Practice makes perfect. We have all heard this a time or five. The reality is, the more we practice something, the more we own it.
One of my favorite things to practice is having a conversation. So much learning takes place in a conversation it is important to me to make sure I own this skill. Much of the success or advancement of a conversation is a direct result of honing specific components within each dialog. Conversations are about asking questions, listening, participating. They are about exchanging ideas and being present. It's seeing something and saying something. Needless to say there is a lot to a conversation and its hard work to have a really good one. One of the most underrated pieces of a conversation is the name it component.
To see it is one thing. To name it is completely separate. Naming isn't just describing or telling, illustrating or explaining something. Naming is specific, your very own definition of what is happening through your lens. Naming is your words not your bosses or some fancy lingo you got from the company website. Naming it isn't calling out some buzzword or corporate slogan but a real authentic description of what is actual. Naming is content of what you see and the context of who you see it with.
We underestimate how powerful this single component can have on a conversation. Naming it is so crucial to uncovering what happens next, creating ownership and accountability, and giving you a platform to build on. Practice this single skill over the phone, on your sales floor, or with your kids. Take 20 minutes to name what is happening around you. View your surroundings through a new, unfiltered lens. Giving life to the world around you.
The result of your findings will amaze you.
Your ideas, thoughts and actions will be different.
Your conversations will forever change.
How you see the world has officially been altered.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Tell Your Story
Stories are incredible! I have met some pretty amazing story tellers throughout my life, all have had significant impact.
Stories connect the dots. We name things that come alive by our stories. They paint a picture or help make a statement. Some are lengthy and very elaborate, some are short but bold. Stories orchestrate, explain, even define what is happening.
Stories are the glue that hold together a series of thoughts or ideas, opinions or direction. They bring life to a screen, stage, book, magazine or radio. The creation of ideas, the culmination of studies, or repeated practice all help to produce excellent ones.
Stories make you lean into a conversation, sit up in your seat, or march for a cause. They inspire us to do better, give you education on the unknown. The best stories leave a lasting impression, something that you draw from days even years later.
Hone your story telling skill, you will have an audience. Practice it enough you will have a movement.
What's your story?
Stories connect the dots. We name things that come alive by our stories. They paint a picture or help make a statement. Some are lengthy and very elaborate, some are short but bold. Stories orchestrate, explain, even define what is happening.
Stories are the glue that hold together a series of thoughts or ideas, opinions or direction. They bring life to a screen, stage, book, magazine or radio. The creation of ideas, the culmination of studies, or repeated practice all help to produce excellent ones.
Stories make you lean into a conversation, sit up in your seat, or march for a cause. They inspire us to do better, give you education on the unknown. The best stories leave a lasting impression, something that you draw from days even years later.
Hone your story telling skill, you will have an audience. Practice it enough you will have a movement.
What's your story?
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Think About It
We become what we think about.
I first heard that phrase almost ten years ago from an Earl Nightingale CD called "The Strangest Secret". My boss at the time, my first professional mentor, had given it to me after about three months on the job. He told me to listen to it and think.
I'm glad I listened.
Though Mr. Nightingale's recording was produced in the 1950's and a little rough on some details as it pertains to the current year, remarkably his message remains true, "we become what we think about". In a short 30+ minutes he offers many pieces of advice, all of which is built on this premise and everything is there for the taking as long as you believe it can happen. I imagine if I were to talk to any successful person on this planet (however you define success) they would probably share something similar. They set a goal or initiative in their heads and achieved it. There was focus on what was possible, not what could go wrong. Discussions had to be done with confidence, not with apprehension. Knowledge had no limits.
Perhaps you have something important to do this week, think about how successful you will be. Think about the impact you can have, the impression you can leave. Maybe there is an opportunity to share success with others, even amongst people you may not know, think about how to name this success and how it shows up for them. Think about what you are doing to drive success, today, tomorrow, or the day after. Really think about it.
Think about all that is possible, become all that is possible.
I first heard that phrase almost ten years ago from an Earl Nightingale CD called "The Strangest Secret". My boss at the time, my first professional mentor, had given it to me after about three months on the job. He told me to listen to it and think.
I'm glad I listened.
Though Mr. Nightingale's recording was produced in the 1950's and a little rough on some details as it pertains to the current year, remarkably his message remains true, "we become what we think about". In a short 30+ minutes he offers many pieces of advice, all of which is built on this premise and everything is there for the taking as long as you believe it can happen. I imagine if I were to talk to any successful person on this planet (however you define success) they would probably share something similar. They set a goal or initiative in their heads and achieved it. There was focus on what was possible, not what could go wrong. Discussions had to be done with confidence, not with apprehension. Knowledge had no limits.
Perhaps you have something important to do this week, think about how successful you will be. Think about the impact you can have, the impression you can leave. Maybe there is an opportunity to share success with others, even amongst people you may not know, think about how to name this success and how it shows up for them. Think about what you are doing to drive success, today, tomorrow, or the day after. Really think about it.
Think about all that is possible, become all that is possible.
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