Like televangelist Joyce Meyer once said, God leaves annoying habits in other people to trigger us, because they are working as a mirror to our own shortcomings.

In other words, that which you find so irritating in another person perfectly mirrors how other people see you. And no one irks me lately like my bags ‘plug’ – a woman in town who sells the most amazing bags but spends equal time lambasting everything spiritual and religious that is contrary to what she believes in herself.

I had to stop and ask myself, according to Joyce Meyer’s theory, am I as annoying as this woman? Lord have mercy. Today she will be blasting Catholics and their seeming worship of artistic sculptures.

Tomorrow she will start on Christians who don’t go to bars thinking they are too holy. The next day she will be rubbishing prophets and how none exist today, and the other day she will wonder why anybody gives money to a church instead of the poor.

Then she will go off on tithes, the poor, those who go to church every Sunday, those who attended the Benny Hinn conference… eh!

Don’t ask me why I follow her; it is on the same social media channels that she also advertises her bags and what is new; you cannot see the bags without seeing the other toxicity.

So, now I have stopped buying the bags. Luckily, I found another bags ‘plug’ with equally good bags, priced cheaper. And I bumped into two other people who were equally rubbed the wrong way, and are now taking their business elsewhere. But it gave me pause; am I this annoying too?

Is there a group of people out there I have offended immeasurably they no longer want anything to do with me – especially business? And what do I lose when I keep some of my opinions to myself, especially considering that I am not about to change those whose beliefs I attack and mock?

When communicating as a business person, don’t forget that your clients include people from all walks of life, tribes, faiths, races, name it. Alienating them could leave you with like-minded people who may not necessarily even be your customers.

So…just stop. Do the right thing at the right time in the right place.