How to Make a Goal and Stick to It

A long time ago, I worked at a video store. One of my coworkers was a young woman who was trying to quit smoking. She asked me to keep an eye on her, and if she seemed like she was considering having a cigarette, to talk her out of it.

Two days later, another coworker, her “best friend,” asked her to go out back and have a cigarette with her. I told her that I’d promised to try to talk her out of it. She said she remembered, and chose not to go smoke. Later her friend scolded me, saying that I didn’t know how hard it is to quit and that I should be more supportive. I explained that I thought I was being supportive by helping her be strong. The friend disagreed and maintained that the kind thing was to let her have “one lousy cigarette” with her friends to make quitting easier.

The one who was trying to quit smoking and her best friend didn’t work at the video store much longer. They were both fired, and prosecuted. The “best friend” talked her into helping her steal a customer’s credit card number and use it to buy an extremely elaborate bong. I’m certain she was extremely supportive through the entire ordeal.

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