A friend of mine sent me a message on Facebook along with the comment, "I really hope I can someday use this line and swap jerk for (deleted).".

If I'm a sarcastic jerk when I talk to you, it's either because I like you and feel comfortable teasing you,

Or I really hate you and I don't care if you know it.

Good luck figuring it out.

Funny thing is, that I often do this professionally. As a matter of fact, you may remember me sharing that a client once told me, "Rick, your not everybody's cup of tea, but I'm trying to acquire the taste because I think that you can help me grow my business."

Here's my attitude and I hope a lesson to take away. Whether a prospect thinks your a jerk or not, they're right for them. I've met some people that I absolutely couldn't stand. When I leave them, I feel like I need a shower, but they're reasonably successful and have some people that love them. They have happy clients, employees and investors. They get married, have children and their children love and respect them. Their children become successful. Variety. Different strokes. Whatever you want to call it. SWSWSWN.

So, here's how I would re-word the message.

If you think that I'm a sarcastic jerk when I talk to you, is it because you hate me and wish that I'd stop talking to you altogether,

Or you really don't know if we know each other well enough for me to be teasing you?

Would you like me to take a half a step back, so we can figure it out?