Breaking up is only hard to do if you do it wrong. (Read: how every guy does it.) But if she’s sleeping on the job you’ve got to pull the plug on her like the guy who’s not making his numbers. Rather than make it an overly personal and drawn out emotional process, keep things cordial — and your car safe from her keys.
Relationships are full of wonderful things, from the first time you make eye contact to the first time she let’s you clumsily unclasp her bra. Sadly (or happily, depending on how you look at it) most relationships have one painful truth; they end.
Breaking up is usually the worst part of any relationship, unless it’s that bad of a relationship, then it can be reason to celebrate. We’ve all been in a relationship that drags on just a little too long, and for one reason or another we didn’t, or due to her violent temper/large father/alcoholic brother, couldn’t. With all of these outside circumstances breaking up can be tricky.
Here’s a beginner’s guide (after lots of practice) on what to do — and what not to do.
A nice benefit of my job is that I am afforded the luxury of firing people. It might sound dark and cynical to say that I enjoy firing people, I don’t. What I do enjoy is helping people realize their shortcomings and things they need to improve on. I look at breaking up with someone in very much the same way. While it may seem harsh to point out someone’s every flaw, I think it’s completely necessary in helping them move on with their life in a positive way. My only hope is that this advice doesn’t end up getting someone stabbed or attacked.
1. You don’t cry when you are the one doing the break up.
To me, this seems like pretty straightforward advice. It also seems like one of the most overlooked and often abused rules of the breakup. When you’re breaking up with someone, it doesn’t soften the blow to start softly sobbing and it’s definitely not helping when you bawl like a newborn. Even if you’re sad, which is allowed, suck it up and keep a straight face. A cold stare and serious voice are the way to go to end a business relationship, and the same is true for a personal relationship.
2. Don’t keep her on the hook.
We all know an ex that we’ve broken up with but wanted to keep our “options” (read: opportunities for sex) open with them. All you’re doing is prolonging the inevitable and ensuring drama for yourself further down the road. If you’re to the point that you want to break it off with her, don’t pussyfoot around it.
Don’t let her work part-time when she couldn’t handle a full-time workload.
3. Breaking up in stages doesn’t work.
When I have to fire someone, I don’t tell them over two or three meetings that I’m probably going to let them go. I sit down with them once and drop the hammer. Be a man, suck it up, and get it over with.
4. Give them a chance to improve their performance.
In all likel...