunil came in this morning, I reflexively greeted him with, “how’s it going?” This is something I ask without thinking, something that comes out of my mouth before my brain has a chance to determine if I prefer to ask that or perhaps “what’s going on?” or — what I picked up from my homeboy Desmond Woodard in Atlanta — “what it is?”
Sunil, from northern India, then asked me what would be the proper way to respond to such a question. Funny, I thought, there really isn’t a question in that question. It’s just another combination of words whose meaning can be translated to “good morning.” The proper response, if there is one, I said could be “I’m good” or “chillin’” or saying nothing at all.
This got me thinking about a concept in sales called “perception versus intention.” Steve Harvey during the Steve Harvey Morning Show [the lady subjects me to it] sometimes will respond during Strawberry Letters [I'm embarrassed to admit that I listen to it, regardless that it's against my own will] to people’s letters saying what was said and what was heard may not be the same thing. The words used are heard correctly, sure, but the meaning behind the words are interpreted differently.
There I stood, in the rain, at the bus stop, at the 13th Street exit to the U Street Metro station; it’s dark, chilly, a bit windy; but the only thing I could focus on was the car pulling up. Behind the steering wheel was Nduku Malombe, and right then I knew, once I stepped into the car, we would be embarking on a journey that almost never happened.
Zodiacs. Some people pawn them off as witchcraft; others swear by them. Most people I know are skeptical, but most people I know also agree that they fit their zodiac personality. I know as a Taurus I’m stubborn. My Libra friends can be quite indecisive, and my Leo friends don’t forgive or forget when you mess up.
Now that my BlackBerry has been revived 
