PAY CLOSER ATTENTION TO YOUR WORDS
To leave or make a lasting impact, you must make every word count. You do that by considering your audience first, before sharing your thoughts. If you are a person who likes to speak anything that comes to mind, reconsider. Freshly dug sand shouldn’t be served until it is sieved. You sieve it to get rid of all unwanted debris.
Your mind is no different. It possessed all sorts of information: some good, and some not so good. It has corrosive metal as well as gold. When your staff, child, or a friend, contacts you for advice, guess what? They are looking for gold, and you are a rich source. No consumer will accept gold covered in a mess. It must be properly prepared for the road with all the bells and whistles.
That’s what people are looking for when you share information with them. The thoughts you share are the final product. Some people are looking for various types of information – information, that will make a difference in their lives. Never give eighteen-carrot advice when someone is looking for fourteen. That is important because, for example, when a lady receives a piece of jewelry, she will show it off to her friends. Therefore, the duty of the dealer is not to give counterfeit. Just like a jewelry dealer, your job is to share quality information at the right time with the right individual. The information you share with an audience of one can reach many. It’s more important than ever to handpick your thoughts and gift-wrap them before you share them. Your shared thoughts are like an engagement ring. Your thoughts engage the audience with the right tool.
Your duty as a conveyor of thoughts carries the same responsibility as a car manufacturer. A car manufacturer will never ship a vehicle unless it’s fit for the road. Likewise, treat your words the same. Don’t share your thoughts until it’s ready for the road. Yes, we know that a car manufacturer may issue a recall to correct a defect. You may not have the same luxury. Once you say something, it’s gone. However, if you have the opportunity to make corrections, do so. You want to give advice sealed with your “Midas touch.” Because if you make a mistake, some people may not be forgiving. Before you capture a thought to share, sieve it like a responsible miner, because some people may not allow you to redeem yourself.
