The squeaky wheel

Here's my question: do you believe that the "squeaky wheel gets the grease?" In other words, do you think that you have to be forceful to get what you want in life - or do you think that being nice and accommodating will eventually have better results, even if it takes a bit longer?

This notion can easily be corrolated to a sailing strategy. During a race, there are moments to be aggressive and moments to be consevitive. The key to success to knowing when to do one or the other. For example, When you see an opening for a prime spot on the starting line, it is wise to kick everyones butt to get it and hold it like there's no tomorrow. Everyone in sailing knows that your starting postion will determine whether you win or lose. A better example is knowing your rights. If you are on a starboard(right) tack, and someone is headed toward you on a port tack. You have right of way. They better move or else they will end up in the protest room. So, in this situation you yell and scream STARBOARD! So they know that you know the rule and can't fool you off your course. Then, if they do hit you, and they don't do a 720(two circles) you yell PROTEST! And then find people around you to ask if they witnessed it. Later, you will go to the protest room with a witness and argue your protest. If you win the protest they will be disqualified. During the Penn State regatta I attened with OCC, I sailed conservatively. The conditions were strong shifty winds and rain. People had already flipped so there was no way I was pushing the boat my first time skippering. So for the last two races Stevens Tech and I were neck and neck, leading me a little. So, I simply tacked away, out of their bad air. Then tacked at the perfect moment back toward the finnish line. I had the boat in it's fastest point of sail. and I beat Steven's for fourth place by approx. 30-40 seconds. It was sweet. But, to make the connection more clear and answer the question. It is always wise to be more of a squeaky wheel than quite. If you sail agressively all the time you probably will win all the time. You probably will look like an ass so it's not wise to do so. Considering you will most likely see these people at some point again. Same goes in life. If you're a B**** you probably will get your way most of the time. However, you will be looked at with the same rescpect that people give Amorossa on the Aprentice (no I don't watch it). Life requires a balence. You can't let people walk all over you. However, you cannot make demands all the time. When you start to squeak too much, people will tune you out or leave your life.